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Bulletin  No.  2. 


BY  WILLIAM  C.  STUBBS 


PROFESSOR  OF  AGRICULTURE  IN 


LOTJZSI^ZST^ 


AND  A.  AND  M.  COLLEGE, 


Dikector  Sugar  Experiment  Station 


Issued  by  Department  of  Agriculture, 
T.  J.  BIKD,  Commissioner, 

BATON  KOUGE,  LA. 

1886. 

Sugar-Bowl  print,  6 Camp  st.,  N.  O. 


Office  of  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  \ 
Baton  Kouge,  Louisiana.  j . 

The  attention  of  the  Farmers  and  Planters  is  earnestly  invited  to  the 
within  Bnlletin,  prepared  at  my  request  by  Win.  C.  Stubbs,  Professor  of 
Agriculture  in  Louisiana  State  University  and  A.  and  M.  College,  and 
Director  of  Sugar  Experiment  Station. 

'L\  J.  BIKD, 

Commissioner. 


^30i7 
L‘1  3lJir 

Vit>.;L  -2.g 

Cep, 


BULLETIN  No  2, 

OF  THE 

Louisiana  Sugar  Experiment  Station. 


Kenner  P.  0.,  Jan.  20,  1886. 

A trip  tliroiigli  tliis  State,  with  time  only  for  a superlieial 
study  of  its  agriculture,  will  convince  any  observant  tourist  of 
the  small  value  placed  upon  manures  of  every  kind  by  the  ave- 
rage planter.  Although  Louisiana  contains  some  of  the  fines^; 
lauds  on  the  continent,  and  has  within  its  borders  the  far-famed 
alluvial  bottoms  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  its  outlying  bayous, 
yet  her  decreasing  crops  point  unmistakably  to  diminished  fertil- 
ity, and  plainly  proclaim  to  the  thoughtful  planter  that,  if  he 
would  restore  the  original  fertility  of  his  soil,  or  even  maintain  its 
present  fruitfulness,  he  must  resort  to  a judicious  practice  of 
manuring.  There  are  no  soils  so  fertile  that  proper  fertilizers 
will  not  render  them  more  productive.  The  maximum  fertility, 
the  ^hiltima  thule”  of  soil  richness,  has  never  been  reached.  As 
well  attempt  to  fill  to  repletion  the  exchequer  of  a miser  as  to 
over-fertilize  a soil.  That  it  can  be  improperly  fertilized,  with  a 
consequent  loss  or  damage  to  the  growing^crop,  is  well  known  to 
every  agricultural  chemist,  but  properly  compounded  manures, 
well  applied,  will  always  increase  the  productive  capacity  of  a 
soil.  That  manures  pay  best  upon  the  best  soils  is  almost  an 


O 4 Jfr  ^ 


4 


agricultural  luaxim,  the  truth  of  which  is  fully  realized  by  every 
truck  grower  or  gardener.  When  there  is  need  of  nuinure  there  is 
surely  a loss  of  money,  labor  and  animal  food  to  permit  it  to  go 
to  waste  or  even  to  cultivate  without  it,  when  its  application 
would  increase  the  crop  several  fold.  However,  to  profitably  use 
manures,  they  should  be  properly  compounded  and  rightly 
applied.  Losses  may  sometimes  be  greater  from  misuse  than 
from  non-use.  When  wrongly  compounded  and  improperly 
applied,  upon  badly  prepared  or  ill-conditioned  soils,  there  is 
always  danger  of  a loss  of  crops,  to  say  nothing  of  the  rebouTid 
of  sentiment  on  the  part  of  the  planter.  An  application  of  a few 
well-known  scientific  facts  will  correct  these  faults,  and  invoke 
the  same  intelligence  in  feeding  plants  that  is  now  exercised  in 
feeding  animals.  Only  such  fertilizers  as  are  adapted  to  our  crops 
and  our  soils  should  be  used,  and  a small  outlay  of  money,  time 
and  care  will  determine  these,  after  the  fundamental  chemical 
l)rinciples  underlying  all  fertilizers  are  understood.  Potash, 
Lime,  Magnesia,  Phosphoric  Acid,  Sulphuric  Acid  and  Nitrogen, 
(Ammonia,)  are  the  ingredients  required  in  quantities  by  plants. 
Iron  and  Chlorine  are  used  in  very  limited  quantities.  Small 
amounts  of  Silica  and  Soda  suffice  for  any  plant,  if  indeed  they 
be  needed  at  all.  But  these  (Iron,  Chlorine,  Silica  and  Soda,) 
are  found  abundantly  in  all  soils.  Magnesia  is  rarely  wanting, 
while  Lime  and  Sulphuric  Acid  are  generally  present  in  quanti- 
ties sufficient  for  most  crops.  If  Magnesia  is  absent  it  can  be 
cheaply  supplied  by  Kaiuit  or  Kiserite,  both  products  of  the 
Stassfurth  (Prussia)  mines.  When  Lime  and  Sulphuric  Acid  are 
absent,  they  can  easily  be  supplied,  the  former  by  Quick-lime  (and 
on  the  coast  by  oyster  shells,)  and  both  by  Land  Plaster  or  Gyp- 
sum. Only  Nitrogen,  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash  are  usually 
absent  from  a soil,  and  it  is  the  object  of  commercial  fertilizers  to 
supply  one  or  more  of  these  ingredients.  A soil,  however  fertile, 
rarely  contains  these  ingredients  in  the  right  proportions  and 
forms  for  the  growth  of  maximum  crops.  Per  contra,  no  soil 
capable  ot  growing  vegetation  of  any  kind  is  usually  devoid  of 
any  of  them,  for  every  plant  requires  them  for  growth  and  devel- 


5 


opmeut,  But  ditt'creut  soils  aad  didereut  croi)s  require  tUeiu  iu 
different  proportions  and  forms,  hence  the  adaptability  of  certain 
crops  to  certain  soils,  and  the  efficacy  of  rotation  of  crops  upon 
all  soils.  A soil  may  require  large  doses  of  Nitrogen  to  grow 
small  grain,  and  yet  produce  a fair  crop  of  cotton  without  manure. 
Again  some  plants  have  greater  feeding  capacities  than  others, 
and  will  take  their  food  from  aj)parantly  insoluble  rock  imrti- 
eles  and  thrive;  while  other  plants,  of  more  delicate  organism, 
require  their  food  in  readily  assimilable  forms,  and  can  live  on 
no  other.  These  ingredients  then  give  value  to  all  manures. 
Lime,  Salt,  Gypsum,  etc.,  are  often  used  as  fertilizers,  but  strictly 
siieakiiig  they  are  not  manures  i)er  se.  Their  efficacy  lies  in 
their  power  to  break  down  the  insoluble  compounds,  and  to  render 
available  the  material  already  in  the  soil.  Their  use  is  simply  an 
unnatural  method  of  rapidly  exhausting  a soil  and  “enriches  the 
father  but  impoverishes  the  son.” 

H(nV  CAN  THE  NEEDS  OF  A SOIL  BE  TOLD 
Formerly,  cheini(;al  analysis  was  relied  upon  for  the  solution  of 
this  question.  It  was  believed  that  a chemist  could  analyse  a 
soil  ami  xirescribe  a remedial  manure  just  as  a doctor  would  diag. 
nose  a disease  and  j) rescribe  the  axq)rox)riate  medicine.  This, 
unfortunately,  is  true  only  to  a limited  degree.  A chemical  anal- 
ysis of  a soil  will  give  negative  results  when  they  exist,  will 
reveal  small  amounts  of  valuable  ingredients,  and  to  this  extent 
is  exceedingly  useful.  But  should  large  quantities  of  x^lant  food 
be  found,  no  chemist  can  tell  you  when  it  will  be  available. 
Whether  xdants  can  utilize  it  in  the  nextyear,  the  next  decade  or 
the  next  century,  is  beyond  his  ken.  Again,  by  a law  of  nature, 
the  soluble  x^hi^it  food  of  to-day,  if  not  utilized,  becomes  the 
insoluble  rock  of  to-morrow,  and  vice  versa.  However,  a thor- 
ough chemical  investigation  of  a series  of  soils  whose  natural 
growths  and  agricultural  capacities  are  known,  Avill  throw  a 
world  of  light  ux)on  the  question  of  proi>er  manuring,  and  a com- 
Xmrison  of  the  comx)osition  of  soils  of  different  fertility  may  sug- 
gest some  treatment  by  which  their  x>roductive  capacity  juay  be 
enhanced.  But  such  an  investigation  is  tedious  and  limited  in 


6 


its  application  on  account  of  great  diversity  of  soils  found  some* 
times  even  in  the  same  held.  Soil  analyses^  valuable  though  they 
wlien  rightly  interpreted  by  an  agricultural  chemist,  cannot  be 
used  alone  for  telling  the  needs  of  our  soils. 

The  analyses  of  plants  was  next  essayed  for  the  purpose  of  giv- 
ing us  fixed  formulas  for  fertilizers.  It  was  claimed  that  if  the 
entire  crop  grown  u'pon  an  acre  be.  analysed  and  exact  amounts 
of  each  ingredient  entering  into  its  composition  be  determined, 
then  formulas,  containing  these  ingredients,  in  like  quantities  and 
proportions,  can  be  prepared  specially  suitable  for  this  crop. 
In  this  way  tables  of  great  value,  computed  from  the  results  in 
the  laboratory,  have  been  given  for  each  crop.  Manures  for 
each  crop  thus  manipulated  are  ottered  for  sale  in  many  parts  of 
the  country.  We  can  obtain  a ‘‘corn  fertilizer,”  “wheat  fertili- 
zer,” “tobacco  fertilizer,”  and  even  an  “orange  manure.”  This 
method  of  manuring  tells  us  what  each  plant  needs,  but  it  utterly 
ignores  the  capacity  of  our  soils  and  the  feeding  capacities  of 
])lants.  Experiments  in  the  field  and  analyses  in  the  laboratory 
concur  in  the  following  testimony,  viz.,  that  ditterent  soils  fur- 
nish unequal  amounts  of  plant  food,  and  ditterent  plants  possess 
unlike  capacities  for  extracting  this  food.  The  latter  is  well 
known  to  sugar  ittauters.  Sugar  cane  will  not  thrive  upon  thin 
land  j cow  peas  will.  Turn  in  a growth  of  the  latter,  either  green 
or  after  it  has  decayed,  and  now  the  soil  will  support  a healthy 
crop  of  cane.  The  pea  gets  Nitrogen  while  the  cane  will  fail  for 
the  want  ot  it.  Nitrogenous  manures  are  everywhere  used  for 
cereals,  while  they  have  little  or  no  ettect  on  peas,  and  this,  too^ 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  pea  contains  far  more  Nitrogen 
than  any  of  the  cereals.  Peas,  with  their  long  deep  tap  roots,  are 
gross  feeders,  extracting  their  food  from  great  depths,  while 
cereals,  with  their  fibrous  rootlets  delicately  organized,  must  find 
their  food  ready  formed  in  the  upper  layers  of  the  soil.  This 
example  shows  that  an  analysis  of  a green  crop  does  not  even 
show  the  exact  quantities  of  fertilizing  ingredients  wdiich  will 
best  help  its  growth. 


7 


Formulas  for  each  class  of  plauts  have  also  become  popular* 
These  are  based  upou  known  botanical  and  chemical  relations  of 
plauts,  and  each  class  is  assigned  according  to  its  predominant 
ingredient.  The  celebrated  agricultural  ciieinist,  Ville,  has  thus 
divided  plants,  assigned  formulas  to  classes  of  plants  rather  than 
to  individuals  This  system  of  manuring,  when  all  the  foctors  of 
growth  and  character  of  soils  are  unknown,  is  to  be  commended. 
But  it,  too,  ignores  the  food  which  the  soil  can  furnish,  and 
assigns  to  the  latter  the  German  definition  as  simply  a recepta- 
cle for  manure.  It  overlooks  the  fact  that,  under  proper  cultiva- 
tion, the  soil  may  furnish  many  of  the  necessary  ingredients  con- 
tained in  the  formula.  It  treats  too,  all  soils  alike,  forgetful 
of  the  fact  that  they  vary  in  composition  according  to  origin. 
When  from  feldspathic  granite.  Potash  predominates  ; if  from 
animal  origin.  Lime  and  perhaps  Phosphoric  Acid  may  abound? 
if  of  alluvial  formation.  Nitrogen  may  be  excessive.  Again 
these  valuable  ingredients  are  held  in  every  soil  in  difierent  pro- 
portions, and,  sooner  or  later,  even  our  richest  soils,  under  constant 
cultivation,  will  be  so  depicted  of  oneor  more  valuable  ingredients 
as  to  check  the  growth  of  large  crops,  while  the  others  may  be 
present  in  quantity  and  in  readily  available  forms.  Then  it  is 
jnanifestly  right  to  apply  to  these  soils  a manure  containing  only 
the  exhausted  ingredients.  To  apply  to  them  a com])lete  manure, 
containing  all  the  ingredients  of  plant  food,  would  most  assuredly 
be  a profiigate  waste.  This  system  of  manuring  loses  sight  of 
the  natural  strength  of  a soil  and  applies  manure  solely  with  a 
view  of  the  needs  of  the  plant.  Fortunately  the  latter,  for  most 
of  our  crops,  is  quite  well  determined,  but  the  former  can  only  be 
determined  by 

EXPERIMENTS. 

Hence  the  popularity  of  Experiment  Stations,  where  various 
crops  can  be  subjected  to  the  crucial  soil  tests  under  proper  care 
and  system.  Only  by  actual  experiments  in  the  field  can  the 
wants  of  our  soils  be  made  manifest.  Soils  vary  greatly  in  com- 
position, therefore  we  should  be  slow  in  accepting  the  results 
made  on  one  kind  of  soil  as  applicable  to  another,  and  here 


8 


comes  in  one  of  tbe  grent  values  of  soil  analyses.  A simple  com 
parison  of  the  analyses  of  two  soils,  (the  physical  i)roperties 
being  equal.)  will  at  once  show  whether  field  results  obtained  on 
the  one  will  be  applicable  to  the  other.  There  is  then  a necessity 
for  individual  experimentation.  Every  farmer  or  planter  shou  d 
conduct  yearly  a series  of  exi)eriments  upon  his  crops  for  himself, 
results  of  which,  if  rightly  obtained  and  interpreted,  will  be  of 
incalculable  benefit.  It  would  ultimately  redound  to  his  pecuni- 
ary benefit,  besides  cultivating  his  powers  of  observation  and 
reflection,  and  making  him  a philosopher  and  student  as  well  as 
farmer.  Could  a series  of  carefully  conducted,  inexpensive 
experiments  be  yearly  made  by  all  our  farmers  and  results  carefully 
reported  and  compared,  an  immense  sum  would  be  added  to  agri- 
cultural knowledge,  and  thousands  of  dollars  annually  contribu- 
ted to  the  general  prosperity  of  the  country  by  the  discriminate 
use  of  fertilizers. 

We  trust  that  a spirit  of  experimentation  will  soon  be  exhibited 
by  our  farmers  and  planters,  and  that  the  State  of  Louisiana 
will,  ere  long,  be  found  in  the  fore-front  of  the  States  battling 
for  agricultural  jirogress.  To  assist  those  willing  to  undertake 
l)rivate  experiments,  directions  are  given  under  each  crop,  and  it  is 
earnestly  desired  that  as  many  as  possible  will  make  these  field 
tests  and  report  results  to  this  Department.  These  results  will 
be  tabulated  and  published  in  pamphlet  form. 

COMMERCIAL  FERTILIZERS. 

The  ingredients  which  give  value  to  all  commercial  fertilizers 
are,  1st,  Nitrogen,  (Ammonia  j)  Ud,  Phosphoric  Acid  ; 3d,  Potash. 
A fertilizer  may  contain  one,  two,  or  all  of  these  ingredients. 
When  all  are  present,  the  compound  is  usually  styled  a ^^compleie 
manure.”  When  only  one  or  two  are  present,  it  is  a ^^partial 
manure.” 

PARTIAL  MANURES 

may  consist  of,  (1,)  Nitrogen,  (Ammonia,)  alone ; (2,)  Phosphoric 
Acid  alone;  (3,)  Potash  alone;  (4,)  Nitrogen,  (Ammonia,)  and 
Phosphoric  Acid  ; (5,)  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash  ; (fi,)  Nitro- 
gen, (Ammonia,)  and  Potash.  No.  6 is  rarely  found  in  Southern 
markets;  the  others  are  common  wares. 


9 


(1.)  NITROGEN  MANURES. 

Nitrogen  is  the  most  eostly  ingredient  in  manures.  It  is 
offered  to  the  trade  in  three  forms : 

Mineral  Nitrogen — in  Nitrate  of  Soda  and  Sulphate  of  Ammo 
nia. 

Z)— Animal  Nitrogen — in  Dried  Blood,  Tankage,  Azotin,  Ammo- 
nite, Fish  Scraps  and  Leather. 

c — Vegetable  Nitrogen — in  Cotton  Seed,  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  Lin- 
seed Meal,  Castor  Pomace  and  Peat. 

Blood,  Tankage,  Fish  Scraps  and  Oil  Meals  are  highly  active 
fertilizers,  while  Leather  and  Peat  are  slowly  available.  The 
result  of  the  decomposition  of  organic  forms  of  Nitrogen  is  either 
Ammonia  oT  Nitric  Acid ; fourteen  parts  of  Nitrogen  yielding 
seventeen  parts  of  Ammonia,  or  twenty-eight  parts  of  Nitrogen 
forming,  by  nitrification,  one  hundred  and  eight  parts  of  Nitric 
Acid.  The  mineral  forms  of  Nitrogen  are  highly  prized  in  the 
North  and  England,  but  in  the  South,  on  account  of  the  ease 
with  which  they  are  washed  from  the  soil,  they  should  be  used 
with  great  care. 

Cotton  seed  meal  contains,  besides  Nitrogen,  small  amounts  of 
Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash.  A fair  sample  of  meal,  free  from 
hulls,  should  yield  7 per  cent  Nitrogen,  3 per  cent  Phosphoric 
Acid  and  2 per  cent  Potash.  This  is  a cheap  source  of  Nitrogen, 
and  experiments  have  demonstrated  that  it  is  perhaps  the  best 
form  for  Southern  agriculture.  In  buying  it,  however,  caution  is 
necessary  to  see  that  it  is  well  decorticated,  i e,  free  from  hulls. 
Samples  containing  30  per  cent  of  hulls  have  recently  been  found 
on  the  market. 

(2)  PHOSPHORIC  ACID  MANURES. 

These  are  generally  phosphatic  rocks  treated  with  Sulphuric 
Acid.  Sometimes  pure  bones  or  bone  black,  or  bone  ash,  are 
treated  with  the  same  acid  and  the  resulting  mixture  styled  Dis- 
solved Bones  or  Superphosphates.  When  made  from  phosphatic 
rock,  bone  black  or  bone  ash,  they  contain  only  Phosphoric  Acid. 
When  pure  bones  are  used,  3 to  5 per  cent  of  Ammonia  is  also 
found.  These  phosphatic  manures  usually  contain  their  Phos- 


plioric  Acid  in  different  forms.  Some  of  it  is  readily  soluble  in 
water  and  is  liigldy  available  as  plant  food  ; some  of  it  is  soluble 
oidy  in  acids,  and  is,  therefore,  only  slowly,  it  at  all,  available  to 
plants,  while  another  portion  is  intermediate  in  solubility 
between  the  water  soluble  and  the  acid  soluble.  The 
chemist  uses  Citrate  of  Ammonia  to  dissolve  this  form, 
and  hence  it  is  denominated  as  Citrate  Soluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid.  It  is  believed  by  many  that  this  form  of 
Phosphoric  Acid  has  resulted  from  a chemical  action  of  the  water 
soluble  upon  the  acid  soluble,  and  hence  it  is  often  called 
^ffeverted,”  ‘^reduced,”  etc.  The  water  soluble  is  readily  avail- 
able oil  all  soils  and  by  alljhants;  the  citrate  soluble  in  soils  con- 
taining vegetable  matter  is  believed  to  be  available  to  many 
plants,  while  the  acid  soluble  is  immediately  useful  only  to  certain 
plants  and  ui)on  certain  soils.  The  water  soluble  and  citrate  sol- 
uble are  usually  taken  together  and  called  Available  Phosphoric 
Acid.  In  buying  Phosphatic  manures,  preference  should  be 
given,  hist,  to  the  water  soluble,  then  to  the  citrate  soluble.  If 
there  is  much  Acid  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  present,  iucpiiry 
should  be  at  once  made  as  to  its  origin,  for  the  Insoluble  Phos’ 
phoric  Acid  from  bones  is  more  easily  transferred  into  plant  food 
than  that  from  rock.  These  three  forms  of  Phosphoric  Acid  are 
usually  called  ‘‘soluble,”  “reduced”  and  “insoluble.” 

(3)  POTASH  MANURES. 

These  are  now  obtained  almost  exclusively  from  Leopolshall 
and  Stassfurth,  Germany,  and  are  largely  sold  in  this  cxnintry  as 
(a)  Kainite,  which  is  a crude  product  of  the  mines  and  consists 
of  Potash,  Magnesia,  Soda,  Sulphuric  Acid  and  Chhuine.  This 
form  of  Potash  is  now  extensively  used  in  the  South,  either  in 
the  com[)ost  of  stable  manure,  cotton  seed  and  Acid  Phosphate, 
or  mixed  with  Acid  Phosphate  and  cotton  seed  meal  to  form  a 
complete  manure.  Whether  our  soils  need  Potash  can  only  be 
determined  experimentally.  After  careful  e'iperimentation  the 
right  quantities  can  be  easily  determined.  It  is  a cheap  and 
au  excellent  source  of  Potash. 


II 


(b)  Snlpliate  of  Potasli,  a refined  product  containing  a large 
amount  of  Potash  in  a very  desirable  form,  is  extensively  used  iii 
some  countries  upon  (certain  crops,  notably  tobacco  and  Irish 
])otatoes.  This  form  is  rarely  used  in  the  South,  though  experi- 
ments with  it  upon  sugar  cane  are  very  desirable. 

(cj  Muriate  of  Potash,  another  refined  product  containing  a 
large  percentage  of  Potash,  This  salt  furnishes  Potash  in  the 
chea[)est  form. 

(4)  NITROGEN  AND  RIIOSPIIORIC  AOID. 

Formerly  bones,  treated  with  Sulphuric  Acid,  were  fre- 
(piently  found  upon  our  markets  ; recently,  however,  I'otash^  in 
some  form,  has  always  been  added  to  them.  Whether  this  addi- 
tion has  been  made  by  the  demands  of  the  soil  or  by  the  inclina- 
tions of  the  manufacturers,  is  yet  to  be  determined.  Potash  is 
the  cheapest  ingredient  in  fertilizers  and  any  demand  for  it  is 
readily  met.  At  present  we  find  on  our  markets  a manure  of 
this  class  which  is  being  extensively  used  under  sugar  cane,  viz  : 
Tanhi(je.  This  is  a variable  goods,  containing  usually  from  5 to 
12  per  cent  of  Nitrogen  and  from  0 to  20  per  cent  Phosphoric 
A(ad.  The  .latter  is  in  the  insoluble  form,  but,  being  of  animal 
origin,  upon  certain  soils  are  readily  available. 

(5)  PHOSPHORIC  ACID  AND  POTASH. 

To  make  acid  phosphates  suitable  for  composting,  many  dealers 
have  recently  added  Potash.  This  addition  necessarily  lowers 
the  percentage  of  Phosphoric  Acid.  Manufacturers  in  and 
around  Charleston  have  adopted  the  custom  of  calling  this  class 
of  goods  ^‘Acid  Phosphates,”  and  those  which  contain  no  Potash, 
^‘Dissolved  Bones.”  These  are  extensively  used  for  the  compost 
of  stable  manure  and  cotton  seed. 

(^(1)  NITROGEN  AND  POTASH. 

The  great  and  crying  want  of  Southern  soils  is  Phosphoric 
Acid  ; hence  no  manure  without  it  has  hitherto  met  with  favor. 
Accordingly  this  class  of  manures  are  wanting  in  the  South. 

COMPLETE  MANURES, 

are  those  which  contain  Nitrogen,  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash. 
For  different  croi)S  these  ingredients  should  exist  in  different  pro- 
portions. They  will  be  discussed  for  each  crop  in  its  a[)propriate 
place.  Before  [lurchasing  any  fertilizer,  the  farmer  should  study 
well  the  wants  of  his  soil  and  his  crop,  and  buy  accordingly. 


12 

Before  buying,  get  from  the  dealers  replies  to  the  following 
questions : 

How  much  Water  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  do  you  guarantee? 

How  much  Citrate  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  do  you  guarantee? 

How  much  Ammonia  do  you  guarantee  ? 

How  much  Potash  do  you  guarantee  ? 

In  a plain  Acid  Phosphate  at  least  12  per  cent  Available  Phos- 
phoric Acid  should  be  guaranteed.  In  cane  fertilizers,  3 percent 
Ammonia  and  7 per  cent  Phosphoric  Acid,  and  in  cotton  fertili- 
zers 2 per  cent  Ammonia  and  8 per  cent  Phosphoric  Acid  should 
be  found. 

MANURES  FOR  SUGAR  CANE. 

The  chemical  composition  of  cane  varies  according  to  the  vari- 
ety cultivated,  the  soils  upon  which  it  is  grown  and  the  maturity 
of  the  cane.  Varieties  differ  in  the  percentages  of  sugar,  woody 
libre,  albuminoids  and  mineral  matter,  (ash.)  Hence  the  advisa- 
bility of  selecting  that  variety  for  seed  which  shall  give  a maxi- 
mum of  sugar  and  a minima  of  other  ingredients.  In  dry  sandy 
lands  and  localities,  cane  is  smaller  but  contains  more  sugar  and 
woody  fibre.  In  damp,  rich  soils  it  is  gorged  with  humidity,  has 
less  crystallizable  and  more  invert  sugar,  and  is  slower  in  matu- 
ring. It  is  well  known  that  maturity  of  crop  increases  saccha- 
rose and  diminishes  glucose.  Again,  ylant  cane  contains  less 
woody  fibre  than  stubble  cane.  It  may,  however,  be  assumed, 
without  much  error,  that  100  pounds  of  Louisiana  cane  contain 
75  per  cent  of  water,  10  per  cent  woody  fibre,  14  per  cent  Sugars, 
.5  per  cent  Albuminoids  and  .5  per  cent  mineral  matter,  (Ash.) 
The  top  and  leaves,  which  constitute  about  30  percent  of  the 
cane  gathered,  may  be  estimated  to  consist  in  every  one  hundred 
parts  of  77  per  cent  of  water,  8 per  cent  woody  fibre,  12.25  per 
cent  Sugars  and  other  Carbohydrates,  1 per  cent  Albuminoids 
and  1.75  i)er  cent  mineral  matter,  (Ash.)  A crop  of  25  tons  of 
cane  will  therefore  remove  from  the  soil  the  following: 

37,500  lbs  Water. 

5.000  lbs  Wood}^  Fibre. 

7.000  lbs  Sugar. 


13 


250  lbs  Albuminoids. 

250  lbs  Mineral  Matter,  (Ash.) 

With  this  crop  there  would  be  grown  tons  of  tops  and  leaves 
containing: 

11,550  lbs.  Water. 

1,200  lbs.  Woody  Fibre. 

1,838  lbs.  Sugars  and  Carbohydrates. 

150  lbs.  Albuminoids. 

262  lbs.  Mineral  Matter,  (Ash.) 

Only  the  Albuminoids  and  Mineral  matter  have  to  be  supplied 
in  manures,  the  other  substances  being  fortunately  abundantly 
furnished  by  air  and  water.  Since  Albuminoids  contain,  on  an 
average,  16  per  cent  Nitrogen,  the  25  tons  of  cane  would  contain, 
of  this  element,  40  lbs.,  and  the  tops  and  leaves,  24  lbs. 

The  ashes  of  cane  and  of  tops  and  leaves  contain  the  fol- 
lowing composition : 

ASHES  OF  CANE.  ASHES  OF  TOPS  AND  LEAVES. 


Phosphoric  Acid, G.66  per  cent.  1.27  per  cent. 

Potash, 9.65  “ 13.40  ‘‘ 

Lime, 6.44  “ 9.04 

Magnesia, 7.74  ‘‘  2 72 

Silica, 41.50  ‘‘  62.10  “ 

Sulphuric  Acid  \ 

Iron,  Alumina  ^ 28,01  “ 11  47 


Soda  and  Chlorine 


Soils  usually  furnish  the  above  ingredients  in  great  abun- 
dance, save  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash.  The  former  is  nearly 
everywhere  needed  in  the  South,  while  the  latter  is  rarely  want- 
ing. We  find,  then,  that  to  grow  a crop  of  25  tons  per  acre  of 
cane  with  its  accompanying  leaves  and  tops,  there  is  withdrawn 
from  the  soil,  of  valuable  ingredients,  about 
64  lbs.  Nitrogen. 

20  lbs.  Phosphoric  Acid. 

60  lbs.  Potash. 


If  the  tops  and  leaves  are  returned  to  the  soil  without  burn- 
ing, there  is  removed  in  the  cane 
40  lbs.  Nitrogen. 

17  lbs.  Phosphoric  Acid. 

24  lbs.  Potash. 

If,  however,  the  tops  and  leaves  are  burnt,  there  is  a further 
loss  of  24  lbs.  Nitrogen.  If  possible,  the  leaves  and  tops  should 
always  be  turned  under  and  never  burnt,  as  in  the  latter  case  there 
is  a loss  per  acre  of  Nitrogen  greater  than  that  contained  in  300  lbs, 
of  cotton  seed  meal.  Upon  a large  plantation,  this  money  loss 
will  be  great.  Again,  by  incorporating  these  leaves  with  the  soil, 
hnmus  is  formed,  the  mechanical  effect  of  which,  upon  stiff 
soils,  is  very  beneficial,  besides  furnishing  that  ‘•hnatiere 
which  French  chemists  claim  is  an  indispensable  ingredient  for 
the  elaboration  of  sugar.  Should  the  tops  and  leaves  be 
returned,  there  must  be  provided  in  the  manure  to  reimburse  the 
soil  for  its  expenditure  in  the  making  of  this  cane,  40  lbs.  Nitro- 
gen, IT  lbs.  Phosphoric  Acid  and  24  lbs.  Potash.  It  is  true,  theory 
would  suggest  the  application  of  a manure  containing  these  ingre- 
dients in  above  proportions,  but  experience  has  demonstrated  that 
under  the  most  propitious  seasons  only  a little  more  than  oiie-half  of 
the  Nitrogen  applied  in  manure  is  recovered  in  the  crop,  the  remain- 
der either  leaching  from  the  soil  or  is  converted  into  inert  forms. 

As  a counterpart  or  offset  to  this,  it  may  be  assumed  that  the  soil 
itself  can  furnish  the  difference  needed.  Moreover,  if  seasons  and 
climate  permitted  a full  maturity  of  the  cane,  and  the  onl}^  object 
in  view  was  to  obtain  a large  tonnage,  this  amount  of  Phosphoric 
Acid  would  i^robably  suffice.  But  early  maturity  and  an  excess 
of  sugar  are  the  grand  objects  in  view,  and  to  attain  them,  an 
excess  of  Phosphoric  Acid  must  be  added.  It  is  now  well  known 
that  this  ingredient  in  excess,  and  in  an  available  form,  hastens 
the  maturity  of  all  plants,  and  in  sugar -i)roducing  plants  largely 
increases  the  content  of  sugar.  It  is  claimed  that  an  excess  of 
this  acid  acts  physiologically  by  causing  a rapid  translocation  of 
the  albuminoids  through  the  plant,  a (pdck  growth  and  an  early 


15 


deposition  of  sugar.  In  manures,  then,  for  sugar  plants,  Plios- 
phorie  Acid,  in  an  available  form,  should  largely  exist.  The  pre- 
vailing custom  of  using  cotton  seed  meal  alone  upon  cane,  and 
applying  it  at  the  time  of  planting,  is  strongly  condemned  by 
Agricultural  Chemists.  The  tendency  of  cane  manured  with  meal 
is  to  make  a large  tonnage,  poor  in  sugar,  unless  the  soil  already 
abounds  in  riiosiihoric  Acid,  which  is  rarely  the  case.  Again, 
the  use  of  any  nitrogenous  manure  alone  is  attended  with  loss  of 
Xitrogen,  even  when  distributed  with  great  care  and  at  the  proper 
seasons.  Placed  alone  upon  sugar  soils  in  early  winter,  and  sub- 
jected subseiiuently  to  the  heavy  rains  which  always  follow,  the 
loss  of  Nitrogen  must  be  very  great.  When  properly  combined, 
however,  with  Phosiihoric  Acid  and  Potash,  the  loss  is  trifling. 
Therefore  cotton  seed  meal  should  always  be  mixed  thoroughly 
with  Acid  Phosphate  and  Potash  before  application.  The  exact 
proportions  in  which  these  substances  should  be  mixed,  can  only 
be  demonstrated  by  carefully  conducted  experiments,  which  the 
Station  has  already  instituted.  Pendingthese  results,  the  Station 
must  be  guarded  by  the  light  which  it  has  been  able  to  gather 
from  other  sources.  The  results  of  held  experiments  made  at  the 
.Vgricnltural  Station  of  St.  Denis  show  tliat  the  type  of  manures 
for  cane  should  contain,  at  rates  of  40  to  70  i)ounds  of  Nitrogen 
per  acre,  and  70  to  85  pounds  of  Phosphoric  Acid  in  a readily 
soluble  form  and  40  to  80  pounds  Potash.  This  would  give  us  as  a 
suitable  foianula  per  acre 

000  to  1000  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

500  to  000  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate  (14  i)er  cent  soluble.) 

300  to  000  lbs.  of  Kainite. 

The  Director  further  recommends  that  the  Nitrogen  be  given 
it  in  three  forms,  viz. : 

1st  as  Organic  Nitrogen,  e.  g.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  or  Dried  Blood. 

2d  as  Ammonical  Nitrogen,  e.  g.  Sulphate  of  Ammonia, 

3d  as  Nitric  Nitrogen,  e.  g.  Nitrate  of  Soda — 

using  them  in  the  following  proportions: 

130  to  175  lbs.  Sulphate  of  Ammonia. 

85  to  175  lbs.  Nitrate  of  Soda. 

120  to  150  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 


16 


Knowing  the  full  value  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal  as  a fertilizer  for 
cane,  and  fearing  the  results'of  the  use  of  Sulphate  of  Ammonia 
and  Nitrate  of  Soda  on  our  Southern  soils,  the  Station  hesitates 
to  recommend  the  above  mixture  until  full  trials  have  been  given  it. 
,It  therefore  prefers  to  recommend  all  the  Nitrogen,  as  Organic 
Nitrogen,  and  this  as  Cotton  Seed  Meal.  M.  Georges  Ville,  Director 
at  Vincennes,  indicates  the  following  as  proportions  to  be  used  on 


cane : 


Nitrogen 

Phosphoric  Acid. 
Potash 


PLANT  CANE. 

....20  parts. 
...80 
...04 


STUBBLE  CANE 

37  parts. 
80 

04  “ 


This  would  give  for  plant  cane  about  the  following  proportion: 

500  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

500  “ Acid  I^hosphate. 

700  Kainite. 


And  for  stubble  cane: 

600  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

500  “ Acid  Phosphate- 

700  Kainite. 

Subsequent  experiments  demonstrated  that  the  Kainite  was 
excessively  and  injuriously  high,  and  it  was  lowered  considerably 
with  satisfactory  results. 

The  Station  feels  safe  in  recommending  the  following  mixture 
for  cane  for  the  present  year : 

900  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

900  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate,  (14  per  cent  soluble.) 

200  lbs.  Kainite. 

If  the  soil  be  rich  in  vegetable  matter,  the  meal  may  be  slightly 
decreased,  and  slightly  increased  upon  stubble  in  thin  lands. 
Strong  objections  are  urged  against  mixing  fertilizers  on  the 
plantation,  and  many  planters  will  not  do  it.  Fortunately  for 
the  latter,  the  manufacturers  of  fertilizers  will  mix  for  them  at  a 
small  cost. 


17 

Those  preferriug  to  mix  at  home  can  do  so  easily  on  rainy 
days,  under  shelter,  with  hoes. 

EXPERIMENTS, 

by  individual  planters,  throughout  the  sugar  belt,  are  earnestly 
solicited  as  an  invaluable  aid  to  the  Station  in  determining  both 
the  needs  of  the  soil  and  the  sugar  cane.  There  is  required  a 
small  expenditure  of  money,  (which  may  hereafter  save  many 
thousands,)  a little  well  ^directed  care,  and  one  acre  of  land. 
Surely  any  sugar  planter  can  afford  these.  Select  an  acre  of 
land  of  uniform  fertility,  representing  as  nearly  as  possible  the 
body  of  the  plantation ; measure  off*  210  feet  each  way  ; lay  off* 
30  rows  7 feet  apart,  and  take  3 rows  to  each  experiment,  which 
will  consist  of  one-tenth  of  an  acre.  Open  furrows  in  the  midale 
of  each  row  ; distribute  the  manure  as  uniformly  as  possible  along 
the  three  rows  ; run  a flukej  immediately^th rough  it  to  incorpo- 
rate with  the  soil,  then  plant  cane,  cover  and  bed  on  it  as  usual. 
Keep  a record  of  time  of  planting,  of  subsequent  workings  and 
seasons.  When  ready  to  gather,  cut  separately  the  middle  row 
of  each  experiment  and  weigh  ; multiply  by  30  and  the  weight  of 
cane  per  acre  for  each  experiment  is^known.  If  2)ossihlej  select 
3 average  stalks  from  each  middle  row,  number  them  carefully  and 
send  to  the  Station  with  name  and  address.  They  will  be  ana- 
lysed at  once  without  cost  to  the  sender.  The  Station  will  fur- 
nish printed  blanks  to  any  one  undertaking  these  experiments. 
These  blanks,  at  end  of  the  season,  can  be  filled  up  carefully 
with  results  and  returned  to  the  Station.  As  soon  as  they  are  all 
received,  they  will  be  critically  examined,  tabulated  and  pub- 
lished in  a bulletin.  By  such  action  each  individual  planter  will 
learn  the  needs  of  his  soil  and  the  Station  will  learn  of  the  needs 
of  the  soils  of  the  sugar  belt  and  of  cane.  Such  results  will  be 
of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  sugar  interest  of  the  State. 

1 append  the  experiments: 

Ko.  1 — Nothing. 

No.  2 — 50  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

No.  3 — 50  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

No.  4—50  lbs.  Kainite. 


18 


No.  5 — NotbiiJg. 

^ . ( 50  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

I 50  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

^ r-  ( 50  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

‘ ^ 50  lbs.  Kaiuite. 

-vx  Q t 50  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

50  lbs.  Kainite. 

( 50  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

Ko.  0 } 50  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

( 50  lbs  Kainite. 

No.  10 — Nothing 

In  these  experiments,  three  i)lats  are  left  without  manure  to  test 
the  natural  strength  of  the  soil. 

No.  2 will  tell  how  nitrogenous  manures  alone  answer  for  cane. 

No.  3 will  answer  the  same  question-relative  to  Phosphoric  Acid. 

No.  5 the  same  as  to  Potash. 

No.  6 will  tell  the  effect  of  a combination  of  Nitrogen  and  Phos- 
phoric Acid. 

No.  7 will  answer  the  same  as  to  Nitrogen  and  Potash. 

No.  8 the  same  as  to  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash. 

No.  0 will  give  the  results  of  a combination  of  all  these,  or  a 
complete  manure. 

MANURES  FOR  COTTON. 

Thanks  to  the  Experiment  Stations,  and  to  a large  class  of 
progressive  farmers  in  the  South,  the  manurial  requirements  of 
cotton  are  well  understood  The  following  formula  has  been 
used  with  excellent  resnlts  all  through  the  South,  viz : 

700  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

1,100  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

200  lbs.  Kainite. 

This  mixture  is  fully  the  equal  of  the  best  guanos  found  in  our 
markets,  and  will  cost  considerably  less.  If  objection  be  found 
to  mixing  it  on  the  plantation,  some  of  the  factories  in  New 
Orleans  will  manipulate  it  at  a small  price  over  cost  of  mateiials. 
The  above  is  recommended  with  the  belief,  drawn  from  a large 
number  of  experiments,  carefnlly  conducted  by  the  writer,  that 
cotton  seed  meal  is  fully  the  equal  of  cotton  seed  as  a source  of 


19 

^^itrogen.  Cotton  seed  ought  never  to  be  used  as  a fertilizer 
until  its  oil,  'which  has  no  fertilizhui  value  whatever^  is  extracted. 
Every  ton  of  cotton  seed  yields  35  to  40  gallons  of  oil,  which 
usually  sells  at  about  30  cents  [)er  gallon.  Therefore,  if  all  the 
cotton  seed,  over  and  above  what  is  required  for  planting,  could 
be  passed  through  a mill  for  the  extraction  of  its  oil,  and  the 
latter  turned  into  money,  what  a vast  wealth  would  be  added 
annually  to  the  cotton  industry  which  is  now  buried  with  the 
seed.  Lin  fortunately  the  present  ])rices  of  all  cotton  seed  pro- 
ducts are  low,  and,  therefore,  but  little  inducement  can  be 
ottered  the  farmer  by  the  mills  to  exchange  his  seed  for  meal. 
The  seed  now  used  by  the  mills  are  purchased  outright,  and  the 
products  rarely  return  to  the  farm  upon  which  the  seed  was 
grown.  This  is  radically  icrony.  Cotton,  when  everything 
except  the  lint  is  returned  to  the  soil,  is  one  of  the  least  exhaust- 
ing crops,  but  when  the  seed  are  sold  to  the  mills  and  cattle  con- 
sume the  bolls  and  stalks  left  in  the  held,  (as  is  frequently  the 
case,)  it  rises  high  in  the  scale  of  exhausting  crops,  and  sooner 
or  later  the  soils  upon  which  it  is  continuously  grown  will  reach 
that  point  of  depletion  as  to  cease  to  yield  remunerative  returns 
without  the  addition  of  fertilizers.  Whenever  the  seed  go  to  the 
mills,  the  meal  and  hulls,  especially  the  former,  should  be 
returned  to  the  farm  with  proper  care.  The  Southern  cotton  plan- 
ter should  buy  no  Nitrogen.  The  manure  from  his  domestic  ani- 
mals, reinforced  by  Ir’s  cotton  seed  or  cotton  seed  mea\  (should 
he  sell  his  seed,)  ought  to  grow  all  his  crops.  Under  no  circum- 
stances should  stable  manure  or  cotton  seed  be  used  alone  under 
cotton.  For  small  grain  and  corn  their  use  is  applicable  but  not 
advisable.  They  should  both  be 

COMPOSTED 

with  acid  i)hosphate.  ^^The  compost  is  best  manure  in  the  world 
for  cotton,”  is  a common  declaration  among  intelligent  planters 
of  Georgia  and  A^labama.  There  is  a power  in  the  combination, 
a strength  in  the  mixture,  a ferment  in  the  union  which  multiplies 
roots,  enlarges  foliage  and  increases  the  fruit.  The  compost,  pre- 


20 


pared  differeDtly  for  each  crop,  not  only  economises,  bat  properly 
and  effectually  utilizes  the  waste  products  of  the  farm,  and  in  its 
preparation  and  use  there  is  developed  in  the  farmer  powers  of 
observation  and  reflection  hitherto  latent.  Complete  manures  or 
Guanos  should  not  be  purchased  until  all  home  resources  for 
manure  have  been  exhausted,  and  only  then  wheu  its  guaranteed 
constituents  are  known  to  be  adapted  to  the  soils  and  crops. 
Acid  Phosphates  of  a high  grade  are  the  best  to  use  in  a compost. 
Below  is  appended  the  formula  best  suited  for  cotton  : 

100  bushels  Cotton  Seed. 

100  Stable  Manure. 

1 ton  Acid  Phosphate  (High  Grade. ) 

It  the  above  is  to  be  used  on  very  sandy  lands,  one-half  ton  of 
Kainite  may  be  advantageously  added.  Dissolve  in  water  and 
use  the  latter  to  wet  the  compost. 

Since  the  success  of  a compost  depends  materially  upon  the 
proper  manner  of  preparing  it,  full  directions  are  here  inserted  : 

DIRECTIONS  FOR  MAKING  COMPOST. 

Take  an  equal  part  of  the  Stable  Manure,  say  ten  bushels,  and 
spread  it  out  in  a level  place,  under  shelter,  to  the  depth  of  three 
inches  Sprinkle  over  it  100  pounds  of  Acid  Phosphate.  Next 
spread  over  this  ten  bushels  of  Cotton  Seed,  made  thoroughly 
wet.  Then  another  sprinkle  of  100  pounds  of  Acid  Phosphate. 
Continue  this  rotation  till  the  quantities  are  exhausted  and  then 
cover  with  a rich  earth,  from  the  fence  corners,  five  inches  deep. 
Permit  it  to  remain  until  ready  for  use,  (four  to  six  weeks  will  do,) 
and  cut  vertically  down  with  a mattock.  Mix  well  and  apply 
from  300  to  1,000  pounds  per  acre  in  the  drill  at  the  time  of 
planting. 

Be  careful  to  wet  the  Cotton  Seed  thoroughly  and  buy  only  a 
first  class  Acid  Phosphate. 

EXPERIMENTS 

It  is  highly  desirable  that  experiments  in  cotton  and  corn  be 
made  in  different  parts  of  the  State.  If,  therefore,  several  plant- 
ers can  be  induced  to  try  the  experiments  on  either  cotton  or 


21 


corn,  or  both,  given  under  cane,  they  will  be  accorded  similar 
favors.  It  is  earnestly  hoped  that  a goodly  number  will  under- 
take them,  and  that,  in  a few  years,  the  planters  of  Louisiana 
may  apply  manures  to  their  soils  with  the  same  intelligence  as  is 
now  exercised  by  the  farmers  of  Georgia. 

Any  information  on  this  or  kindred  subjects  will  be  cheerfully 
giveu  upon  application. 

MANURES  FOR  CORN. 

Although  corn  is  the  cereal  crop  of  the  United  States,  and 
excels  in  quantity  all  others  combined,  yet  its  manorial  require- 
ments have  not  been  definitely  settled.  This  is  due  to  the  fact 
that  it  is  grown  in  all  kinds  of  soil  and  almost  in  all  latitudes. 
No  plant  is  susceptible  of  more  difierentiation  under  cultivation, 
there  being  no  end  to  varieties  j in  size  trom  the  tiny  pop  corn  to 
the  mammoth  prolific  j in  color,  from  the  black  Mexican  to  the 
purest  white,  and  in  hardness  from  the  soft  dent  to  the  refractory 
flint.  A similar  diversity  of  opinion  re  vails  as  to  the  composi- 
tion of  the  manure  best  adapted  to  its  growth.  Mr.  Lawes,  of 
England,  placing  it  among  cereals,  prescribes  Nitrogen  in  heavy 
doses.  M.  Georges  Ville,  of  France,  assigns  it  a jilace  among  the 
Phosphoric  Acid  plants,  and  recommends  for  it  manures  contain- 
ing a large  amount  of  Acid  Phosphate  Mr.  Harris,  in  his  book, 
‘‘Talks  on  Manures,’^  is  inclined  to  place  it  among  cereals,  but 
mentions  some  facts  which  would  indicate  that  its  feeding  capa- 
cities are  like  the  pea  and  clover.  Other  leading  scientific  men 
have  given  formulas  for  it,  varying  largely  in  cost  and  in  quan- 
tities of  the  chief  ingredients.  Through  the  instrumentality  of 
Professor  W.  O.  Atwater,  ex-director  of  the  Connecticut  Experi- 
ment Station,  a large  number  of  experiments  were  tried  all  over 
the  eastern  part  of  the  United  States  to  test  the  manurial 
requirements  of  corn.  In  his  published  “Eeport  of  Experiments’’ 
are  given  the  results,  which  are  far  from  being  satisfactory.  Of 
the  80  results  reported,  Phosphoric  Acid  was  the  regulating 
ingredient  in  29,  Potash  in  12  and  Nitrogen  in  4.  Phosphoric 
Acid  was  more  or  less  effective  in  84,  Potash  in  24,  Nitrogen  in 
4.  Phosphoric  Acid  was  indifferent,  i.  e,  produced  no  results^  in 
17,  Potash  in  44  and  Nitrogen  in  46. 


22 


Oae  positive  conclusion  can  be  drawn  from  these  results,  viz.  : 
that  the  soils  operated  on  varied  greatly  in  composition.  This  con- 
clusion, however,  suggests  the  propriety  of  each  individual  farmer 
trying  experiments  upon  his  own  soils.  However,  in  the  South,  where 
clean  culture  has  well  nigh  exhausted  our  soils  of  vegetable  mat- 
ter, and  where  Phosphoric  Acid  is  nearly  everywhere  wanting, 
it  has  been  found  that  both  Kitrogeu  and  Phosphoric  Acid  are 
imperitively  needed  in  manures  for  corn.  Accordingly  the  fol- 
lowing formulas  are  recommended  : 

No.  1 No.  2 

Cotton  Seed  Meal 1,000  pounds  1,500  pounds. 

Acid  Phosphate 1,000  500 

No.  1 to  be  used  upon  soils  of  moderate  fertility,  with  a fair  quan- 
tity of  vegetable  matter;  and  No.  2 upon  poor  soils  destitute  of 
vegetable  matter. 

Instead  of  above,  a compost  of 
200  bushels  Cotton  Seed, 

200  ‘‘‘‘  Stable  Manure, 

1 ton  Acid  Phosphate, 

prepared  as  directed  under  cotton  may  be  used. 

These  formulas  have  given  excellent  results  on  corn,  under  the 
direction  of  the  writer. 

MANURES  FOR  OATS. 

The  following  formulas  have  given  excellent  results  : 

1,500  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal, 

500  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate, 
or  a compost  consisting  of 
300  bushels  Cotton  Seed, 

300  “ Stable  Manure, 

1 Ton  Acid  Phosphate, 
prepared  as  directed  under  Cotton. 

MANURES  FOR  RICE. 

If  manures  of  any  kind  have  ever  been  used  on  rice,  the  Sta- 
tion has  failed  to  notice  the  results. 

Judging,  however,  from  its  botanical  relations,  it  should 
require  about  the  same  manure  as  oats  with,  x^robably,  a slight 
decrease  in  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 


Bulletin  No.  3, 

—OF  THE— 


LOUISIANA 

.Sugar  Fxperiment  .Station. 


WM  C STUBBS,  Director 


KENNER,  LA.,  APRIL,  1886. 


Sugar-Bowl  print,  6 Camp  st.,  N.  O. 


BULLETIN  No  3 


OF  THE 

Louisiana  Sugar  Experiment  Station, 


Kenner  P.  0.,  April  1,  1886. 

In  the  pause  between  the  planting  of  the  experiments  and 
their  after  cultivation^  it  has  been  deemed  expedient  to  give  a 
summary  of  the  work  of  the  Station  since  its  organization,  Octo- 
ber, 1885,  to  date,  April  1st. 

Transforming  a small  sugar  plantation,  in  poor  condition,  to 
the  requirements  of  an  Experiment  Station,  is  a huge  task,  and 
the  successful  accomplishment  of  such  an  enterprise  in  a short 
time  requires  a combination  of  good  qualities  rarely  met  with  in 
one  individual. 

However,  this  task  has  been  essayed,  and  it  is  for  the  sugar 
planters  of  Louisiana  to  say,  by  critical  inspection,  which  they 
are  cordially  invited  to  give  it  at  an  early  date,  how  far  it  has 
been  successful. 

LABORATORY. 

A chemical  laboratory,  fully  equipped  with  all  the  most 
improved  facilities  for  rapid  and  accurate  work  has  been  care- 
fully fitted  up,  where  analyses  of  all  hinds  will  be  made,  free 
of  charge^  for  all  subscribers  to  the  flotation*  When  time  will  per* 


4 


mit,  analyses  for  outsiders  will  be  made  at  moderate  prices. 
This  laboratory  has  a furnace  room,  a working  room,  a weighing 
room,  a i^olariscope  room,  and  a small  store  room.  In  the  fur- 
nace room  is  a two  horse  boiler,  with  inspirator  and  ejector  (the 
latter  for  elevating  water  for  the  filter  pumps  and  general  labora- 
tory uses  5 ) water  baths,  steam  baths,  drying  chambers,  a still  and 
combustion  and  muffle  furnaces.  In  the  work  room  are  all  the 
apparatus  used  in  analyses.  In  the  weighing  room  are  balances 
made  by  H.  Troemner,  of  Philadelphia.  In  the  polariscope  room 
are  French  and  German  polariscopes,  the  former  with  monochro- 
matic and  white  light  attachments.  The  entire  laboratory  is 
furnished  with  gas. 

The  work  in  the  laboratory  has,  up  to  the  present  time,  been 
confined  almost  exclusively  to  analyses  of  cane  juice  and  its  pro- 
ducts (results  of  which  will  appear  in  a separate  bulletin,)  and  of 
various  kinds  of  fertilizers.  The  analyses  of  fertilizers  will  be 
given  later. 

The  Station  is  also  engaged  in  the  analyses  of  drainage  water 
from  plats  differently  fertilized,  to  determine  the  quantity  and 
qualify  of  the  loss  of  manurial  ingredients  sustained  by  the 
sugar  soils  of  Louisiana  by  the  rain  percolating  through  them.  The 
results  so  far  have  been  very  suggestive  and  promise  in  the  end 
valuable  instruction.  In  connection  with  the  laboratory  we  have 
a weather  bureau,  with  barometer,  rain  gauge,  maximum,  mini- 
mum, wet  and  dry  bulb  thermometers.  Three  daily  observations, 
at  fixed  hours,  are  made  and  recorded.  The  results  for  March 
are  given  in  Appendix. 

The  Station  is  indebted  to  the  U.  S.  Signal  Service  for  the  rain 
gauge  and  maximum  and  minimum  thermometers. 

In  a few  weeks  the  Station  will  begin  the  systematic  analyses 
of  all  the  sugar  soils  of  the  State,  at  which  time  samples  of 
typical  soils,  with  full  instructions  how  to  take  them,  will  be 
solicited. 


5 


EXPERIMENTS  IN  THE  FIELD. 


Before  iiistitutiug  a regular  series  of  experiments,  a large 
amount  of  work  was  uecessary  in  the  way  of  fencing,  drainage 
and  preparation  of  the  soil.  The  ditches  on  the  Station  had  been 
sadly  neglected,  and  the  soil  was  accordingly  suffering  for  want 
of  drainage.  Besides  digging  a large  number  of  open  ditches, 
several  acres  have  been  underlaid  with  tile,  using  the  latter  of 
various  sizes  and  at  different  depths  and  distances.  Upon  these 
tile  drained  plats,  experiments  in  cane,  to  test  their  value  and 
efficiency,  have  been  planted.  There  arc  now  planted  at  the 
Station  454  experiments,  viz : 30  in  oats,  00  in  corn,  8 in  sorghum 
and  350  in  cane.  On  my  neighbor’s  plantation,  with  his  consent 
and  co-operation,  the  Station  has  20  experiments  in  rice.  Exj^eri- 
ments  in  peas,  both  following  the  oats  and  in  corn,  will  be  made, 
and  the  economy  of  manuring  the  peas  as  a purveyor  for  the 
cane,  instead  of  manuring  the  latter,  will  be  scientifically  and 
practically  studied.  Attention  will  also  be  given  next  fall  to 
grasses  with  a view  of  determining  those  best  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  the  sugar  planter. 


EXPERIMENTS  IN  OATS. 


It  was  the  aim  of  the  Station  to  plant  a plat  of  oats  every 
month,  from  October  to  April,  for  the  purpose  of  determining 
the  best  time,  in  conjunction  with  the  best  manure,  for  sowing 
this  cereal  in  South  Louisiana.  Accordingly,  Plat  No.  12  of  the 
Station,  was  broken  on  22d  and  23d  October,  manured  and 
planted  27th  October,  using  2J  bushels  red  rust  proof  oats  to  the 
acre.  The  oats,  on  account  of  a prevailing  drouth,  were  lightly 
plowed  in  with  one  horse  plows. 


PLAT  NO.  12— OATS. 


Experiment  No.  1 


2 r 30  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal 
\ 30  “ acid  phosphate. 


;;  2 f Ihs-  cotton  seed  meal. 

''\'20  “ acid  phosphate. 


u 


n 3115  Ihs-  cotton  seed  meal 
\ 15  “ acid  phosphate. 


{ 


6 


{45  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

15  “ acid  phosphate. 

30  “ kainite. 

{40  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

20  “ acid  phosphate. 

30  “ kainite. 

{30  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

30  “ acid  phosphate. 

30  “ kainite. 

“ ^ 7 — 30  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ “ 8 — 15  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

“ “ 9 — 15  lbs.  kainite. 

{30  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

15  ‘‘  acid  phosphate. 

15  “ kainite. 

“ ‘‘  11 — Nothing. 

a ;i  1.)  / 30  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“\15  “■  acid  phosphate. 

A good  sttiud  was  secured,  which  successfully  withstood  the 
severe  freeze  January  8-13th.  The  plats  fertilized  with  cotton 
seed  meal  and  acid  i)hosphate  are,  at  this  date,  very  fine,  the 
admiration  of  all  who  have  beheld  them. 

PLAT  NO.  3 — OATS. 

Brokeu  with  four  horse  plows,  harrowed,  manured  and  planted 
November  17th  at  rate  2.4  bushels  per  acre ; seed,  red  rust  proof, 
X)lowed  in  lightly  with  one  horse  plows.  Stand  excellent,  growth 
vigorous  until  the  freeze  (8th-13th  January,)  killed  them  com- 
l)letely.  Plat  re-seeded  February  1st  and  2d ; 2 bushels  to  acre ; 
stand  good;  condition  fair.  Little  or  no  effect  yet  visible  from 
manures. 


Experiment  No.  1 — 50  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ “ 2— Nothing. 

^4  .>  I 50  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

« '^\10  “ acid  phosphate. 

u A j 10  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 
\20  “ kainite. 

“ “ 5 — Nothing. 

4 4 c f 50  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

^{•20  “ kainite. 

“ “ 7—10  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 


'1 


JCxpeiiment  No.  S— Nothing. 

“ “ 9—20  lbs.  kainite. 

{50  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

10  acid  phosphate. 

20  “ kainite. 

“ 11  Nothing. 

{50  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

10  “ floats. 

20  kainite. 

iLis  plat  is  upon  a blacker  aud  stiffer  soil  than  Plat  No.  12. 

\ PLAT  NO.  13— OATS. 

Broken  with  two  horse  plow,  harrowed,  manured  and  planted 
January  30th.  Oats  (2  bushels  to  acre)  plowed  in  with  one  horse 
plows.  Stand  excellent  5 growth  vigorous.  Laud  sandier  than 
either  Plats  12  or  3. 

{25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

25  “ Orchilla  phosphate. 

12)^  “ kainite. 

a f 25  lbs.  Orchilla. 

^ \ 12}'2  “ kainite. 

— 25  “ Orchilla. 

{25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

25  “ Charleston  floats. 

12)4  “ kainite. 

( 25  lbs.  Charleston  floats. 

'^\12)4  “ kainite. 

6—25  “ Charleston  floats. 

Intending  to  follow  oats  with  peas,  this  plat  has  been  manured 
with  special  reference  to  the  latter,  testing  how  far  oats  will  be 
benefitted  and  what  the  residue  will  accomplish  for  peas.  Floats 
aud  kainite  constituted  the^hish  element”  of  the  late  Dr  liaveuel, 
which  in  his  hands  proved  such  an  excellent  manure  for 
peas. 

A valuable  conclusion  can  be  drawn  from  our  experience  with 
oats,  viz  : those  sown  early  enough  to  have  formed  a good  root 
developementwere  not  injured  by  the  freeze^  all  others  were.  Those 
sown  November  17th  were  killed  outright  while  tlio.se  sown  Octo- 
ber 27th  were  unhurt. 


u (( 

a a 

a a 

ii,  (( 


8 


EXPEUIMENTS  TN  CANE 

May  be  divided  into  several  classes : 1st — Germination  questions; 
2d — Physiological  questions;  3d — Varieties,  and  4th — Manurial 
requirements. 

PLAT  0 — CANE. 

(First — Germination  Questions.) 

This  plat  was  devoted  to  testing  the  best  part  of  the  cane  to 
plant,  as  well  as  the  quantity  to  the  row.  Accordingly  great  pains 
were  taken  to  select  stalks  of  uniform  length,  which  were  cut  up 
into  short  pieces,  beginning  with  the  green,  immature  top. 

Experiment  No.  1 — Planted  with  green  tops  usually  thrown  away. 

“ “ 2 — 2 joints  next  to  top  (green.) 

“ “ 3 — Next  2 joints  (partially  green.) 

u ii  4 a u 

H a y (4  4 4 4 4 

it  u 0 “ “ “ 

4 4 4 4 J 4 4 4 4 4 4 

4 4 4 4 § 4 4 4 4 4 4 

“ “ 9 — 2 Butt  joints. 

“ “ 10— Upper  thirds  of  the  cane. 

“ “ 11— Middle 

“ “ 12- Butt  “ 

“ 13—1  cane  with  lap. 

“ “ 14—2  “ 

“ “ 15—3  “ 

The  severe  weather  and  late  spring  will  probably  prevent 
accurate  results. 

PLAT  NO.  11— CANE. 

(Second — Physiological  Questions.) 

This  plat  runs  east  and  west,  and  was  selected  to  try  the 
experiment  of  orientation,  and  also  the  question  of  suckers.  It 
was  manured  like  several  adjacent  pieces  running  north  and 
south.  Planted  February  18th  : 

Experiment  No.  1— Orientation. 

“ “ 2— All  suckers  left. 

“ “ 3 — No  suckers  left. 

4 4 44  4_Only  such  as  covered  by  plow  removed. 

PLAT  NO.  00 — CANE 
(Third  Varieties.) 

Early  in  the  fall  planters  throughout  the  State  were  requested 
to  send  to  Station  a few  selected  cane  of  the  different  varieties 


9 


grown  by  them.  The  objeet  was  to  test  whether,  by  selection 
and  proper  manuriug,  an  improved  variety  could  not  be  perma- 
nently developed.  The  following  have  been  received  : 


No.  1. 

2. 

‘‘  3. 

“ 4. 

“ 5, 

“ G. 
“ 7. 

8. 

‘‘  1). 
10. 

“ 11. 
‘‘  12. 

13. 
‘‘  14. 

15. 

16. 
‘‘  17. 
“ 18. 
“ 10. 


Selected  red  caue,  from  Ashland  plantation,  Kenner  & Brent. 
‘‘  striped  Mexican  “ “ 

“ white  I^a  Pice  “ “ 

“ Japanese,  from  Tchoupitoulas  plantation,  Soniat  Bros. 
“ small  red,  “ “ 

“ striped,  “ “ 

“ bastard,  “ 

large  red,  “ 

large  red  and  striped,  from  Station, 
large  red.  from  Cypremort,  St.  Mary,  J.  M.  Biirguieres. 
“ yellow  ribbon,  Port  Hickey,  W.  S.  Slaughter  & Bros. 

iv  j-ed  “ “ 

“ red,  from  Baton  Rouge,  S.  Shorten. 

“ red,  from  Homestead,  Dr.  Wm.  E.  Brickell. 

ribbon  “ 

‘‘  Bourbon,  from  Cuba,  D.  D.  Colcock. 

red,  from  Homestead,  Dr.  Wm.  E.  Brickell. 

“ led  (tops),  “ 

“ yellow  La  Pice,  from  H.  A.  LeSassier. 


Tlie  other  plats  of  cane  were  devoted  to  the  mamrial  require- 
ments of  cane. 


PLAT  NO  1 — CANE. 


(Fourth — Manurial  Reipiirements.) 

Land  broken  October  6-9,  with  four  horse  plow;  harrowed 
and  planted  Oct.  16  and  17.  Divided  into  28  plats,  and  lel't  to  be 
manured  in  spring,  after  cane  was  up,  with  same  manures  as 
used  upon  the  first  28  experiments  in  Plat  Ko.  2,  the  object  being 
to  test  diflerence  between  fall  and  spring  manuriug  upon  fall 

plant  cane.  The  north  end  of  plat  No.  1 was  broken,  harrowed, 
manured  and  planted  November  30  and  December  1-3. 

Experiment  No.  1-28,  see  Plat  No.  2,  1-28. 

{32)^  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal, 

5 “ acid  phosphate. 

123^  “ kainite. 

{30  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ acid  phosphate. 

123^  “ kainite. 

31 — Nothing. 

{25  Ihs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

123^  “ acid  phosphate, 

123^  “ kainite. 

“ 33  Nothing. 


10 


{18%  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 
18%  “ acid  phosphate. 
12%  “ kainite. 

f 15  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal, 
35  ■}  22%  “ acid  phosphate. 
[12%  “ kainite. 


ri5 

lbs.  Qotton  seerl  meal, 

3b]30 

“ acid  phosphate. 

“ kainite. 

[18 

“ gypsum. 

rl5 

lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

37^  25 

“ acid  phosphate. 

il5 

“ kainite. 

‘‘  “38  Nothing. 

f 50  lbs.  lime. 

..  ,4  j 2'^  “ cotton  seed  meal. 

'^^125  “ floats. 

[12%  “ cotton  hull  ashes. 

The  object  of  experiments  Nos.  29  to  35  is  to  test  the  propor- 
tion of  nitrogen  to  phosphoric  acid  suitable  for  cane  on  black 
land  ; using  them  from  3 of  former  to  1 of  latter  in  No.  29,  to  1 
of  former  to  3 of  Irtter  in  35.  Nos.  36  and  37  are  Ville’s  formu- 
las for  cane,  modified  one  with  and  the  other  without  gypsum.  No. 
39  was  first  top  dressed  with  50  lbs.  lime  and  then  treated  with 
rest  of  formula.  This  cane  was  planted  during  a prevailing 
drouth  and  some  apprehension  exists  of  danger  therefrom. 

PLAT  NO.  2 — CANE. 


Ground  prepared  with  four  horse  plow.  Harrowed  manures 
put  out  and  cane  planted  October  19th.  Ground  very  hard. 
This  plat  was  manured  in  fall,  while  a portion  of  plat  No.  1 is 
intended  to  be  similarly  manured  in  the  spring. 


Experiment  No.  1 


1. 

rio 

lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

[ 5 

“ acid  phosphate. 

2^ 

“ cotton  seed  meal. 

[ 8% 

“ acid  phosphate. 

3 

Nothing. 

r 23%  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

[11% 

“ acid  phosphate. 

r3o 

“ cotton  seed  meal- 

5^ 

[15 

“ acid  phosphate. 

1 

[30 

“ cotton  seed  meal. 

15 

“ acid  phosphate. 

1 

[15 

“ kainitci 

11 


Expei’iment  No.  7““30  lbs.  cotton  seed  mcftl. 
“ “ 8 — Nothing. 


u 

u 

q f 15  lbs.  acid  phospliate. 

1 15  “ kaiiiite. 

ii 

10 — 15  “ kaiuite. 

a 

u 

,,  1 10  cotton  seed  meal. 

[5  “ floats. 

u 

“ cottonseed  meal, 
i “ floats. 

u 

u 

Ifl — Nothing. 

(C 

, . f2ll3^  lbs.  cottonseed  meal. 
111%  “ floats. 

u 

4C 

1 - j :10  “ cotton  seed  meal. 

^^%15  “ floats. 

;; 

- 

rflO  “ cottonseed  meal. 

I(j|l5  ‘‘  floats. 

1 15  “ kainite. 

u 

f 80  ‘‘  cotton  seed  meal. 

! 15  “ floats. 

‘'ll5  “ kainite. 

[10  “ gypsum. 

(( 

u 

[IS— Nothing. 

u 

u 

( 80  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

19 15  “ floats. 

[ 15  ‘‘  cotton  hull  ashes. 

i; 

u 

20—15  tankage. 

i. 

u 

21 — 25  “ tankage. 

u 

u 

22—35  “ tankage. 

u 

i; 

23— Nothing. 

u 

■“ 

24 — 45  lbs.  tankage. 

i( 

(( 

._f45  “ tankage. 

“ kainite. 

i; 

u 

i 45  “ tankage. 

2G 1 15  “ kainite. 

( 10  “ gypsum. 

a 

u 

t 45  “ tankage. 

1 15  “ cotton  hull  ashes. 

u 

iC 

28 — Nothing. 

41 

29—85  lbs.  cotton  seed. 

;( 

44 

0^/85  cotton  seed. 

'^^\15  ‘‘  acid  phosphate. 

(( 

4. 

i 85  cotton  seed. 

31  \ 15  “ acid  phosphate. 

( 15  “ kainite. 

a 

44 

qo/85  ‘‘  cottonseed. 

‘*“^(15  “ cotton  hull  ashes. 

4V 

: 3~Nothing. 

12 


Experiment  No.  34  { *5  lbs.  ^ eotton  see.l. 

r85  “ cottonseed. 

“ “ 35jl5  “ floats. 

(lO  “ gypsum. 

“ “ 3G — stable  manure. 

“ “ 37  f stable  manure. 

' \ 15  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

“ “ 38— Nothing. 

^ stable  manure. 

“ “ 39  1 15  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

( 15  “ kainite. 
it  ti  iA  j stable  manure. 

1 15  lbs.  floats. 

This  plat  is  coming  up  quite  well,  and  hopes  are  entertained 
of  a good  stand. 


SPRING  PLANTING. 

PLATS  4 AND  5. 

These  plats  lie  side  by  side,  running  north  and  south,  with  no 
visible  marks  to  indicate  the  one  from  the  other.  They  are  of 
the  same  size.  No.  5 is  tile  drained  j No.  4 is  not.  The  plats  are 
naturally  low,  and  very  stiff  and  black.  Duplicate  experiments 
have  been  made  on  each  to  test  the  advantage  of  tile  drained 
over  untiled.  They  were  planted  on  15th  and  10th  February. 
The  following  are  experiments  upon  each: 

/ 

{25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

25  “ acid  phosphate. 

25  “ kainite. 

J 25  cotton  seed  meal. 

*"(25  acid  phosphate.  , 

‘‘  “ 3 — Nothing. 

^ 25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ “ 4 ; 25  “ Orchilla  phosphate. 

( 25  “ kainite. 
r ( “ cotton  seed  meal. 

I 25  “ Orchilla  phosphate. 

“ “ G— Nothing. 

{25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

25  ‘‘  bone  dust. 

25  “ kainite. 


13 


Experiment  No.  8 


25  “ cotton  f?ee(l  meal. 
25  “ bone  dust. 


“ 9— Nothing 

f 25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

” 10}  25  “ boats. 

[25  “ kainite. 

j 25  “ cotton  seed  meal. 

^25  “ floats. 

‘‘  12 — Nothing. 

i 25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ 18 '25  “ ashes  cotton  hulls. 

( 25  “ kainite. 

.4  1 . i 25  “ cotton  seed  meal. 
\25  “ ashes  cotton  hulls. 

“ 15— Nothing. 

“ IG — 25  lbs.  cotton  seed  Meal. 


“ “ 17 — 25  ‘‘  acid  phosphate. 

. “ “ 18 — 25  “ kainite. 

In  these  experiments  we  have  sought  to  test  the  value  particu- 
larly of  different  forms  of  phosphates  with  and  without  kainite, 
using  cotton  seed  meal  as  our  form  of  nitrogen  in  every  instance^ 


NITROGEN  MANURES— PLAT  6. 


This  plat  is  tile  drained,  the  tiles  running  east  and  west,  while 
the  different  forms  of  nitrogen  were  applied  north  and  south,  so 
that  whatever  leaching  might  occur  from  each  nitrogen  group 
could  be  caught  and  analysed.  This,  to  date,  has  been  four 
times  successfully  accomplished,  results  of  which  will  constitute 
the  matter  of  a seiiarate  bulletin. 

GROUP  1— FORMS  OF  NITROGEN  ALONE. 

Experiment  No.  1 — 5 lbs.  nitrate  soda.  ‘ • 

“ 2 — 3^  “ sulphate  of  ammonia. 

“ 3 — Nothing. 

“ “ 4 — lbs.  dried  blood. 

“ “ 5 — 12  “ cotton  seed  meal. 

GROUP  2—NITRATE  of  SODA. 

!15  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

4 “ muriate  patash. 

*Mixed  minerals. 


*Mixed  minerals  in  this  plat  always  mean  15  lbs.  acid  phosphate  and  4 lbs. 
muriate  potash. 


14 


Kxpei'iint^nt 


^ j Mixed  minerals. 

( 5 lbs.  nitrate  soda,  e(pial  to  ration. 


“ 8 — Nothing. 


j Mixed  minerals. 

^ 1 10  lbs.  nitrate  soda,  equal  to  % ration. 
Mixed  minerals. 

^115  lbs.  nitrate  soda,  equal  to  full  ration. 


GKOUP  3— SULPHATE  OF  AMMONIA. 


Experiment  No.  11 — Mixed  minerals. 

j Mixed  minerals. 

" I 3^^  lbs.  sulphate  of  ammouia,  ecpial  to  ration. 
“ 13 — Nothing. 

it  Mixed  minerals. 

\ 7}i  lbs.  sulphate  of  ammouia,  equal  to^%  ration. 

.t  ti  Mixed  minerals. 

{ 11)4  11^®*  sulphate  of  ammonia,  equal  to  full  ration. 

GROUP  4 — DRIED  BLOOD. 

Experiment  No.  IG — Mixed  minerals. 

it  it  f Mixed  minerals. 

\ 7}i  lbs.  dried  blood,  equal  to  ^ ration. 

“ “ 18— Nothing. 

) Mixed  minerals. 

I 15  lbs.  diled  blood,  equal  to  % ration, 
u ..  ( Mixed  minerals. 

\ 22)4  dis.  dried  blood,  equal  to  full  ration. 

GROUP  5 - COTTON  SEED  MEAL. 

Experiment  No.  21 — Mixed  minerals. 

) Mixed  minerals. 

i 12  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal,  equal  to  )4  ration. 

23 — Nothing. 

, ( Mixed  minerals. 

24  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal,  equal  to  % ration. 

^ Mixed  minerals. 

(36  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal,  equal  to  full  ration. 
GROUP  6 — FISH  SCRAP. 

Experiment  No.  26 — Mixed  minerals. 

) Mixed  minerals. 

( 10  lbs.  dried  tish,  erpial  to  ration. 

28 — Nothing. 

( Mixed  minerals. 

\20  lbs.  dried  tish,  equal  to  % ration. 

( Mixed  minerals. 

' ( 30  lbs.  dried  tish,  equal  to  full  ration. 


15 


OnoUP  7 — MIXED  NITROGEN. 

Experiuieut  No.  31 — Mixed  iniiiei-als. 

f Mixed  minei-als, 

! 1%  lbs.  nitrate  soda. 

“ sulphate  ammonia. 

L4  “ cotton  seed  meal. 

“ “ 33-Notbing. 

f Mixed  minerals. 

,4  ...  1 lbs.  nitrate  soda. 

I 2)4  “ sulphate  ammonia. 

{S  “ cottonseed  meal. 

f Mixed  minerals. 

c<  u <>pr  5 o lbs.  nitrate  soda. 

^ “ sulphate  ammonia.  V e(iual  to  full  ration. 

[ 12  “ cottonseed  meal,  j 

GROUP  8— FORMS  OF  NITROGEN  ALONE. 

Exi»ej  iuicut  No.  30 — Fish  scrap. 

“ “ 37—  “ 

“ “ 38 — Nothing. 

“ “ 39 — Mixed  nitrogen. 

‘‘  40  “ ‘‘ 

lu  the  above  experiments,  sueli  quantities  of  each  form  is  taken 
as  to  represent  equal  amounts  of  nitrogen,  and  these  are  taken 
in  I and  full  rations.  Our  object  is  to  test  the  best  form  and 
quantity  of  nitrogen  for  cane,  as  well  as  to  test  the  other  ques- 
tion of  loss  of  these  manures  by  leaching.  This  plat  was  planted 
March  11. 

PHOSPHORIC  ACID  MANURES— PLAT  7. 

The  object  of  rhis'phit  is  to  test  the  form  and  quantity  of  phos- 
phoric acid  best  adapted  to  cane  ; using  it  in  a soluble  form  in 
dissolved  bone  black  and  acid  phosphate,  in  a precipitated  form 
as  precipitated  bone  black  and  precipitated  acid  phosphate,  and 
in  an  insoluble  form  as  bone  dust  and  finely  ground  Charleston 
phosphate,  called  ‘‘floats also  in  the  natural  form  of  Orchilla 
guano.  Beside  above  we  have  a group  of  gypsum,  or  land  plas- 
ter, to  answer  how  far  this  substance  in  every  super  phosphate 
may  be  responsible  for  its  good  results  This  plat  was  planted 
February  20th  and  22d. 


C(iual  tu  % ratiou. 


\ eiiUal  to  % ratiou, 

4 mixed  nitrogen. 


16 


GROUP  1 — DISSOLVED  BONE  BLACK. 

(Phosphoric  Acid.) 

i 18  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

Experiment  No.  1118  “ kainite. 

f Basal  mixture.* 
u u mixture. 

\ 6 lbs.  dissolved  bone  black,  equal  to  >3  ration. 

“ “ 3 — Nothing. 

u ( Basal  mixture. 

12  lbs.  dissolved  bone  black,  e«[ual  to  % ration. 

( Basal  mixture. 

18  lbs.  dissolved  bone  black,  equal  to  full  ration, 

GROUP  2 — ACID  PHOSPHATE. 

(Soluble.) 

Experiment  No.  (3— Basal  mixture. 

4;  44  „ j Basal  mixture. 

^ \6  lbs.  acid  phosphates,  equal  to  nition. 

“ ‘‘  8— Nothing. 

44  44  Basal  mixture. 

( 12  lbs.  acid  phosphate,  equal  to  % ration. 

t.  u IQ  ( Basal  mixture. 

\ 18  lbs.  acid  phosphate,  equal  to  full  ration. 

GROUP  3— PRECIPITATED  BONE  RLACK. 

(Precipitated  Phosphoric  Acid.) 

Experiment  No.  11— Basal  mixture. 

44  44  /Basal  mixture. 

(6  lbs.  precipitated  bone  black,  equal  to  3^3  ration. 

“ - 13— Nothing. 

44  ^4  ...(Basal  mixture. 

1 12  lbs.  precipitated  bone  black,  equal  to  ration. 
.4  44  / Basal  mixture. 

\ 18  lbs.  precipitated  bone  black,  equal  to  full  ration. 

GROUP  4— PRECIPITATED  ACID  PHOSPHATE. 
(Precipitated  Phosphoric  Acid.) 

Experiment  No.  16 — Basal  mixture. 

44  44  (Basal  mixture.  [ration. 

^‘(6  lbs.  precipitated  acid  phosphate,  equal  to  3^ 

“ “ 18— Nothing. 

♦Basal  mixture  in  this  group  means  18  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal  and  18  lbs. 

kainite. 


17 


Experiment  No.  19 


Basal  mixture.  [ration. 

12  lbs.  preeipititated  acid  phosphate,  e(pial  to  % 


on  ^ mixture.  [ration. 

1 18  lbs.  precipitated  aeid  phosphate,  equal  to  full 


GROUP  5 — BONE  DUST. 

(Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid.) 

Experiment  No.  21 — Basal  mixture. 

f Basal  mixture. 

^*'(6  lbs.  bone  dust,  equal  to  % ration 
23 — Nothing. 

,, , f Basal  mixture. 

“"^\12  lbs.  bone  dust,  equal  to  % ration. 

( Basal  mixture. 

‘"'^1  IS  lbs.  bone  dust,  equal  to  full  ration. 
GROUP  6— ROCK  PHOSPHATE. 

(Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid.) 

Expei’inient  No.  2G — Basal  mixture. 

( Basal  mixture. 

\ G lbs.  lloats,  equal  to  j/3  ]-atiou. 
u u 28 — Nothing. 

( Basal  mixture. 

12  lbs.  lloats,  equal  to  % ration. 

Basal  mixture. 

*^^[18  lbs  lloats,  equal  to  full  i-ation. 

GROUP  7 — NATURAL  PHOSPHATE. 

Experiment  No.  31— Basal  mixture. 

u ao  / mixture. 

“ lbs.  Orchilla  guano,  equal  to  j/g  ration. 

‘-33  Nothing. 

/ Basal  mixture. 

12  lbs.  Orchilla  guano,  equal  to  % ration. 

J Basal  mixture. 

\ 18  lbs.  Orchilla  guano,  equal  to  full  ration. 

GROUP  8 — GYPSUM. 

Experiment  No.  3G— Basal  mixture. 

/ Basal  mixture. 

“ * \ 3 lbs.  gypsum,  equal  to  ration. 

00  ( Basal  mixture. 

6 lbs.  gypsum,  equal  to  % ration. 

on  i Basal  mixture. 

( 9 lbs.  gypsum,  equal  to  full  ration. 


4i  U 

U U 

U U 

a 


18 


POTASSIC  MANURES— PLAT  8. 

This  plat  is  designed  to  test  the  form  and  quantity  of  potash 
best  adapted  to  cane,  using  the  muriate,  sulphate,  nitrate,  car- 
bonate and  kainite.  The  ashes  of  cotton  hulls  have  been  used 
elsewhere  in  other  plats.  For  potatoes  and  sugar  beets  the  sul- 
])hate  is  preferred  to  the  muriate,  the  latter  injuring  the  sugar 
in  beets  and  the  starch  in  potatoes.  This  plat  was  planted 
March  15. 

GROUP  1 — FORMS  OF  POTASH  ALONE. 


Experiment  No.  1 — 4 lbs.  muriate  of  potash, 
u u 2—16  “ kainite. 

“ “ 3— Nothing. 

“ “ 4 — 4 lbs.  sulphate  potash, 

u u 5 — “ carbonate  potash. 

GROUP  2 — MURIATE  POTASH. 

( 18  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

Experiment  No.  6x15  “ acid  phosphate. 

i*Meal  phosphate. 

„ ( Meal  phosphate. 

^ \ 4 lbs.  muriate  potash,  equal  to  34  ration. 

8 — Nothing, 
r Meal  phosphate. 

\ 8 lbs.  muriate  potash,  equal  to  % ration. 

^ i Meal  phosphate. 

12  lbs.  muriate  potash,  equal  to  full  ration. 
GROUP  3 — KAINITE. 


Experiment  No.  11 — Meal  phosphate. 

( Meal  phosphate, 
j 16  lbs.  kainite,  equal  to  3^  ration. 

“ “ 13 — Nothing. 

44  u 1 A J Meal  phosphate. 

■^‘^\32  lbs.  kainite,  equal  to  % ration. 

44  4 4 ^ ( Meal  phosphate. 

^ j 48  lbs.  kainite,  equal  to  full  ration. 

GROUP  4 — SULPHATE  POTASH. 


Experiment  No.  16— Meal  phosphate. 


*Meal  phosphate  in  this  plat  means  18  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal  and  15  lbs. 
add  phosphate. 


u u 

a 

u u 


19 


Experiment  No.  17 


{ 


Meal  phosphate. 

4 lbs.  sulphate  potash,  equal  to  3^^  ration. 


u 


a 


a 


18 — Nothing. 

Meal  phosphate. 

\ 8 lbs.  sulphate  potash,  equal  to  % ration. 

( Meal  phosphate. 

" \ 12  lbs.  sulphate  potash,  equal  to  full  ration. 


GROUP  5 — CARBONATE  POTASH. 


Experiment  No.  21 — Meal  phosphate. 

u u oo  ( Meal  phosphate. 

I 2^  lbs.  carbonate  potash,  equal  to  3^3  ration. 

“ “ 28— Nothing. 

“ 24  Meal  phosphate. 

\ lbs.  carbonate  potash,  equal  to  % ration. 

u 9,“  f Meal  phosphate. 

\ carbonate  potash,  equal  to  full  ration. 


GROUP  6— NITRATE  POTASH. 

Experiment  No.  2G— Meal  phosphate. 

^ 9 lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ “ 27  ' 15  “ acid  phosphate. 

( 4)4  “ nitrate  soda,  equal  to  3^3  ration, 

U 28— Nothing. 

£ 9 lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ “ 29  M5  “ acid  phosphate. 

^ 9 “ nitrate  soda  equal  to  % ration. 

r 9 lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ “ 80^15  acid  phosphate. 

(I834  “ nitrate  soda,  equal  to  full  ratiou. 


COMMERCIAL  FERTILIZERS — PLAT  NO.  9. 


Planted  March  15th,  excei)t  No.  13,  that  on  21st. 

Experiment  No.  1 — 15  bushels  compost  in  drill. 

“ ‘‘  2 — 15  “ “ broadcast. 

“ u 3_5o  sterns’ 


4— 50 

5— 50 
G— 50 

7— 50 

8— 50 

9— 50 

10— 50 

11— 50 
15— .50 
18—50 


Sterns’  ammoniated  dissolved  bone. 


Foster’s  formula. 

Rogers’  sugar  and  cotton  fertilizer 
Mapes’  potato  manure. 

Mapes'  vine  and  fruit  manure. 
l*lanters’  cane  fertilizer. 

Soluble  Facitic  guano. 


20 


The  above  compost  was  made  from  20  bushels  cotton  seed,  40 
bushels  stable  manure  and  250  lbs.  acid  phosphate,  put  up  in 
January  and  cut  down  and  used  March  15.  The  guanos  were 
all  donated  by  the  manufacturers  or  their  agents.  See  page  21. 

SANDY  LAND  EXPERIMENT— PLAT  NO.  16. 

The  following  experiments  were  placed  upon  sandy  land  to 
test  the  proportions  of  nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid  and  potash 
adapted  to  cane  on  this  character  of  soil.  Planted  Feb.  19  and  20. 


Exp't  No. 


u u 


L 3234  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 
1^1234  “ kainite. 

(5  “ acid  phosphate. 

}30  ‘‘  cotton  seed  meal. 

123^  kainite. 

7)4  “ acid  phosphate. 

}2.t  “ cotton  seed  meal. 

12)^  “ kainite. 

12)4  “ acid  phosphate. 

}25  “ cotton  seed  meal. 

25  “ kainite. 

123^  “ acid  phosphate. 


I 

) 


Proportions  of 

nitrogen  to  phos.  acid,  to  potash 
3 1 13^ 


t ' 
1 ' 
1 ■ 


1 1 

1 1 

1 2 


“ “ 5— Nothing. 

“ “ 6 — Nothing. 

(18%  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal.  I 

“ ‘‘  7J  18^  “ acid  phosphate.  > 

[123^  “ kainite.  ) 

(18)4  “■  cottonseed  meal.'| 

“ “ 8 -I  18^  “ acid  phosphate.  V 

1^25  “ kainite.  J 

u u q/18^  “ cotton  seed  meal.  1 

\18^  “ acid  phosphate.  J 

{15  “ cottonseed  meal.! 

223^  “ acid  phosphate.  V 

123!  “ kainite.  J 


1 

1 

1 

1 


2 1 

2 2 

2 0 

3 13^ 


STUBBLE  CANE. — PLAT  NO  14. 

This  plat  is  the  only  piece  of  first  year  stubble  on  the  place. 
It  was  used  to  windrow  cane  in  during  the  past  winter,  and  has 
been,  jierhaps,  partially  injured.  As  it  was  the  only  opportunity 
of  trying  some  experiments  upon  first  year  stubble,  it  was 
deemed  expedient  to  run  the  risk  of  the  injury.  Accordingly  it ' 


21 


was  otf- bared,  dug,  and  manures  applied  March  18th  and  19th, 
and  well  harrowed  in.  The  object  of  the  experiment  is  to  test 
manurial  requirements  of  stubble  cane  upon  sandy  land. 


Experiment  No. 


, r 32>^  lbs, 

n 5 “ 


cotton  seed  meal.  ) Nitrogen 
acid  phosphate,  j 3 

.1  I ^ 


to 


phos. 

1 


acid. 


a 

u 

2/30  “ 

n 7%  - 

cotton  seed  meal.  1 
acid  phosphate,  j 

u 

3)25  “ 

cotton  seed  meal.  ) 
acid  phosphate,  j 

u 

4 — Notning. 

( 18^  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal.  } 

u 

u 

5|i8^  ;; 

acid  phosphate.  > 
muriate  potash.  ) 

(C 

u 

^\18^  “ 

cotton  seed  meal.  ) 
acid  phosphates,  j 

‘‘ 

u 

7)15  “ 

'\22X 

f 5 “ 

1 7 “ 

cotton  seed  meal.  | 
acid  phosphate,  j 

nitrate  soda, 
sulphate  ammonia. 

u 

8^  6 

1 28 

L 4 - 
f 14  “ 

dried  blood, 
acid  phosphate, 
muriate  potash. 

nitrate  potash. 

ii 

(( 

9-^324^  “ 

l21>^  “ 

acid  phosphate, 
gypsum. 

a 

10  30  “ 

tankage. 

u 

11 1 80  “ 
^^\20 

tankage. 

ashes  cotton  seed  1 

1 


1 Formula  recommended 
I for  cane  stubble  by 
)■  Agricultural  Station 
I at  St.  Denis. 

J 

} Formula  recommended 
for  stubble  cane  by 
Geo.  Ville,  of  France. 


■15  bushels  compost,  (see  page  19,) 

50  lbs.  Sterns’  ammoniated  dissolved  bone. 
Sterns’  sugar  goods. 

Stono  guano. 

Studniczka’s  cane  gmwer. 

Rogers’  sugar  goods. 

Foster’s  formula. 

Mapes’  potato  manure. 

Mapes’  vine  and  fruit  manure. 


Planters’  cane  fertilizer. 


12 
13 

14— 50 

15— 50 

16— 50 

17— 50 

18— 50 

19— 50 

20— 50 

21 —  Nothing 

22— 50  Ihs 

23— 50  “ 


The  Pacific  sugar  goods  reached  here  too  late  to  be  put  on 
stubble. 

PLAT  NO.  15 

contains  second  year  stubble.  Cane  was  also  windrowed  in  this, 
and  great  apprehension  exists  as  to  its  safety.  However,  it  has 


been  plowed  and  dug,  and  should  a stand  prevail  it  will  be  suit- 
ably manured  at  proper  time. 


These  are  the  experiments  a’ ready  instituted  in  cane  at  the 
Station — a much  larger  number  than  was  at  first  expected.  But 
so  little  is  known  of  the  manurial  requirements  of  cane  that  it 
was  deemed  best  to  investigate  it  in  every  possible  direction. 
After  this  year  it  is  hoped  the  number  of  experiments  can  be 
materially  reduced.  The  Station  has  had  already  many  unlooked 
for  difiiculties  to  contend  with.  A portion  of  its  land  is  very 
black  and  stiff,  and  the  proper  preparation  of  such  a soil  for  cane 
has  required  more  time,  patience  and  heavy  labor  than  was 
anticipated.  This  has  been  largely  due  to  the  deficiency  of 
drainage  and  bad  culture  which  had  previously  prevailed  here. 
Again,  the  winter  has  been  unusually  severe  and  long,  and 
therefore  the  fall  planted  cane  has  been  seriously  retarded  and 
somewhat  iujured.  The  seed  cane  used  by  the  Station  for  spring 
planting  was  purchased  in  windrows,  and  put  ux)  before  the  occu- 
pation of  this  place  by  the  Station.  Much  of  it  was  removed  in 
September  from  the  front  lands  to  make  way  for  the  new  levee 
then  just  begun.  It  was  left  several  days  out  of  the  ground, 
causing  dry  rot,  and  then  windrowed  in  a corn  field  with  no 
attention  to  drainage,  causing  wet  rot.  Accordingly,  when  the 
windrows  were  ox)ened  this  spring,  a large  amount  was  totally 
rejected,  another  had  to  be  carefully  assorted,  and  another  x^art, 
the  best,  was  planted  without  assortment.  Had  the  spring  been 
X^rox^itious,  no  doubt  would  be  entertained  of  an  excellent  stand, 
so  great  was  the  amount  used  in  xfianting;  but  the  unusually 
cold,  wet  and  backward  spring  has  caused  much  of  it  to  rot 
since  x^lanting,  hence  a serious  ax)X>reheusion  for  a stand  on  some 
Xfiats.  However,  provision  has  been  made  to  partially  repair  a 
want  of  a stand  by  an  extensive  hot  bed,  and  the  x^rocurement, 
through  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Leon  Godchaux.  of  a car  load  of 
good  seed  cane,  with  which  we  hope  to  fill  ux^  vacancies. 


23 


Early  in  August,  the  Station  will  begin  the  analyses  ol  samples 
of  cane  from  each  plat  and  continue  them  up  to  the  grinding 
season.  By  this  means  it  is  expected  to  learn  much  of  the  devel- 
opment of  sugar  in  cane,  the  fertilizers  which  will  hasten  this 
process,  and  the  effects  of  the  various  kinds  of  manures  upon  the 
sugar  cane.  At  the  end  of  the  season  each  experiment  will  be 
carefully  weighed  and  analyzed,  its  products,  as  tar  as  practi- 
cable, followed  into  the  sugar  house  with  careful  analyses.  Such 
are  the  present  purposes  of  the  Station. 

EXPERIMENTS  IN  SORGUM. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  if  a large  variety  of  sorghum,  which 
would  mature  in  September,  could  be  obtained  it  would  be  a 
valuable  acquisition  to  the  sugar  planter  by  enabling  him  to  run 
his  sugar  mill  during  September  and  October,  thus  prolonging 
his  season  of  grinding.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  Station,  with  a 
view  of  determining  the  adaptability  of  the  various  sorghums  to 
this  purpose,  has  planted  the  following  varieties  : 

No.  1 — Honduras. 

“ 2 — Link’s  hybrid. 

“ 3 — Chinese  sorghum. 

“ 4 — India  sorghum. 

“ 5 — Stewart’s  hybrid. 

“ 6 — White  seeded  sorghum. 

“ 7 — Early  orange. 

“ 8— Early  amber. 

These  will  be  carefully  watched  and  analyzed  at  maturity, 
seed  saved  and  replanted  with  the  hope  of  finally  securing  an 
acclimated  variety,  rich  in  sugar,  adapted  to  the  supposed  wants 
of  the  sugar  planter. 

SUGAR  BEETS. 

A package  of  white  imperial  sugar  beet  seed  received  by  Mr. 
Lucien  Soniat  from  the  Agricultural  Department  at  Washington, 
was  kindly  divided  with  the  Station.  Two  rows  of  these  beets 
are  now  growing,  which  will  furnish  the  Station  with  samples 
for  testing  their  sugar  content  at  the  end  of  the  season.  The 
seed  used  are  said  to  be  from  the  south  of  France. 


24 


CORN  EXPERIMENTS. 

Two  plats  are  devoted  to  corn — one  of  about  2 acres,  to  varie- 
ties; the  other,  of  12  acres,  to  maniirial  requirements  of  corn. 

PLAT  NO.  10 — VARIETIES  OF  CORN. 

No.  1 — Yellow  flint,  grown  on  tile  drained  land. 

2 —  “ “•  “ from  AVestern  seed. 

“ 3 — Mexican  dint,  grown  from  seed  obtained  at  Exposition  of  ’85. 

“ 4 — Creole  corn. 

“ 5 — Cross  between  Mexican  and  Creole  corn. 

“ 6 — AVhite  Mexican,  from  seed  obtained  at  Exposition  of  '85. 

“ 7— Corn  from  Kentucky  seed. 

The  first  six  varieties  were  grown  on  the  Alice  G.  plantation, 
and  were  presented  by  Mr.  D.  E.  C alder;  the  7th  was  raised  on 
the  Tchoiipitoulas  plantation,  and  was  presented  by  Mr.  Lucieu 
Soniat,  together  with  some  Creole  corn  used  on  Plat  1 7. 

FERTILIZERS  FOR  CORN— PLAT  NO.  17. 

The  object  of  this  plat  is  to  determine  the  manurial  require- 
ments of  corn. 

Experiment  No.  1— 22)^  bushels  compost. 

2 —  60  lbs.  Pacific  sugar  goods. 

3— 60  “ Soluble  Pacific  guano. 

4— 60  “ Rogers’  sugar  and  cotton  fertilizer. 

5 —  60  “ Studiczka’s  sugar  goods. 

6— 60  ‘‘  Stono  guano. 

7 —  Nothing. 

8 —  60  lbs.  Sterns'  ammoniated  dissolved  bone. 

9 —  60  “ Sterns’  sugar  goods. 

10 —  60  “ Foster’s  formula. 

11 —  60  “ acid  phosphate. 

12 —  Nothing. 

13— 60  lbs.  tankage. 

( bO  “ tankage. 

( 20  *•  ashes  cotton  hulls. 

15 —  Nitrate  soda. 

16 —  Sulphate  ammonia. 

17 —  Nothing. 

18 —  Dried  blood. 

19 —  Cotton  seed  meal 

20 —  Mixed  minerals. 


NITRATE  SODA  GROUP. 

n-,  j Mixed  minerals. 

^ \ Nitrate  soda,  equal  to  I'fltion. 


u U 

u u 

a it 

a it 

u it 

a it 

u it 

it 

i,  it 

u it 

u it 

it  it 

U it 

it  it 

it  it 

(i  i. 

ii  it 

U it 


ii 


25 


NITRATE  SODA  GROUP— CONTINUED. 


Experiment  No.  22— Nothing. 

' Mixed  minerals. 


23 


{ Nitrate  soda,  equal  to  % ration. 

2 . ( Mixed  minerals. 

\ Nitrate  soda,  equal  to  full  ration. 


SULPHATE  AMMONIA  GROUP. 


Experiment  No.  25 — Mixed  minerals. 


26 


( Mixed  minerals. 

( Sulphate  ammonia,  equal  to  % ration. 


27 — Nothing. 


28 


I Mixed  minerals. 

\ Sulphate  ammonia,  equal  to  % ration. 


sjQ /Mixed  minerals. 

Sulphate  ammonia,  equal  to  full  ration. 


DRIED  BLOOD  GROUP. 

Experiment  No.  30— Mixed  minerals. 

0-1  / Mixed  minerals. 

“ oi  I Dried  blood,  equal  to  ration, 

u u 32 — Nothing. 

( Mixed  minerals. 

\ Dried  blood,  equal  to  % ration. 


33 


o^/ Mixed  minerals. 

Dried  blood,  equal  to  full  ration. 


Experiment  No.  35— Mixed  minerals. 


36 


( Mixed  minerals. 

( Cotton  seed  meal,  equal  to  % ration. 


37 — Nothing. 

oj.  I Mixed  minerals. 

I Cotton  seed  meal,  equal  to  % ration. 

OQ  ( Mixed  minerals. 

Cotton  seed  meal,  equal  to  full  ration. 

.^  ( 80  lbs.  Orchilla  guano. 

\ 80  “ cotton  seed  meal. 

41 —  Nothing. 

42 —  80  lbs.  Orchilla  guano. 


43 


80  “ floats. 

80  “ cotton  seed  meal. 
“ 44 — Nothing. 

45 — 80  lbs.  floats. 

“ 46 — 80  “ acid  phosphate. 

“ 47—20  “ muriate  potash. 

“ 48--Nothing. 

“ 49—80  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 


26 


f20  “ 

muriate  potash. 

\80  “ 

acid  phosphate. 

f 60  “ 

cotton  seed  meal. 

|60  “ 

acid  phosphate. 

|60  “ 

cotton  seed  meal. 

1 15  “ 

muriate  potash. 

4 60  “ 

cotton  seed  meal. 

160  “ 

acid  phosphate. 

(l5  “ 

muriate  potash. 

[60  “ 

tankage. 

1 15  “ 

gypsum. 

f60  “ 

tankage. 

\15  ‘‘ 

muriate  potash. 

51 

52 

53 

54 

55 

56--'N'otliing. 

RICE  EXPERIMENTS. 


The  Statiou  not  being  prepared  to  grow  rice,  and  yet  desirous 
of  determining  the  elfects  of  different  fertilizers  upon  this  cereal, 
accepted  the  proffer  of  Mr.  H.  S.  Wilkinson,  whose  rice  farm 
adjoins  the  Station,  to  whatever  land  that  might  be  needed. 
Accordingly,  with  the  co  operation  of  Mr.  Wilkinson,  the  fol- 
lowing experiments  have  been  planted: 


^ 50  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 
Experiment  No.  1125  “ acid  phosphate. 

( 10  “ muriate  potash. 

cotton  seed  meal. 
"^(25  “ acid  phosphate. 

“ “ 3 — Nothing. 

“ “ 4 — 50  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 


a 


ii 


“ ^ci^  phosphate. 
^\10  “ muriate  potash. 

“ 6 — 25  “ acid  phosphate. 

“ 7 — 10  “ muriate  potash. 

“ 8--Nothing. 

f 8 lbs.  nitrate  soda. 

1 5 “ sulphate  ammonia. 
9^  10  dried  blood. 

I 25  acid  phosphate. 
tlO  muriate  potash. 

;;  10/56  tankage. 

tlO  “ muriate  potash. 

“ 11 — 50  “ tankage. 

“ 1.2/25  Orchilla  guano. 

^"^(10  “ muriate  potash. 

“ 13— Nothing. 


Experiment  ISTo,  14 — 25  lbs.  OrchiJla  guano, 

“ “ 15—25  ‘‘  floats. 

“ “ 16 — 25  “ Pacific  sugar  goods, 

“ “ 17—25  “ Foster’s  formula. 

“ “ 18 — Nothing. 

“ 19—25  lbs.  tttudniczka’s  sugar  goods. 

“ “ 20 — 25  “ Sterns’  sugar  goods. 

This  is  the  first  time,  as  far  as  the  Station  is  informed,  that  fer- 
tilizers of  any  kind  have  ever  been  used  under  rice.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  they  will  prove  beneficial  and  be  of  value  to  many  of 
our  planters. 

The  Station  wishes  to  acknowledge  its  indebtedness  to  the 
following: 

Messrs.  John  T.  Moore,  Jr.,  &Co.,  New  Orleans,  for  fertilizers. 

Sterns’  Fertilizing  Companj^  “ “ 

A.  Y.  Kodgers&  Co.  “ “ 

Henry  Studniczka  “ “ 

Planters’  Fertilizing  Company  “ “ 

Mapes’  Fertilizing  Company,  New  York,  “ 

Travers,  Snead  & Co.,  Richmond,  Va.,  Orchilla  guano. 

Eliwan  Phosphate  Company,  Charleston,  iS.  C.,  acid  phosphate  and  floats. 
D.  R.  Calder,  New  Orleans,  seed  corn. 

Lucien  Souiat,  Jefferson  parish,  seed  corn  and  sugar  beet  seed. 

Leon  Godcbaux,  New  Orleans,  one  car  load  seed  cane. 

Mississippi  Valley  Railroad,  for  favors. 

Police  Jury  of  Jefferson  parish,  for  repairing  road. 


APPENDIX 


Louisiana  Sugar  Experiment  Station. 

RECORD  OF- WEATHER  FOR  MARCH, 

lE^exiner,  Ija,, 


TEMPERATURE. 

DATE. 

9 A.  M 

. 3 P.  M. 

9P.  M. 

Max. 

. Min. 

Daily  rainfall. 

State  of  weather 

March  2 

49® 

ninuHTT 

V •- 

“ 3 

47 

.75 

u 

u 4 

49 

1.50 

“ 5 

49 

.20 

U 

“ 6 

50 

.00 

Fair. 

U 7 

51® 

57® 

54® 

49 

,00 

Cloudy. 

“ 8 

55 

52 

60 

50 

.00 

“ 9 

62 

50 

.13 

“ 10 

42 

49 

42 

39 

.00 

Clear. 

“ 11 

50 

59 

55 

37 

.00 

Cloudy. 

“ 12 

62 

60 

60 

59 

.28 

Rainy, 

‘‘  13 

49 

57 

48 

47 

.00 

Clear. 

u 14 

57 

60 

54 

37 

.00 

Fair. 

“ 15 

63 

70 

59 

49 

.06 

Clear. 

“ 16 

61 

63 

60 

57 

.80 

Rainy. 

u 17 

61 

72 

61 

59 

.00 

Clear. 

“ 18 

61 

64 

62  i 



55 

.00 

Cloudy. 

“ 19 

65 

72 

61  ! 

1 

62 

.97 

Clear. 

“ 20 

64 

70 

64 

63 

.05 

Cloudy. 

“ 21 

52 

64 

52 

47 

.00 

Clear. 

“ 22 

57 

64 

52 

1 

47 

.00 

u 

“ 23 

57 

63 

61 

47 

.00 

a 

“ 24 

60 

69 

56 

71® 

50 

.00 

;; 

“ 25 

68 

72 

62 

76 

52 

.00 

Fair. 

“ 26 

64 

72 

64 

78 

56 

.22 

n, 

“ 27 

62 

77 

67 

80 

62 

.30 

Cloudy. 

“ 28 

73 

67 

70 

80 

64 

.10 

Rainy. 

“ 29 

70 

72 

70 

78 

69 

.00 

Cloudy. 

“ 30 

57 

54 

49 

72 

57 

3.75 

Rainy. 

“ 31 

40 

57 

52 

58  147 

— 

Clear. 

9.13 


Highest  temperature,  80® — Lowest  temperature,  37®. 

J.  D.  Stubbs,  Observer . 


BULLETIN 

:isro.  -T- 

Sugar  Experiment  Station, 

KENNER,  LA., 


State  Experiment  Station, 

BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  A.  M.  PH-  D-, 


ISSUED  BY 

TrHOJMF*HO:!V  .1. 


Commissioner  of  AGRicuLTtfUE, 
BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 


BATON  ROUGE: 

riilNTKD  BY  LEON"  rfiEMSKI.  ST.A'fE  PRINTER, 

lene! 


Ijatox  Rouge,  La.,  July  dth,  18S6. 
Maj.T.J.  Bird,  Com  mi. <<sioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge: 


I band  yon  herewitli  for  publication,  a l)nlletin  on  oatst,  covering  results 
of  expeiiuiets  at  the  Sugar  Experiment  Station,  Kenner,  La.,  and  the  State 
Expciiment  Station.  Raton  Rouge,  La.,  for  the  past  season. 

Kospeettuily, 

WxM.  C.  STUBBS, 

Director. 


OATS 


is  the  third  cereal  in  importance  in  the  United  States,  the  total 
acreage  in  187‘J  being  16,144,098  acres,  yielding  407,858,099 
bushels.  Louisiana  in  the  same  year  had  26,861  acres,  with  a 
total  yield  of  229,840  bushels.  Over  most  of  the  United  States  it 
is  a spring  crop,  jyid  is  harvested  in  Jul^b  At  the  South  the 
winter  varieties  exist,  and  but  for  the  depredation  of  the  rust 
would  long  ago  have  become  extensively  raised.  In  late  years, 
however,  reliable  rust-proof  varieties  have  been  obtained ; but 
these  varieties  are  afflicted  with  another  serious  defect  which 
])revents  their  extensive  use  as  a Avinter  oat,  viz.,  liability  to  be 
killed  by  cold.  This  is  shoAvn  by  our  experiments  given  further 
on. 

HISTORY  OF  OATS. 

Uo  record  is  made  of  oats  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Some  geol- 
ogists assert  that  it  made  its  appearance  in  the  Bronze  Age, 
long  after  Avheat  and  barlejb  The  pre-historic  nations  of  Central 
Europe  cultivated  it,  and  occasionally  grains  of  this  cereal  have 
been  found  in  the  remains  of  the  “later  dwellers”  of  Switzer- 
land. Its  cultivation  increased  with  civilization  in  Northern 
and  Central  Europe,  until  it  has  become  the  chief  bread  product 
in  Scotland  and  adjoining  isles.  It  was  brought  to  America 
from  Europe,  and  to-day  it  is  cultivated  in  every  State  and  Ter- 
ritory. 

NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  OATS. 

It  belongs  botanically  to  the  genus  ^^Avena,”  and  there  are 
several  si)ecies.  Of  the  latter,  three  are  well  defined.  Two 
with  adherent  husks,  viz  : our  common  Auifieties  ^LAvena  Saliva,” 
and  those  with  heads  only  on  one  side  of  stem,  “Avena  Orien- 
tates,” usually  known  as  the  Oriental  oats.  There  is  a third 
species  in  which  tire  husk  separates  from  the  kernel,  leaving  a 
naked  seed,  like  wheat ; they  are  commonly  called  “naked”  or 
“skinless”  oats,  botanically  “Avena  Nuda.” 


3 


SOILS  ADAPTED  TO  OATS. 

All  kinds,  from  heaviest  elays  to  the  lightest  sands,  will  grow 
■Dats.  They  thrive  best  upon  rich  soils,  with  abundant  but  not 
excessive  moisture.  Hence  upon  well  drained  bottom  lands,  in 
our  climate  we  find  the  largest  and  heaviest  crops.  They  vary 
An  weight  per  bushel  from  20  to  50  pounds.  The  legal  wmght  i^er 
bushel  is  generally  32  pounds. 

CULTIVATION  OF  OATS. 

After  a thorough  preiiaration  of  the  soil,  the  oats  are  gener- 
ally sown  broadcast,  harrowed  and  rolled  in.  Sometimes  they 
are  lightly  plowed  in  ; they  are  harvested  with  sickle,  scythe, 
cradle  and  reaper,  sometimes  bound  in  sheaves  and  sometimes 
treated  as  hay. 

OATS  AS  FOOD. 

We  have  mentioned  the  extensive  use  of  oatmeal  for  human 
food  in  Scotland,  Scandinavia  and  Iceland,  lb  is  also  used  to 
a limited  extent  as  such  in  this  country. 

Bnt  its  chief  use  is  as  a food  for  horses  and  mules,  for  which 
it  is  specially  adapted.  Turfmen,  early  recognizing  this  fact, 
have  fed  their  fastest  horses  exclusively  on  oats.  For  heavj" 
work  in  a hot  climate,  it  surpasses  all  other  grains  as  a food  for 
stock.  The  unhulled  oats  approach  nearer  the  perfect  ration 
for  a horse  than  any  other  grain.  Experiments  carefully  con- 
dncted  at  several  German  experiment  stations,  have  also 
shown  that  oats  cut  just  before  maturity,  when  the  seed  are  in 
the  dough  and  the  stalk  slightly  yellow,  and  fed  in  the  sheaf, 
•(best  done  by  cutting  up  into  small  pieces  with  a good  cutting 
machine)  constitutes  the  perfect  ration  for  the  work-horse,  and 
no  other  food  of  an/  kind  is  needed. 

Even  the  straw  of  oats  is  preferred  for  cattle  feed  to  that  from 
wheat  and  rye,  wdiile  the  latter  are  usually  preferred  by  the 
paper  mills. 

MANURES  FOR  OATS. 

It  has  been  long  known  that  oats,  like  other  cereals,  respond- 
ed best  to  large  doses  of  nitrogenous  manures,  and  therefore  was 
classed  among  those  plants  which  require  manures,  whose  dom- 
inant ingredient  was  nitrogeii.  A series  of  experiments,  how- 


4 


(‘ver,  conducted  l)y  Messrs.  Lawes  & Gilbert  upon  this  plant 
Iiave  shown  tliat  while  nitrogenous  manures  alone  largely  in- 
creased the  cropj  the  addition  of  acid  phosphate  and  potassic 
salts  to  tiie  nitrogenous  manures  still  further  enhanced  the 
yield.  Hence  while  it  is  claimed  that  available  nitrogen  is  most 
needed  in  a manure  for  oats,  still  it  is  recognized  also  that  fair 
([uantities  of  phos])horic  acid  and  potash  in  available  forms  must 
be  present  either  in  the  manure  or  in  the  soil,  in  order  to  produce 
maximum  results.  In  our  experiments  Ave  have  tried  to  test  the 
manurial  acquirements  of  our  soils  for  groAving  oats. 

Before  giving  onr  experiments  we  will  here  briefly  snmmarize  what  Ave 
liave  at  some  length  ex])lained  in  bulletin  ISo  2. 

Commercial  fertilizers  are  valuable  for  only  their  ingredients,  viz:  nitro- , 
gen,  phosphoric  acid  and  potash.  They  mav  contain  a!l  three  of  these  in- 
gredients, two  or  one.  Kaiiiite  is  a crude  salt  of  potash  and  contains  about 
twelve  ])er  cent  of  this  ingredient.  Acid  phosphate  contains  phosphoric 
acid,  usually  from  twelve  to  sixteen  per  cent.  Both  nitrate  of  soda  and  sul- 
l)iiate  of  ammonia  are  wtluable  only  for  nitrogen,  the  former  containing  lif- 
teen  per  cent,  and  the  latter  21  })er  cent  of  this  element.  Cotton  seed  meal  is 
A'aluable  chietly  for  its  nitiogen,  of  which  it  contains  about  seven  per  cent,  but 
it  contains  also  small  (piantities  of  phosphoric  acid  (three  percent),  and  of  pot- 
(tAvo  per  cent).  Muriate  of  potash  contains  about  fifty  per  cent  of  potash. 

The  ordinary  cottou  fertilizers  sold  in  our  markets  are  complete 
tnanures,  and  contain  usually  nitrogen  (two  to  three  per  cent), 
])hosphoric  acid  (eight  to  twelve  per  cent),  and  potash  (one  to 
three  per  cent). 

EXPERIMENTS  AT  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION  IN 

OATS,  1886. 

The  object  of  these  experiments,  as  well  as  those  upon  the 
State  Experiment  Station,  was  primarily  to  test  the  economy  of 
growing  oats  at  home  as  a food  crop  for  stock,  in  fireference  to 
the  prevailing  custom  of  importing  annually  large  quantities  at 
great  cost.  With  this  end  in  view  we  have  striven  to  decide  two 
questions,  viz  : 1st.  Best  time  to  sow  '‘I  2d.  Manurial  require- 
ments of  our  soils  for  growing  oats  ! A third  question  might 
have  been  propounded,  viz  : AVhich  is  the  best  seed  1 But  the 
experience  of  southern  cultivators  has  been  so  unanimous  in 
favor  of  the  rust  proof  A^arieties,  that  this  question  was  elimi- 
nated this  year.  Perhaps  hereafter  it  Avill  be  Avorthy  of  trial. 

To  decide 

THE  BEST  TIME  TO  PLANT. 

a series  of  experiments,  covering  planting  in  every  mouth  from 
October  to  March,  Avas  proiiosed  ; accordingly  plats  were  i>lanted 


o 


October  27th,  Xoveinber  17th,  Janoaiy  2,0t]i  mid  February  2(1. 
Pressure  of  other  business  prevented  planting-  in  December,  and 
the  cold  and  v’et  weather  prohibited  an  earlier  planting  in  Jan- 
uary. The  intense  cold  of  January  Stli  to  13tli  killed  completely 
the  oats  sown  in  is^ovendier,  while  those  sown  in  October  were 
unhurt — a valuable  suggestion  to  those  intending  hereafter  to 
make  fall  plantiug.  Those  sown  in  October  had  attained  a 
greater  root  development  than  those  sown  in  l^ovember,  and 
hence  were  enabled  to  withstand  a greater  severity  of  cold. 

M ANU RIAL  REQUIEEMEK TS. 

To  test  this  (piestion,  cotton  seed  meal,  acid  phosphate  and 
Kaiuite  were  used  respectively  to  furnish  nitrogen,  phosphoric 
acid  and  potash.  These  substances  were  used  in  different  (luan- 
tities  and  combinations,  which  will  be  full}^  explained  under  each 
1)1  at. 

The  cotton  seed  meal  used  contained  seven  per  cent,  nitrogen, 
three  per  cent,  phosphoric  acid  and  two  per  cent,  potash.  The 
acid  phosphate  had  fifteen  ])er  cent,  of  available  phosphoric  acid  ; 
there  was  twelve  per  cent,  of  potash  in  the  Kainite. 

PLAT  ^"0.  1. 

Object.  To  test  the  proportions  of  cotton  seed  meal  to  acid 
phosphate,  best  adapted  to  oats,  and  incidentally  the  need  of 
potash  to  the  soil,  which  was  alluvial  in  character,  consisting  of 
a mixture  of  sandy  and  black  land,  the  latter  predominating; 
badly  drained  and  in  poor  tiltli.  The  plat  Avas  about  two  arpents 
from  the  front  levee,  and  was  about  one  arpent  in  depth.  Culture 
of  the  previous  year,  old  stubble  (bad  stand)  tilled  in  with  corn. 

PREPARATION  OF  SOIL. 

Land  broken  with  two-horse  plow,  Oct.  23d  ; harrowed  on  23 th  ; 
manures  distributed  broadcast,  and  red  rust-proof  (Texas)  seed 
.sown  at  rate  of  two  and  a half  bushels  per  acre ; both  lightly 
liloAved  in  AA'ith  one  horse-plows,  Oct.  27th.  This,  on  account  of 
prevailing  drouth  Avas  preferred  to  harrowing  in,  the  usual 
course  adopted  in  covering  oats.  The  land  Avas  left  fiat  Avitli  the 
exception  of  aa  ater  drains  between  the  plats. 

Nos.  1,  3,  and  5.,  upon  the  east  side,  and  No.  12  upon  the  west 
.side,  were  injured  by  water  standing  upon  them  during  the  con- 


tiiiuous  rains  of  March.  As  soon  as  discovered,  open  drains  for 
relief  were  constituted  5 but  these  i^lats  never  fully  recovered 
from  this  temporary  injury. 

The  oats  came  up  quickly  and  gave  an  excellent  stand.  The 
cold  of  January",  which  killed  other  plats,  injured  this  one  very 
little  beyond  turning  the  bottom  leaves  yellow,  and  this  damage- 
Avas  quickly  repaired  by  a feAv  days  of  subsequent  sunshine. 

This  plat  AAms  cut  May  20th  and  21st,  with  a cradle,  seed  in 
dough  state,  stalks  just  turning  yellow  j cured  and  Aveighed  on 
the  22d. 

The  present  prices  in'  NeAv  Orleans  are  for  cotton  seed  meal, 
$18  per  ton  5 acid  phosphate,  fifteen  per  cent.,  $18  per  ton  ; kai- 
nite,  twelve  per  cent.,  $15  per  ton. 

The  results  are  appended : 


PLAT  Xo.  12— OATS. 

Suf/ar  Experiment  Station,  Kenner,  Louisiana. 


Vi  o 


FERTILIZERS. 


YIELD  PER  ACRE. 


X 

W 


KIND. 


Amount 
Per  Acre. 
Pouiuls. 


Cost  Per 
Acre. 


1* 

2 


3* 


4 


Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ) 
Acid  Plio8[)liate,  ^ 
Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ^ 
Acid  Phosphate,  > 
Kainite,  ) 

Colton  Seed  Meal,  } 
Acid  Phosphate,  \ 
Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ) 
Acid  Phospliate,  > 
Kainite,  ) 

Cotton  Seed  Meal,  \ 
Acid  Phosphat*^,  i 


270 

270 

270 

270 

270 

300 

180 

360 

180 

270 

405 

135 


$ 4 
6 
4 

4 


86 

80 

86 

80 

86 


AYeiglit  of  Oats 
in  Sheaf. 
Pounds. 

Bushels  0: 
Oats. 

6137 

67  3-4 

6673 

73  21-32 

5564 

64  17-32 

6127 

67  20-32 

4991 

55  3-32 

6 


8 

9 

10 

11 


12* 


Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ) 

405 

Acid  Phosphate,  > 
Kainite,  S 

135 

270 

6 80 

Cotton  Seed  Meal.. . 

300 

2 70 

Acid  Phosphate 

150 

1 35 

Kainite 

Nothin  i»- 

150 

1 12 

Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ? 
Acid  Phosphate,  ^ 
Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ) 
Acid  Phosphate,  , 
Kainiti,  ) 


300 

150 

300 

150 

150 


4 05 

5 17 


5409 

62  28-32 

6095 

59  20-32 

5405 

57  30-32 

5014 

51  6-32 

5041 

51 

8135 

103  6-32 

5837 

70  4-32 

^Damaged  by  water  standing  on  plats. 

As  before  remarked,  the  defective  drainage  of  a portion  of 
this  plat  iirevents  accurate  comparisons  and  deductions.  Kos. 


7 


1,  3 and  d,  occupying’  tlie  eastern  length  of  tlse  j>lat,  had  a slight 
declivity  running  entirely  tlirougli  each  experiment,  which  after 
the  continuous  rains  of  March  held  Avater  several  days  before 
discoA^ery.  Again  there  Avere  also  found  slight  depressions  in 
Nos.  5 and  12,  Avliich  greatly  injured  these  experiments.  The 
rest  of  the  field  ay^peared  to  be  Avell  drained,  especially  Nos.  7,, 
8,  0,  10  and  11.  These  can  be  comyAared  with  each  other,  but  it 
is  manifestly  Avrong  to  compare  them  with  rest  of  field.  Omit- 
ting the  others  and  taking  these  we  haA*e  the  following: 

Pouuds  of  Sheaved  Oats.  Bushels  of  Oats. 


Nothing 

51 

Kainite 

51  h-32 

Acid  Plioaphate 

57  80-:i2 

Cotton  Seed  Meal 



59  20-82 

Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ? 
Acid  Phosphate,  ) 

8,185 

103  G-32 

From  above  we  find  that  Kainite  alone  has  given  no  increase.. 
Acid  PhosyAhate  is  accountable  for  ofil  yAounds  sheaved  oats^. 
nearly  7 bushels  of  grain.  Cotton  seed  meal  increa.ses  the  yield 
of  sheaA^ed  oats  1,054  yAOunds  and  the  grain  8|  bushels,  while 
acid  yAhosphate  and  cotton  seed  meal  combined  have  given  tho 
enormous  yield  of  8,135  yAOunds  (oA’cr  4 tons)  of  sheaved  oats 
and  103  bushels  of  grain. 


PLAT  NO.  3. 


This  plat  was  thoroughly  broken  with  a four-liorse  yAlow,  Nov. 
15th;  harrowed,  and  manures  and  seed,  (red  rust-yAroof,  at  the' 
rate  of  tAVO  and  a half  bushels  per  acre),  distributed  broadcast 
and  lightly  yAlowed  in  with  a one-horse  yAlow,  November  17th.  A 
yAerfect  stand  was  thus  early  secured,  which  grew  off  well  and  was 
looking  remarkably  fine,  Avheu  it  AAms  completely  destroyed  by 
the  freeze  of  January  8th  to  13th.  On  February  1st  and  2d,  it 
Avas  again  seeded  with  the  same  variety  of  oats  at  the  rate  of 
two  bushels  yAer  acre,  and  again  y>lowed  in  lightly  with  one-horso 
yAlows. 

Stand  good ; but  the  groAvtli  was  noA  er  rayAid,  nor  effects  of 
manures  very  apparent. 

The  soil  of  this  yAlat  which  lies  north  of  No.  12,  is  very  black 
and  stiff,  and  is  still  suffering  from  defective  drainage.  It  was 
four  acres  deep  by  nearly  one-half  acre  v/ide,  and  increased  iiK 


8 


stiffness  witli  depth.  Therefore  only  those*  experinients  occupy- 
ing the  same  width  can  he  compared^  or  to  si^eak  more  plainly, 
the  plat  was  four  experiments  deep  three  wide,  with  the 
nothing  experiments  runniiig  entirely  through  the  middle. 
The  plat  was  accordingly  divided  into  groups.  This  plat  was  cut 
with  cradle  June  1st  5 dried  and  weighed  with  following  results  : 

PLAT  NO.  C,— OATS. 


Louhiana  Sugar  Experimvni  Stalioii,  Kenner,  La. 


0 g 
6 'S 

FERTILIZERS. 

i 

YTP:L1)  PER  ACRE.; 

i 

KIXD. 

Amount  j 
Per  Acre. 
Pound  H.  ] 

Cost  Per 
Acre. 

Weight  of  Cats 
in  Sheaf. 
Pounds. 

1 

Cotton  Seed  Meal . . . | 

480 

4 .32 

5(i58  ) 

2 

Nolliiug j 

1 

1 

Mixed  in  dry-  [ 

Group  1. 

Q 

Cotfoii  Seed  Meal,  \ | 

480 

r;  IQ 

ing  and  scpa-  ( 

0 

Acid  Phoispliate  5 j 

98 

.)  io 

rate  weights  | 

1 

not  obtained,  j 

Acid  Pliospliate,  ) j 

98 

2594  ^ 

’i 

Kainite,  S 

192 

T) 

Notliing 

2-534  ) 

Group  II. 

Cotton  Seed  IMea!,  } 

4S0 

1 

i) 

Kainite,  ^ 

192  • 

5 / 8 

4890  J 

7 

Acid  Phos])l)ate 

98 

8() 

829.5  ) 

s 

Notliin*’’ ! 

23.58  ^ 

Group  III. 

9 

Kainite 

192  1 

1 44 

2305  ^ 

Cotton  See<l  Meal,  ^ 

i 480  1 

i 

10 

Acid  Pliospliate; 

98 

8 82 

2833  1 

iKaiiiile,  S , 

192 

1 

11 

1 No  Hi  i lie" 

2449  ) 

Group  IV, 

Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ) 

i 480 

1 

12  llToats, 

1 96 

8 82 

3170  1 

jKainite  \ 

i 192 

J 

Xu  conclusions  of  value  can  be  drawn  from  these  experiments 


except  the  efdcacy  of  cotton  seed  meal  as  a manure  for  oats  ux)on 
these  soils.  .Whether  this  would  have  been  improved  by  the 
addition  of  acid  phosphate  in  Xo.  J,  is  still  unknown,  since  the 
eareless  ignorance  of  a negro,  when  drying  it  for  weighing,  mix- 
ed it  with  Xo.  2,  and  thus  vitiated  the  results  of  both  plats.  One 
apparent  feature  of  this  plat  attracts  attention  and  calls  for 
study,  viz. : The  experiments  on  the 'eastern  side  of  the  plat' 
Xos.  1,  G,  7 and  12,  were  uniformly  better  than  those  on  the 

western,  and  that  too  in  seeming  disregard  of  manures,  coupon 
Xos.  4 and  7,  10  and  12. 

^ PLAT  No,  1:?. 

Was  broken  with  a two-ljorse  plow,  harrowed;  fertilizers  and 


9 


oats  sown  broadcast  and  plowed  in  with  ouediorse  plow  on  Jan- 
uary 30,  1880.  Two  bushels  of  seed  (Texas  red  rust  proof)  were 
used  per  acre. 

OBJECT. 

The  object  of  these  experiments  was  to  test  the. value  of  ingre- 
dients used  first  on  oats  and  then  following  with  cow  peas,  to 
find  what  efiect  the  residues  of  manures  left  in  the  soil  would 
have  on  the  latter.  The  late  Dr.  Itavenel,  of  Charleston,  S.  C., 
used  a mixture  of  South  Carolina  fioats  (finely  ground  rock 
X)hosphate)  mixed  with  kainite  as  a specific  manure  for  cowi)eas. 
By  its  use  an  increased  growth  of  peas  was  attained,  which, 
turned  under  at  the  proper  time,  or  permitted  to  rot  on  the  sur- 
face, gave  an  enhanced  fertility  to  the  soil.  Using  these  ingre- 
dients as  sources  of  phosi)horic  acid  and  x)otash,  alone  and  com- 
bined with  cotton  seed  meal,  and  in  another  series  substituting 
orchilla  x)hosx)hate  (a  natural  deposit  from  Caribbean  Sea)  for 
fioats,  we  have  tried  to  determine  the  effects  ux)on  x)lats.  Since 
the  removal  of  the  oats,  the  land  has  been  sown  in  cow  peas, 
and  the  efiects  upon  the  latter  will  also  be  noted.  Another  ex- 
periment in  this  plat  which  received  no  manure  when  planted 
was  top  dressed  with  nitrate  of  soda  (fifteen  jier  cent  ni,trogen) 
late  in  April,  Avhile  an  adjoining  plat  was  left  permanently  un- 
manured. 

This  plat  was  cut  with  a cradle  on  June  2d,  thoroughly  dried 
und  weighed. 

The  results  are  appended  : 


10 


I'l.AT  No.  13— OATS. 


Louhlana  Sugar  Experiment  Station^  Kenner,  La. 


FERTILIZERS. 

YIELD  PER  ACRE. 

KIND. 

Amount 

Per  Acre. 

Cost  Per 
Acre. 

VVeijjjht  of 
Sheaved  Oats. 

* 

Pounds. 

Pounds. 

Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ) 
Orcliilla  Pbospliate,  > 

2.50 

1 

250 

$ 5 34 

3860 

Kaiuite.  ) 

125 

Cotton  Seed  Meal.  ) 

250 

2 

S.  Carolina  Floats,  > 

250 

5 34 

4776 

Kainite.  ) 

125 

Nitrate  Soda 

200 

5 00 

3485> 

4 

Nothiui; 

2460 

5 

Orchilla  Phosphate,  ) 
Kaiuite.  ^ 

250 

125 

3 19 

2520 

6 

S.  Crtrolina  Floats,  ? 
Kaiuite.  ^ 

250 

125 

3 19 

2580 

7 

Orchilla  Phosphate. . . 

250 

2 25 

2700 

8 

S.  Carolina  Floats. . . . 

250 

2 25 

2940 

Au  examination  of  above  will  slio\v  the  increased  yield  of  those 
plats  on  which  nitrogen  formed  a part  of  the  manures.  It  will 
further  show  that  the  addition  of  kainite  in  Xos.  5 and  0,  gave 
no  increase  over  ilos.  7 and  8,  where  only  iihosphates  were  used. 

The  conclusions  forced  upon  us  from  the  above  experiments 
upon  these  soils,  and  with  the  season  just  jiast,  are:  1st.  Oats 
sown  in  October  survived  the  cold  winter,  -while  those  subse- 
(jnently  seeded,  succumbed.  2d.  Fall  sown  oats  paid  the  largest 
profit  5 both  where  manured  and  unmanured. 

EXPERIMENTS  IN  OATS  AT  STATE  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  BATON 

ROUGE,  LA. 

This  station  was  not  organized  till  February,  1886,  and  hence 
the  experiments  in  oats  were  all  made  in  the  spring. 

The  soil  upon  which  these  experiments  were  made,  is  a brown 
loam  of  from  one  to  seven  feet  in  depth,  underlaid  by  the  sites  of 
the  loose  formation.  It  is  within  the  “bluff  formation”  and 
about  forty  to  forty-five  feet  above  high  water  (Hilyard).  When 


* 


11 


fresh  it  was  regarded  as  first-class  uplands,  but  its  long  conti- 
nued cultivation  by  improvident  methods  has  so  greatly  ex- 
hausted its  ^‘fertility”  that  to-day  it  is  staled  very  x)oor.”  Ex- 
periments so  far  conducted,  show  conclusively  that  it  is  readily 
and  cheai)ly  susceptible  of  imx)rovement,  and  it  is  only  a ques' 
tion  of  x)roper  methods  and  a short  time  to  restore  its  xndmitive 
productiveness. 

PLAT  NO.  1. — Oats. 

This  plat  was  plowed  with  a two-horse  plow,  February  13th 
and  loth.  Manures  sown  broadcast  February  17th.  Texas  rust 
proof  oats  at  the  rate  of  two  bushels  to  the  acre  were  sown  Feb- 
ruary 18th  and  harrowed  in.  They  were  cut  with  a cradle,  June 
18th,  when  overripe,  earlier  harvesting  being  prevented  by  the 
prevailing  rains  of  June  Gth  to  18th,  which  greatly  damaged 
them.  After  thorough  drying  they  were  weighed  on  30th  June. 

PLAT  NO.  1— OATS. 

Stale  Experiment  Station,  Baton  Bouye,  La. 


•4^ 

o E 

FERTILIZERS. 

YIELD  PER  ACRE. 

il 

X 

w 

KIND. 

Amount 
per  acre. 

Cost 

X)er 

acre 

Weight  of 
oats  in 
sheaf. 

Bushels 
of  oats. 

Weight 
of  str’w 
in  Ihs. 

1 

2 

Nothing 

Cotton  Seed  Meal . . . 

300  lbs. 

12.70 

972  Ihs. 
2,280  “ 

11  24-32 
27  5-32 

598 

1,397 

3 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  / 
Acid  Phosphate  ^ 

300  “ 

150 

4.05 

2,700 

36  29-32 

1,519 

4* 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  ) 
Acid  Phosphate,  ^ 
Kainite,  • ) 

Acid  Phosphnte,  ) 
Kainite,  ^ ■' 

300  “ 

150 

5.17 

3,000  “ 

41  5-32 

1,688 

.5 

150  ‘‘ 

150  “ 

150  “ 

2.45 

2,820  “ 

38  5-22 

1,599 

6 

Cotton  See<l  Meal,  ) 
Kainite,  ) 

350 

175 

4.46 

2.553  “ 

30  16-32 

1,577 

*Tliis  pJat  had  au  old  burrow  or  headland  ruuiiing  euiirely  across  it, 
which  increased  the  yield. 


From  these  experiments  it  is  difficult  to  decide  which  of  the 
above  manures  has  produced  most  beneficial  results — all  having 
responsive  yields  over  the  unmanured  x)lat. 

PLAT  NO.  2.— OATS. 

This  plat  was  broken  with  a two-horse  plow  on  February  IGth 
and  seeded  with  Texas  rust-proof  oats  February  18th,  (two 


Inishels  to  tlie  acre)  using  the  liarro^^  to  put  tlieiii  iu.  Xo  ina- 
iiure  was  applied  at  tlte  time  of  plantiug. 

Ou  April  8tli  tlje  manures  Avere  applied  broadcast  as  a top 
dressing  to  the  oats  then  seA^eral  iuches  high. 

This  plat  was  caught  in  the  continuous  rains  of  June  0th  to 
18th,  just  at  maturity  and  Avere  greatly  injured.  They  Avere 
cut  with  cradle  tluue  18th,  OA^erripe,  and  after  thorough  drying 
thej'  Avere  weighed  and  threshed  June  30th,  Avith  results  as  giA^en 
beloAv. 

On  April  14th,  upon  an  adjoining  unfertilized  plat,  the  Avords 

Avelcome”  and  State  Experimental  Station^’  Avere  traced  AAuth 
a small  handful  of  nitrate  of  soda.  Two  days  afterAvards  the 
words  Avere  plainly  a isible  in  their  increased  groAYth  and  A^er- 
dancy. 

The  nitrate  of  soda  used  contained  tifteen  per  cent,  of  nitro- 
gen ; the  sulphate  of  ammonia,  tAYenty-one  per  cent,  of  nitrogen; 
the  acid  phosphate,  fifteen  per  cent,  of  phosphoric  acid ; the  mu- 
riate of  potash,  fifty  per  cent,  of  iiotash. 

PLAT  NO.  2.— OATS. 


Siate  Experiment  Station  Baton  Boneje,  La. 


No.  of 

FERTILIZEKS. 

YIELD  PER  ACRE. 

KIND. 

Amount 
per  acre. 

Cost 

per  acre. 

VV  eight  of 
oats  in 
slieaf. 

Bushels 
of  oats 

Weight 
of  straw. 

1 

Nitrate  of  Soda . . . . 

200  ll's. 

$55.00 

3,853  Ihs. 

43  20-32 

2,457  Ihs. 

2 

Snlpliate  of  Aiu'ouin 

loO  “ 

4.75 

3,713  “ 

42  19-32 

2,368 

Q 

Nitrate  of  Soda,  i 

) 

2<I0  “ 

0 

6 

Acid  Phospliat(“,  ) 

200  “ 

o.so 

4,213 

42  25-32 

2,844  “ 

4 

Nothing 

863  “ 

14  19-32 

492  “ 

K 

Snlpliate  Am’onia  1 

\ 

150  “ 

o 

Acid  Phosphate,  ' 

200  “ 

6.55 

3,638 

41  6-32 

2,320  “ 

Nitrate  of  Soda,  , 

200 

e 

Acid  Phosphate, 

200  “ 

Muriate  Potash, 

100 

7.55 

4,648  “ 

49  26-32 

3,044 

Sulphate  Am’onia,  i 

) 

150 

7 

Acid  Phosphate,  ; 

200 

Muriate  Potasli,  ' 

1 

100  “ 

7.30 

4.645  “ 

48  15-32 

3,194 

The  aboA^e  clearly  sIioays  that  the  primary  AYant  of  this  soil 
is  Xitrogen,  AYith  probably  small  quantities  of  both  phosphoric 
acid  and  ijotash. 

Eesults  of  above  experiments  show  that  proportion  of  grain  to 
straw  in  the  oats  is  very  Auiriable.  The  loAA^est  proportion  of 


13 


grain  was  found  in  Plat  Xo.  2,  Experiment  7,  tliirty-one  and 
twenty-five  one  liundred  per  cent  of  the  weight  of  sheaved  oats, 
and  the  highest  Avas  in  Plat  Xo.  1,  Experiments  3 and  4,  and 
Plat  Xo.  2,  Experiment  4,  when  it  reached  forty  three  and  sev- 
enty-five one  hundreths  i)er  cent. 

.\t  the  sugar  station  the  highest  and  lowest  i)ercentages  Avere 
forty-five  and  thirty-fiA^e  per  cent,  the  latter  from  fall  and  the 
former  from  spring  planting.  The  Aveight  i)er  bushel  of  grain 
Avas  hoAvever  reversed,  the  fall  outAveighing  the  spring  planting 
in  the  proportion  of  seven  to  six.  The  highest  weight  in  the  fall 
planting  i)er  bushel  being  thirty-three  pounds  ; the  loAvest  thirty- 
one  pounds  ; Avhile  the  highest  in  spring  jdanting  was  tAventy- 
eight  pounds  to  bushel,  and  loAvest  twenty-four  pounds. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

From  the  results  given  above  Ave  infer  that  the  planters  of 
Louisiana  can  easily  and  cheaply  make  their  own  stock  feed. 
SoAv  Texas  rust  proof  variety  (two  to  tAvo  and  one-half  bushels 
per  acre)  early  in  October,  iixAon  well  prepared  and  drained  soil, 
using  as  a manure  a mixture  of  cotton  seed  meal  and  acid  phos- 
I)hate  (two  of  former  to  one  of  latter)  at  rates  of  four  hundred 
to  fiA^e  hundred  pounds  per  acre,  spread  broadcast  at  time  of 
idanting,  and  cover  both  well.  Should  there  be  a tendency  to 
boot  too  early  in  winter,  graze  down  in  dry  weather  with  stock. 
Cut  just  before  maturity.  In  feeding  to  stock  it  is  economical  to 
cut  up  the  sheaved  oats  with  a good  cutting  machine. 


14 


WEATHER  RECORD  OE  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 


KENNER,  LA.,  FOR  MONTH  OF  APRIL,  1886. 


Date. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Compar- 
ison of 

.2  oc 

J3  W 

'-H  % 

^ c 

c 3 

State 

of 

Weatli’r 

REMARKS. 

April.  ^ 

9 A.  M. 

3 P.  M. 

9 P.  M. 

5 

A 

K 

Wet  Bulb. 

3 

n 

1 

6o« 

740 

680 

76° 

460 

630 

66° 

Clear .. . I 

2 

7()o 

72° 

610 

740 

570 

670 

70° 

Clear .. . 

6 

64C 

710 

6/0 

760 

570 

640 

650 

Fair  - . . 

4 

65° 

660 

650 

680 

620 

660 

660 

2!75 

Rainy. . 

5 

44° 

490 

450 

650 

440 

440 

4,50 

Fair  . . . 

6 

520 

560 

490 

570 

410 

490 

520 

Fair  . . . 

7 

590 

640 

630 

660 

420 

56° 

60° 

Fair  . .. 

8 

630 

660 

500 

700 

420 

600 

63° 

Fair  . . . 

9 

640 

700 

610 

710 

480 

620 

640 

Fair  . . . 

10 

580 

630 

610 

63p 

P50 

580 

580 

IHO 

Rainy . . 

11 

650 

740 

64° 

740 

540 

650 

66° 

F air  . . . 

12 

700 

740 

640 

740 

620 

72° 

7^0 

P^iir  . . . 

Vi 

70° 

740 

670 

77-^ 

570 

720 

740 

Pair  . . . 

14 

680 

720 

650 

72^ 

I 630 

68° 

680 

Clouily. 

15 

70° 

740 

690 

'.4" 

610 

690 

710 

-05 

Cloudy. 

16 

740 

740 

650 

7oO 

620 

7 )0 

740 

-02 

Fair  . . . 

17 

620 

740 

60° 

740 

590 

720 

740 

.10 

Fair  . . . 

18 

640 

690, 

650 

80^ 

610 

630 

64° 

Fair  . . . 

19 

710 

740 

680 

750 

610 

71° 

720 

Fair  . . . 

20 

730 

770 

670 

800 

600 

710 

72° 

Clear  . . 

21 

740 

840 

69° 

840 

590 

730 

740 

Cloar  . . 

22 

740 

860 

700 

860 

69° 

830 

840 



Clear  .. 

23 

730 

860 

680 

860 

580 

720 

730 

Clear  . . 

24 

720 

740 

6f)0 

830 

590 

72° 

730 

1 

Fair  ... 

25 

790 

790 

720 

830 

610 

790 

800 

Fair  . . . 

26 

760 

800 

320 

820 

670 

760 

710 

Fair  . . . 

27 

700 

740 

640 

760 

650 

710 

710 

LSO 

Rainy. . 

Heavy  wind  at  7:30  p.  m. 

28 

970 

790 

680 

820 

62° 

770 

770 

Clear  . . 

29 

770 

840 

710 

840 

610 

710 

77° 

Clear  . . 

30 

730 

790 

630 

870 

620 

730 

730 

Clear  . . 

1 

7.32 

15 


WEATHER  RECORD  OF  LOUISLVNA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 
KENNER,  LA.,  FOR  MONTH  OF  MAY  1886. 


Date 

TEMPERATURi 

Coinpar-  , 
isou  of  , 

S^ate 

May. 

9 A.  M. 

"a 

a 

s 

Wet  Bulb. 

Dry  Bulb. 

of 

Weatli’i 

REMARKS. 

1 

69° 

70° 

68° 

74° 

59° 

65° 

69°, 

Clear... 

2 

65^ 

76° 

64° 

76° 

60° 

61° 

65°  1 

Fair. . . . 

6 

740 

74° 

65° 

80° 

57° 

71° 

74° 

Fair.... 

4 

750 

80° 

69° 

83° 

61° 

71° 

75° 

Fair . . . . 

5 

78^ 

82-'^ 

72° 

87° 

61° 

75° 

78° 

Fair 

6 

78^ 

82° 

74° 

87° 

62° 

75° 

78° 

Fair.. . . 

7 

78^ 

80° 

74° 

81° 

70° 

75° 

78° 

Cloudy. 

lnapprecial>le  rain  fa  1 1 . 

8 

78^ 

82° 

73° 

86° 

65° 

75° 

78° 

Clear  . . 

9 

79° 

82° 

72° 

87° 

61° 

69° 

72° 

Clear. . . 

10 

78° 

82° 

73° 

86° 

()2° 

75° 

78° 

Clear. . . 

11 

79° 

84° 

75° 

89° 

62° 

76° 

79° 

Clear. . . 

12 

79° 

85° 

75° 

88° 

67° 

88° 

79° 

Clear. . . 

13 

79° 

85° 

75° 

88° 

6/° 

76° 

79° 

Clear. . . 

14 

81° 

85° 

75° 

89° 

67° 

78° 

81° 

Claar, . . 

Sii.i^lit  shower  at  9 u.  m. 

15 

73° 

80° 

67° 

80° 

72° 

73° 

73° 

i.n 

Raiuy. . 

Sto[>ped  at  1:30  i*.  .M. 

16 

65° 

80° 

69° 

80° 

()1° 

60° 

65° 

Clear. . . 

17 

70° 

80° 

67° 

80° 

63° 

65° 

70° 

Cloudy. 

18 

60° 

70° 

63° 

70° 

58° 

60° 

60° 

i.38 

Raiuy . . 

1 

19 

65° 

80° 

67° 

80° 

60° 

(^4* 

65° 

Fair.... 

20 

65° 

76° 

68° 

78° 

60° 

63° 

65° 

Fair.... 

[noou. 

21 

75° 

83° 

70° 

88° 

68° 

73° 

75° 

Fair.... 

luapprecialde  shower  at 

22 

80° 

85° 

75° 

91° 

63° 

75° 

80° 

Fair. . . . 

23 

82° 

86° 

76° 

91° 

70° 

81° 

82° 

Fair. . . . 

24 

82° 

88° 

75° 

91° 

70° 

79° 

82° 

Fair . . . . 

25 

80° 

85° 

75° 

86° 

71° 

86° 

80° 

Clear. . . 

26 

82° 

85° 

75° 

93° 

67° 

79° 

82° 

Fair 

27 

85° 

88° 

77° 

93° 

67° 

82° 

81° 

l^air 

28 

8L° 

85° 

76° 

88° 

69° 

79° 

81° 

Cloudy. 

29 

•83° 

84° 

79^ 

89° 

70° 

' 88° 

83° 

’ .2.5 

Cloudy. 

30 

78° 

89° 

80° 

93° 

70° 

i 84° 

87° 

.25 

Cloudy. 

Wind  with  rain. 

31 

83° 

89° 

72° 

92° 

70° 

' fcl° 

83° 

3.59 

Clear.". . 

Slift'ht  rain  at  7 r.  M.  with 
wind.] 

16 


WEATHER  RECORD  OF  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION. 
KENNER,  LA.,  FOR  MONTH  OF  JUNE,  1886. 


6 

zi 

Q 

TEMPERATURE. 

Compnr- 
isou  of 

Daily  Rainfall 

In  Inches. 

State 

of 

WeathO 

REMARKS. 

June. 

< 

G1 

s 

CO 

05 

a 

3 

'B 

Minimum. 

Wet  Bnlb. 

-3 

o 

Q 

1 

84° 

89° 

79° 

93° 

70° 

81° 

84° 

Fair 

2 

8oO 

89° 

80° 

96° 

71° 

82° 

85° 

Fair 

85° 

88° 

80° 

92° 

74° 

81° 

85° 

Cloudy . 

4 

85° 

90° 

75° 

96° 

74° 

82° 

85° 

.05 

Cloudy. 

T) 

85° 

80° 

75° 

95° 

73° 

81° 

85° 

.08 

Cloudy. 

() 

80° 

75° 

74° 

88° 

71° 

80° 

80° 

1.15 

Raiuy . . 

7 

84° 

75° 

74° 

88° 

71° 

81° 

84° 

1 .25 

Rainy. . 

S 

88° 

75° 

74° 

88° 

69° 

81° 

83° 

.30 

Rainy . . 

9 

.50 

Rai  uy . 

10 

.15 

Cloiitl  V . 

11 

88° 

85° 

80° 

95° 

70° 

81° 

83° 

.42 

Cloudy. 

12 

84° 

87° 

85° 

89° 

74° 

82° 

84° 

1.50 

Rainy.. 

19 

80° 

88° 

78° 

89° 

74° 

78- 

80° 

.87 

Clondy . 

14 

79° 

88° 

82° 

92° 

80° 

79° 

79° 

.37 

Rainy . . 

15 

88° 

85° 

81° 

87° 

81° 

81° 

81° 

1.42 

Rainy. . 

16 

85° 

85° 

8A° 

85° 

84° 

82° 

85° 

.04 

Raiuy. . 

17 

78° 

86° 

86° 

86° 

75° 

76° 

7o° 

. 15 

Cloudy . 

18 

75° 

76° 

81° 

84° 

72° 

74° 

75° 

Clear.  . - 

19 

78° 

89° 

77° 

95° 

77° 

75° 

78° 

Clear ... 

20 

77° 

87° 

89° 

88° 

70° 

82° 

87° 

Clear.  . . 

21 

76° 

86° 

76° 

88° 

72° 

74° 

76° 

.53 

Cl(xmly. 

22 

77° 

77° 

76° 

89° 

71° 

77° 

77° 

.56 

Rainy . . 

28 

82° 

78° 

79° 

90° 

71° 

80° 

82° 

1.57 

Rainy. . 

24 

77° 

89° 

83° 

92° 

70° 

76° 

77° 

Clondy. 

25 

86° 

92° 

88° 

95° 

75° 

83° 

86° 

Fair, . . . 

26 

87° 

80° 

77° 

89° 

74° 

84° 

87° 

.13 

Rain 3^. . 

27 

90° 

8^° 

77° 

94° 

75° 

86° 

90° 

Cloudy . 

28 

89° 

93° 

83° 

95° 

72° 

83° 

85° 



Cloudy . 

29 

87° 

98° 

87° 

97° 

76° 

85° 

87° 

.08 

Rainy . . 

80 

77° 

85° 

88° 

92° 

72° 

76° 

77° 

.38 

j 

Cloudy". 

11  .5( 

1 

SORGHUM. 


BULLETIN  No,  5 


OF  THE 


Wm:  C.  Stubbs,  Ph.  D., 


[ 13  Il^ECUTOll 


KEXXEE,  LOEISIAXA,  DECEMBEli,  18SG, 


ISSUED  BY 

TI10]VII=*S0]V  .J.  1^1  K13, 
COMMISSIOXKII  OF  AGBICIILTURE,  EaTON  KOUGE,  LA. 


BATON  ROUGE ; 

PRINTED  BY  LEON  JASTREMSKI,  STATE  PRINTER, 

1886. 


SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  I? 
Kenxek,  La.,  December.,?,  ISS&.fu 

Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriealtnre,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

I hand  you  herewith,  for  puldicatiou,  a Bulletin  on  Sorghum,  coTermi?: 
field,  la^horatory  and  sugar  house  experimeifits  for  the  jiast  season. 

Respectfully, 

W]\I.  C.  STUBBS,  Director;-. 


SORGHUM. 


Sorghum  has  been  used  as  a forage  for  stock  in  this  country 
for  many  years.  As  such  it  is  adapted  to  a wide  region,  and  its 
cultivation  has  extended  over  the  entire  extent  of  the  United 
States.  In  other  countries  it  has  been  used  for  the  manufacture 
of  spirits,  glucose,  beer  and  vinegar.  Its  seeds  have  been  used 
as  a food  for  men  and  beast,  and  in  this  country  a large  part  of 
the  profit  of  growing  sorghum  consists  in  the  value  of  its  seed 
as  a stock- food.  For  nearly  thirty  years  syrup  has  been  made 
from  it,  and  during  that  time  high  hopes  have  been  entertained 
of  its  power  to  ])roduce  profitably  sugar.  The  attempt  to  make 
sugar  from  sorghum  has  been  made  almost  exclusively  by 
Americans.  In  China,  where  the  sorghum  has  i^robably  been 
growm  for  thousands  of  years,  Ave  are  told  by  Dr.  S.  Wells 
Williams,  Professor  of  Chinese  in  Yale  College,  that  there  is  no 
®videuce  that  it  has  ever  been  for  either  syrup  or  sugar 

making. 

It  is  curious  to  read  in  the  earlier  publications  on  sorghum, 
the  contradictory  opinions  and  opposite  views  so  positively 
a^sserted  by  the  authors.  As  to  the  kind  of  sugar  present;  the 
best  varfeties;  the  period  of  growth;  of  maximum  sugar  content 
and  the  exact  time  to  work  after  cutting,  nothing  was  known 
definitely  until  the  beginning  of  the  scientific  investigations 
by  the  National  Department  of  Agriculture  in  1878.  Since  that 
time  this  Department  has  assiduously  continued  its  investiga- 
tions in  sorghum  and  while  we  write  the  Fort  Scott  experiments 
in  diffusion  and  corbonatation  are  being  brought  to  a conclusion 
by  the  eminent  government  chemists.  The  publications  of  this 
department  upon  sorghum  since  ’78,  have  been  numerous  and 
instructive  and  to-day  every  farmer  has  within  his  reach  val- 
uable and  definite  information  in  regard  to  this  plant,  the  result 
of  patient  investigation  conducted  by  trained  scientists  at 
government  exi^ense. 

BOTANICAL  RELATIONS  OF  SORGHUM. 

Sorghum  is  one  of  those  plants,  vrhose  origin  is  utterly 
unknown.  By  long  cultivatioa,  its  habits  and  characteristics 
have  been  so  changed,  that  no  resemblance  can  now  be  found 
to  any  wild  plant.  Formerly  the  different  cultivated  varieties 
of  sorghum  were  regarded  as  distinct  species,  but  moderm 
botanists  have  been  gradually  led  to  the  conclusion  that  all  our 
sorghums  and  juriihees,  including  broom  corn,  chicken  corn, 
durra,  milo  maize,  etc.,  etc.,  are  but  varities  of  a single  species — 


[^] 


Sorgliiim  Yulgare.  These  conclusions  have  already  inspired 
many  seedsmen,  farmers  and  scientists  with  the  belief,  that  ulti- 
mately by  selection  of  seed,  proper  fertilization  and  cultivation, 
a true  sugar  bearing  sorghum  may  be  obtained,  which  can  be 
profitably  grown  and  worked,  instead  of  the  true  sugar  cane  or 
beet.  Differentiation  in  plants  is  accomplished  by  extending 
the  area  of  cultivation,  taking  in  differences  of  soil,  climate, 
rain  fall  and  manures;  by  careful  selection  of  seed;  by  cross 
breeding,  etc.  In  this  way  varieties  are  produced.  Some  plants 
have  greater  capacity  for  variation  than  others  and  sorghum  is 
perhaps  surpassed  only  by  Indian  corn,  in  its  tendency  to  as- 
sume iicay  varieties  under  changed  conditions.  Heiuie  we  find 
a large  number  of  varieties  of  sorghum  on  our  market,  differing 
in  every  conceivable  character,  from  content  of  sugar  to  color 
of  seed.  It  is  therefore  of  first  imi)ortance  in  growing  sorghum 
to  select  those  varieties  best  adapted  to  our  wants,  remembering 
the  modifying  factors  of  soil,  cliinate  and  manures. 

When  the  Guinea  or  cliicken  corn,  a true  sorghum,  now  a 
a troublesome  pest,  over  so  large  a portion  of  the  South  was 
introduced,  the  writer  has  no  information,  but  it  appears  ])roba- 
bie  that  its  advent  here  was  under  one  of  the  earlier  varieties 
of  sorghum  and  finding  a congenial  soil  and  climate,  it  has  mul- 
tiplied amazingly  witliout  cultivation,  and  in  the  meanwhile  so 
degenerated  as  to  lose  its  true  name  (sorghum)  and  receive  in  its 
stead  local  names,  expressive  of  the  contem[)t  in  which  it  is 
held  by  the  owners  and  tillers  of  the  soil.  Perliaps  it  may  be 
one  of  the  forms  of  Durra  or  Chocolate  cane,  brought  over  in 
colonial  tones  and  disseminated  over  the  continent.  It  may 
have  been  crowded  out  elsewhere  and  survived  only  iu  the 
youth.  But  our  sugar  making  sorghums  have  come  within  the 
last  thirty  j^ears  from  China  through  France,  and  since  that 
time  we  have  rapidly  multiplied  varieties. 

SORGHUM  IN  THE  SOUTH. 

Many  speculations  have  been  indulged  in  as  to  the  adaptability 
of  sorghum  for  sugar  making  in  the  South,  but  as  far  as  the 
writer  knows,  no  systematic  attem])t  has  ever  heretofore  been 
made.  In  the  Xorth  and  West  the  subject  has  been  investiga- 
ted in  the  field,  laboratory  and  sugar  house.  A million  of  dol- 
lars have  been  spent  in  the  erection  of  first-class  machinery  for 
the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  this  plant.  As  yet  the  success 
has  been  only  partial.  Even  the  diffusion  process  applied  with 
national  aid  in  Kansas,  has  failed  to  convince  the  world  of  the 
adaptability  of  this  plant  to  sugar  making.  Early  frosts,  severe 
storms,  i)rolonged  drouths,  and  many  other  disasters,  have  al- 
most invariably  destroyed  a large  portion  of  the  cane  before 
reaching  the  mill.  It  may  therefore  be  asserted  with  some  de- 
gree of  positiveness,  that  in  the  North  sorghum  will  yet  remain 
as  a syrup  and  not  a sugar  crop. 

But  how  about  this  tropical  plant  in  the  South?  It  can  be 


[5] 


I>laiite(l  from  ]Marcii  to  July,  and  liarvosted  according  to  varieties, 
from  July  to  November.  If,  therefore,  a variety  can  be  secured 
\vlii(‘h  will  give  a good  tonnage  and  a medium  ])urity  coefficient, 
it  can  easily  be  worked  ii])  without  interruption  from  frosts, 
'without  additional  machinery,  and  without  diminution  or  detri- 
ment to  the  sugar  cane  crop. 

To  test  the  above  the  station  planted  the  following  varieties 
last  spring:  Honduras,  Link’s  Hybrid,  Chinese,  India,  Stewart’s 
Hybrid,  White  Seeded  Sorghum,  Early  Orange  and  Early  Am- 
ber. 

There  were  three  experiments  in  each,  ‘hi,”  ^d)”  and  ‘^c”;  ‘-a” 
fertilized  with  an  ammoniated  acid  ])hosphate,  ‘‘b”  unfertilized, 
and  “c”  with,  an  ammoniated  acid  phosphate  mixed  with  nmriate 
of  potash . Good  stands  were  secured  of  the  Honduras,  Link’s  Hy- 
brid, Chinese  and  India.  The  rest  imperfectly  germinated.  They 
were  planted  A])ril  oth,  and  given  only  one  working  each  with 
hoe  and  x)low.  On  June  2d  our  analyses  began.  The  lieads  were 
just  beginning  to  seed.  Tlie  polarisco])e  showed  little  or  no 
sugar,  varying  from  0,  3.7  per  cent,  the  latter  found  in  the 
Chinese.  July  5th  another  examination  xvas  made  which  indi- 
cated marked  progress  towards  maturity.  July  17th  systematic 
analyses  were  made  of  each  of  the  24  plats,  (8  varieties)  and 
repeated  July  3()th,  August  I2th,  10th,  2(>th  and  September  3rd. 
The  results  are  appended. 


[6] 

ANALYSIS  OP  SOEGHUM  MADE  AT  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT 


STATION. 


j of  Analysis. 

% 

> 

Leaf  th  of  Stalk  in  Feet. 

a ® 

O rt 

5 a 

2 » 

m 

Q 

_a 

'5 

O 

P 

6 

2 

Ti 

» 

o 

u 

{yc 

C4 

fl  d 

3 

i' 

3 

a 

P 

« 

g 

a. 

P 

6 

a < 

c, 

X 

0 
m 

1 ' 
'o 

6 

% 

w 

X 

0 

::: 

.2 

*a  ' 

1 
o 

O 

Condition  of  Seed  When 

Cut. 

July  17 

Honduras 

a 

8.12 

1.5 

3.06 

67.4 

6.1 

1.0403 

u. 

7.3 

66. 6 

Milk. 

» . i . 

b 

1 .38 

5.9 

1 u 

6.4 

60 . 3 

. i 

u .. 

c 

6.50 

1.25 

1.83 

67.3 

6.8 

1.0 t93 

!i2.2 

• 6.6 

54u9 

July  ;io 

a 

7.1 

1.0519112.81 

It  ' 

b 

6.3 

1.0459111.4 

i 1 

ti 

1 .04131  in 

Aug.  l-> 

a 

7.4 

1.25 

2.62 

.57.25 

7.6 

1 .0551 

13.70 

'i).2 

07 ’.io 

Dough. 

i.  t. 

b 

7.9 

.88 

1 .75 

l57 . 42 

7.1 

1.0519112.81 

1 7.9 

61.60 

Dough; 

“ “ 

(* 

8.2 

1.13 

2.«0!.51  .92 

8.5 

1.0626:15.30 

11.4 

74  50 

Aug.  19 

a 

7.8 

1.12 

2.62'71.5 

7.1 

1. 0.579 1 12  81 

i 

70.2 

riard. 

1) 

7.4 

1.12 

2 75171.5 

1.0531;  13.23 

1 9.4 

11.05 

Dough. 

“ “ 

‘‘ 

(■ 

11.6 

1.2.5 

4. 

70. 

1 8.8 

1 . 0652 

: 15.90 

10.5 

66 . 03 

Aug.  2G 

t t 

a 

11.15 

1.25 

3.38  66.66 

1.06-21  15.20 

10. 

65.80 

Hard. 

C( 

h 

8.20 

1 .13 

2.31 

75. 

1 7.2 

l.U52Ti 

12.99 

8.4 

64.60 

‘‘  “ 

0 

8. SO 

1.51) 

4.12  72.73 

7.8 

1 . 0.5.59  j 13.04 

9. 

69.04 

Sept.  3 

a 

9.3 

1. 

2. 

68.75 

10.5 

1.0786i1H.91 

14.2 

74.90 

Mature. 

“ 

b 

7.G 

1.13 

2-18 64. *3 

6.8 

i 1.049911-2. 34 

6.5 

1 52 . 60 

Dough. 

it  ti 

c 

8.8 

1.62 

4.50 

1 5.50 

8.6 

1.0634  15.50 

ill. 9 

76.77 

Hard. 

July  17 

Liuks, 

-6.41 

1.12 

1.53 

67.60 

8.5 

il.0626'l5.30il0.,5 

68. .53  D‘JU1!]i. 

b 

7.50 

1 12 

l.T)!! 

71.40 

7. 

11.0.570112.60 

jlO. 

79.30 

Hard. 

“ “ 

. t 

e 

7.00 

1.25 

1.44 

67.40 

8.8 

1.065211.5. 9 9 

|12.5 

|79.20 

viatme. 

July  30 

t ( 

10.2 

1.0766  18  .=10 

Mature. 

(t 

1) 

10. 

1 .0748, 

18.10 

i 

u <( 

9.7 

1 .0722 

17.50 

,, 

Aug.  It 

a 

5.11 

.88 

1 .50 

68.66 

10.5 

1.0786' 

18.94 

14.00  7.5  9 

.. 

b 

6.70 

.88 

1.12 

.57.14 

10.1 

1.0754  18.17 

13.20  72.6 

“ 

U il 

c 

6.11 

.62 

1 .12 

6S.96 

10.6 

1.0794,19.11 

1)4. 40 

Jo.  3 

Aug.  19 

a 

7..1 

.88 

1.25 

68. 

10  8 

1.0816:19.62 

il5. 80,81.0 

“ 

b 

8.1 

•75 

1 .20 

67.5 

iO.6 

|l .0794 

19.  li 

il4. 

173.2 

“ 

“ *• 

c 

6.8 

.88 

1.33 

71 .4 

10.7  1.0802, 

19  :i0 

15.:?0  79. 

“ 

Aug.  2G 

a 

8.3 

.75 

1 .25 

75. 

9. 

1.0667' 

16.23 

111.50:70.8 

“ 

‘ “ 

b 

G. 

.75 

1.12 

66.66  10. 

|1 .0746  18.05 

J3  60 

i7.5.3 

Ovuuripe. 

i. 

c 

6.7 

1.00 

1.37  63.64 

.9.9 

11.0738'ir.85  14.10 

19. 

Snekertd. 

Sept.  3 

a 

' 5.10 

.88 

1.06 

.52.65 

10.3 

'1. 0770,18. 58 

’14.8 

79.6  ■ 

..  .1 

b 

7.10 

1.12 

1 62, 61.. 54 

8.6 

1.06341 15. 50 

11.2 

78. T . 

Mat  red. 

“ “ 

c 

7.20 

.88 

1.37j 

63.64 

10. 

1.4746,18.05 

14.2 

78.0 

July  17 

Cliine.se, 

a 

G.50| 

.88 

.91 

9.8 

1.0730117.70 

1.5.00 

84.7 

Ripe. 

*■ 

b 

6.88 

.88 

.871 

65.6 

9.4 

1.0700  17. 

15.00188. 

Kipe. 

“ “ 

“ 

c 

6.50 

1.25 

J .25, 

62.5 

10. 

18. 

16.10  89.4 

July  30 

“ 

a 



9.8 

1 0741^ 

13.3 

“ 

1 

9.2 

13. 

Orerripe. 

1 

. . . . 

19.6 

1 

^A  ^ 

Aug.  12 

a 

4 9 

.62 

.75166.66 

io!i 

1.07.5-4  18.17' 

• .1 

14.2 

78.1 

w 

“ 

b 

4 5 

1.12 

..501 

57.14 

9.(. 

1.0714:17.26; 

12.2 

10.6 

i: 

“ 

c 

6. 

.62 

.70  66.96 

9.1 

1.0675,16.35' 

13. 

79.5 

“ 

Aug.  19 

*■ 

a 

6.1 

.75 

.88 

70.00 

10.2 

1.0762:18.411 

14.6 

79.3 

“ 

..  .1 

b 

6.1 

.75 

1.00 

77.8 

10.3 

1.0770118.80  14.4 

76.6 

Suckered. 

“ M 

« 

6.4 

.8s 

1.00 

9.7 

1.0722,17.50 

13.4 

76.0 

• ‘ 

Aug.  20 

“ 

a 

6.1 

.88 

1.00 

62. 5 

10.8 

1.0860119.491 

15.2 

78. 

“ 

“ 

b 

6.1 

.75 

1.18 

65.72 

9.5 

1 .07U6jl7.14i 

12.2 

71.2 

“ 

e 

6.1  1 

.88 

1.00 

62.. 50 

9.2 

1.06851 16. 63; 

12. 

72.1 

Sept.  3 

a 

5.9 

.62 

.62 

9.6 

1.0714j]6.96 

13. 

76.6 

“ h 

“ 

b 

5.«»o! 

.62< 

.62 

6 > " 

10  1 

1.0754118.2:? 

13.4 

73.4 

‘‘ 

“ *• 

“ 

« 

6.J  i 

.75 

1.00 

62.5 

9. 

1.0667116.23112. 

73.8 

“ 

July  17 

India, 

a 

6.00 

1.25 

1.82 

65.5 

7.8 

1. 0574  j 14.1 

10.6 

75.1 

Dough. 

b 

6 50 

1.50 

1.94 

69.4 

8. 

1 .0.591j]4.5 

11. 

75.8 

“ 

« 

6.65 

.87 

1 .56 

64. 

8.6 

1.06.34  15.5 

11.4 

73.5 

“ 

Jul  T 30 

i t 

a 

9.8 

u 

b 

« 



7.9 

Aug  12 

“ 

a 

'7!7' 

1.12 

iio 

10.4 

1.0778 

i8!76 

h’ 

74.6* 

Hard. 

“ <• 

b 

7.7 

1.12 

1.9 

10.3 

1.0770 

18.. 59 

13.8 

74.3 

“ 

“ ‘‘ 

ti 

7.6 

.88 

1.65 

10.3 

1. 0770(18.59 

13.9 

74.7 

“ 

[7] 


Aag.  1* 

Ji.5u:g.  2{) 

<4 

OSeps.  "3 
■Jsily  r 
•jTiLily  30 
Aag.  12 
AMg.  19 
'26 

' 3 

Jialy  p 
■ Jaly  30 
Asg.  19 
July  11 

X 4 

July  30 
12 

Aug  19 
Aug.  26 
-Sept.  3 
July  li 


India. 


Stewart’s, 


Crang®, 


Wliite  Seeded  a 
b 


Afliber, 


'm 

'«s 

fc 

o 

1-1 

*.x 

7.5 
7.1 

6.5 
7. .3 

6.7 
6. 
6.5 
7.9 

5.8 
7.4 

7.8 


6.9 

8^7 

7.9 

6.7 
8.1 
8.2 
6.4 

7.8 
8.2 
7.8 
7.1 
5. 16 

6.75 

7 . 75 


7. 

4. 

7.25 

5.08 


6.9 

7.3 

5.72 

6.1 

5.5 

6.2 

6.4 

5.7 

4.1 

6.8 

6.2 
5.00 
.5.66 
o.ool 


is 

^•9 


g C 
P 


1. 

1. 

1.25 

1. 

1. 

1.12 
1-12 
1.12 
.8» 
1.00 
1.12 
1 .12 


o I* 

a 

rd  s 

‘3 


1.75  68 
1.56169 
2.3]|71 
1.88  66 
1.68  57 
1.88  57 
1..56,70 
1.37163 
2 12:64 
1 .25  65 
1.40  69 
1.44  64 


.6  '11.3 

,2  10.8 


1.00 

..50 

i.oo; 

.881 

.88 

1.00 

.88 

.88 

.88 

.88 

1.06 

.88 

1.25 

1.25 

1.12 


.75 

.75: 

1.12 

1.12: 


1.75.57 
1.06  65 
1.80 1.55 
1.06  [55 
1.56  62, 
1.8H:.-, 
1.621 ‘3 
1. 26161, 
1.68  64, 
1.31  ... 
1.(  2 62 
1.31 


1..56 

1.81 

l.(j(' 


.82 


J .50 
1.10 


.751 
.871 
.8rt| 
.75 
.87 
.87 
.87 
.75 
.75 
.88 
1 .00 
.88i 

l.OOj 

I.I2I 

I.I2I 


1.0851 

1.0806 


?».4 

19.4 


1 1.0835  20, 
9 1.0814  19, 
411.0778118. 
4|1.0738  17, 
5; 1.0786  18, 
311.0770118, 
li 1.0443  11. 
8|l  0574114. 
311.0536  13 

.91. 


80.8 

82.4 


78.0 

79.1 
79.9 

77.3 

77.1 

76.4 


2 1.58.1 

3 155.3 


iil  0675  16.3-(|1-2, 
721  9, 
37  9 


1.0688 
6|  1.0543 
11.0667 
411.0621 
2 1.0683 

7 1.0722 

8 1.0725jl7 
21 1.06831 16 
5j  [.0786, 18 

11 .0667116 
111. 0675 
7 i 1,0643 
«jl.0il22 
81 1.0497 


5.9 


..I  8, 
50  9 
66  8. 
fc0|  8. 

7. 

8. 
9, 


63 . 


1.3 

1 .3 
1.25163 

.94170 
1.12  78 
1.06173 

i.ooj.. 
1.18  66 
.75 
.88 
1 .12 
1.00 
1.15 

1 .03 
1.41- 


66 


1 1.0.588 
ll.OtWO 
2il.(M;04 
1 1.0621 
S 

?! 


2 1.0683 
,7  1.07221 
8 1 07  0i 
.''61.0700; 


00173.4 
.50  50. 7 
20  18.8 

67.1 

73.03 
• 6.3 
72. 

65.4 

74.1 

76.5  I 


Matw-re. 


Sncliereil. 

Milk. 


Dougli. 


Haul. 


Mature: 
71.4  Hlaril. 

2 74.3 
I 64  3 
4 51.4 
4 51  2 


14.42  10. 
16.3  1(1. 


14.8 

15.2 


16.60 

17.51 

17.68 

r.i4 


9. 

9.4 


.59,8 
61 .3 
65.6 
61.8 


1.07:22  17.51 
1. (-754  .18.17 
l.OTHG'18.98 
1.0746118.05 


11.2 

1-2. 

12.6 

13.7 

13. 


12.1 

11.5 


53 


20  9.8  1.0730IJ7.G7  13.4 
00110.2  1.07(r2!l8.43!l3.5 


60! 10.5 
60  8. 
70  8.2i 


l.0786|l8. 94114. 
1.0591  14.5  10.4 
1.0604114.8  9.2 


67, 

63. 

63.70i  8.2(1.0604)14.8  j 9.6 


67  5 
68.5 

71.2 
79.9 

71.3 


63.8 

63.8 


75.8 
73.2 

71.4 
71  .7 

65.5 

64.8 


Milk. 


Dough. 


Hard. 


Ripe. 


Milk. 


Condition  of  Seed  When 

Cut. 


[8] 

After  July  ITtii,  tlie  Giiiuea  corn  took  such  complete  posses- 
sion of  this  ])iaiit  (early  iiiiiber)  that  it  Avas  almost  impossible  to 
(listinguisli  the  one  from  the  other. 

Severnl  analyses  of  Guinea  corn  were  also  made  at  various 
dates — giving  of  total  solids  10-13  per  cent. — sucrose  4 
to  8 per  cent. 

Ai!  inspection  of  above  will  show  that  the  Chinese  was  the 
first  To  ripcTi — reacliing  maturity  early  in  July.  After  that  pe- 
riod it  began  to  throw  out  suckers  at  each  joint  which  soon 
formed  heads;  so  that  when  cut,  Sept.  13th,  each  stalk  had  from 
five  to  ten  heads  of  ripened  seed.  This  variety  though  early  and 
rich  in  sugar,  is  too  small  for  profitable  working  into  sugar.  It 
produces  liowever,  an  enormous  amount  of  seed. 

LinCs  Byhrid  reached  maturity  the  last  of  duly,  remained 
nearly  stationery  in  this  sugar  content  till  out  Sept.  J3th.  It 
siickered  but  very  little.  It  gave  stalks  of  medium  size  anil 
very  fair  (jnality,  and  rojnises  to  be  one  of  best  adapted  sorghums 
for  sugar  at  tlie  South. 

Honduras  .us  one  of  the  largest  sorghums,  many  of  its  stalks 
cutting  nine  feet  for  the  mill,  and  w eighing  four  pounds  after 
being  stripped  and  toppcul.  It  is  a late  variety,  reaching  matii- 
lity  in  September,  and  lias  onl}’  a moderate  sugar  content. 
Under  proper  manuring  and  cultivation  it  may  be  made  an  ex- 
cellent sugar  ];roducing  variety.  There  is  however,  an  intensely 
red  coloring  matter  on  its  stalks  and  leaves  which  highly  dis- 
colors the  juice,  and  which  is  not  easily  removed — a very  ob- 
jectionable feature.  Ex])eriments  in  labaratory  showed  that  it 
could  be  removed  by  bone  black. 

The  India  sorghum  reached  maturity  in  August,  remained 
nearly  stationary  till  September,  at  vrhich  time  suckers  had  ap- 
l)eared  witli  heads  forming  rapidly.  After  that  it  lost  rapidly 
until  ground  on  13th.  It  is  however,  a line  sorghum,  of  good 
size,  and  large  sugar  content,  and  worthy  of  further  trial. 

SteicarCs  Hybrid  did  not  ripeii  till  September,  and  even  then 
its  per  centage  of  sugar  was  comparatively  low.  Kesiilts  this 
year  are  not  promising  for  this  variety. 

The  same  may  be  said  about  the  White  Seeded  sorghum. 

The  Early  Orange  is  fair  in  size  and  quality,  and  may  perhaps 
vield  to  proper  treatment  and  make  an  excellent  variety  for  the 
Sontli. 

The  Early  Amber  could  not  be  thoroughly  tested.  A very  bad 
stand  was  obtained,  and  the  vacant  spots  were  soon  occupied  by 
Guinea  corn,  making  identification  of  the  former  difficult  and. 
hazardous. 

On  the  13th  and  flth  September,  all  the  above  varieties  were- 
cut  and  sent  to  the  mill.  Our  vacuum  pan  and  centrifugals  had 
not  then  been  put  in  place.  Accordingly  the  juices  from  these 


[9] 


sorg'liums  after  defecation  with  sulphur  and  lime,  were  concen- 
trated in  evaporating  i)ans  and  left  under  the  hopes  of  graining 
them  in  a few  days  in  the  pan.  But  the  vacuum  pump  ordered 
from  New  York  was  delayed  till  late  in  October,  and  when  re- 
ceived and  put  in  position,  all  the  syrups  had  more  or  less  under- 
gone fermentation. 

The  results  of  harvest  with  analyses  .are  however  given. 


RESULTS  A]S'D  ANALYSIS  OF  MILL-JUICES. 


VARIETY  OF  CANE. 

3 

W 

Ka'v  Juice. 

) Syrups. 

Total  Solids.  | 

1 

d 

0 

’Z 

Glucose. 

Total  Solids. 

9 

6 

0 

do 

Glucose. 

a 

_o 

HOi  (lui  iKs,  a 

3-1.050 

i03,5 

13.. 50 

9.7 

59.4 

41 .6 

70. 

“ b 

28.  SO 

|61 .4 

12.42 

8. 

64.8 

41.4 

64. 

“ c 

30.!l(!0 

63.7 

12.6 

JS. 

66 . 6 

.50. 

75. 

Links,  a 

1!>.050 

57. 

18.2 

13.2 

b 

1T.K50 

.‘8. 

17.82 

12.9 

4 6L8 

46.2 

71. 

“ c 

21. 37.5 

59. 

17  .()4j 

12.7 

\ 



a 

Cbiueso,  b 

o 

o 

15.84' 

10.9 

59.4 

44.2 

74. 

c 

o 

1.5.525 

16.92 

1 1 .9 

1 

India,  b 

15.000 

16. 02 I 

12. 

; 66.20 i 

49.4 

74 .() 

a 

13.900 

17.641 

13.1 

1 

Stewart, 

16.56 

11 .9 

White  Seeded, 

I6.O2I 

10.8 

Early  OiaiiS'e. 

17.(i4l 

1.3.1 

? 59.4 

!!!! 

Early  Amber, 

16  56 1 

12.1 

kl4.2 

74.4 

The  results  for  the  syrups  were  obtained  by  double  polariza- 
tion. 

The  last  four  were  not  weighed — they  were  analyzed  seper- 
ately  but  were  concentrated  with  3 and  4. 

The  station  was  greatly  disappointed  in  not  working  the 
above  syrups  in  the  pan.  The  delayed  machinery  was  not  put 
in  place  till  the  last  of  October,  and  by  that  time  nearly  all  the 
syrups  had  fermented. 

However  our  kind  and  always  obliging  neighbors,  the  Soniat 
Brothers,  placed  at  our  disposal,  a patch  of  sorghum,  (Early 
Amber)  which  had  been  sown  for  stock  feed  July  14,  (after  the 
Chinese  variety  had  shown  its  highest  amount  of  sugar  on  the 
Station).  Of  this  sorghum  they  cut  and  delivered  to  the  Station 
two  and  a half  tons.  At  10  a.  m.  grinding  began.  The  cane 
was  not  fully  ripe,  analysis  giving  i2.8  total  solids,  9.3  sugar 
and  71.  purity  coefficient. 

'The  juice  was  very  slightly  sulphured,  limed  to  neutrality, 
skimmings  carefully  removed,  brushed,  concentrated  and  sent 
to  vacuum  at  22^  B.  It  then  readily  grained,  and  was  centrifu- 
galled  at  once,  giving  80  pounds  first  sugars.  The  skimmings, 


[101 


settlings  and  some  of  tlie  juice,  were  neglected,  the  sole  object 
being  to  make  sugar  out  of  sorghum.  The  molasses  was  at  onee 
boiled  to  string  sugar,  and  in  24  hours  had  grained  prettily — 3 
gallons  of  masse  cuite  yielding  iiounds  of  second  sugar — the  / 

masse  cuite  weighing  12  pounds  to  the  gallon — a yield  of  nearly 
21  per  cent,  of  second  sugars. 

The  following  data  are  . takcin  from  the  records  of  the  sugar 

hottw  and  labaratoi'y:  ' 

Weight  of  sorghum,  2 J tons. 

Mill  extraction,  G2.3  per  cent. 

One  gallon  juice  required,  135  grains  lime  for  neutrality. 

One  portion  treated  to  neutrality  and  concentrated  to  22.2^  B. 

Another  portion  treated  to  neutrality  then  made  slightlj^  acid 
with  superphosphate  of  lime  and  Concentrated. 

Masse  cuite  made  286  i)ounds. 

Sugar  from  masse  cuite,  80  ])ounds. 

Molasses  from  masse  cuite,  206  pounds. 


Analysis  of  Sugai\ 

Analysis 

of  Moh\sses. 

Sugar 

Total  solids 

Olucose  

1.05 

Sugar 

51.4 

Ash 

.74 

Ash 

5.97 

Water ; . . . . 

...  4.81 

Ash  soluble  in  water 4.56 

100.00 

ANALYSES  OF  MILL  JUICES,  OCTOBER  22. 


Degrees  Bannie. 

Specific  Cruvity. 

Total  Solids. 

Sugar.  j 

Glucose. 

C 

•4-» 

•5  ^ 

'IS 

1 Purity  Coeffi- 

1 cient. 

Kind  of  Juice. 

Ex\)t.  1 

I 

7.1 

1.0519 

il2.8 

9 . 1 

2.62 

.0504 

1 

69. 

Raw  Juice. 

“ 2 

7.1 

1.0519 

12.8 

9.5 

2.65 

.0378 

.9875 

74.2 

it 

“ 3 

7.3 

1.0.536 

13.2 

8.6 

2.48 

64.4 

Sul])liured  Juice. 

‘‘  4 

7.2 

1.0.527 

13. 

8.2 

2.47 

63. 

U ■ (( 

5 

7.2 

1.0527 

13. 

9.1 

2.24 

70. 

Limed  Juice. 

f) 

7.3 

1.0536 

13.3 

8.9 

2.38 

67.42 

(C  U 

7 

7.3) 

1.0536 

13.2 

2.48 

U U 

‘‘  8 

22.2 

1 . 1825 

40.6 

26'i 

8.24 

64!  2 

Concentrated. 

[11] 


ANALYSES  MILL  JUICES,  OCTOBER  23. 


6 

3 

c5 

* 

iJO 

<D 

! ^ 

Specific  Gravity. 

. 

Total  Solids. 

Sugar. 

Glucose. 

Acid  Calculaled 

as  Malic. 

Purity  Coeffi- 

cieut. 

Kind  of  Juice. 

1 

i 

I'.xpi.  1 

7.7 

1.0566 

13.9 

9.7 

2.21 

.05 

69.78 

Raw  Juice. 

..  2 

i 7.6 

1.0555 

13.7 

8.7 

2.63 

63.50 

Sulphured  .Juice.  . 

a u 

^ a ^ 

i 7.7 

1 . 0566 

13.9 

8.4 

2.76 

60.40 

4 

i 7.911.0583 

14.3 

8.8 

3.03 

61.50 

u u 

‘‘  5 

i 8.  1 

1 . 0591 

14.5 

8.1 

3.00 

55 . 80 

u ({ 

- 

8.1 

1.0596 

14.6 

8.6 

2.57 

58.8 

Limed  .Juice. 

7’ 

7. ft 

1.0574 

14.1 

8.6 

3.29 

60.9 

u 

8.4 

1.0621 

15.2 

9.1 

59.8 

u a 

9 

22. 

1.1801 

40.2 

23.7 

9.39 

58.95 

Couceiitrated  Juice. 

io 

21. 

1 1707 

38.3 

23.1 

8.78 

60.30 

“ “ 

11 

26.2 

1.2229 

48.2 

29.1 

10.68 

.. .. 

54.30 

((  i( 

12 

18.  1 

1.1432 

32.8 

18.8 

Scums  and  Settlings. 

In  tlie  sill pli  11  red  juices  above,  besides  the  acids  of  tbe  juice 
tliere  was  from  .07  to  .10  of . siilpUiirous  acid  added  by 
, .sulphuring. 

After  working  this  cane  which  was  only  partially  ripe,  low  in 
sugar,  and  with  so  low  a purity  coeflicieut,  our  regrets  at  our 
inability  to  Avork  some  of  tiie  varieties  groAvn  on  the  station, 
were  very  greatly  enhanced.  If  with  this  second  crop,  groivn 
between  July  14th  and  October  22d,  and  with  no  special  atten- 
tion either  in  cultivation  or  manure,  so  decided  a success  Avas 
obtained,  we  have,  Ave  think,  from  comparison  of  analjdical  re- 
sults, CA^ery  reason  to  have  expected  far  better  results  from  sev- 
eral of  the  A'arfeties  groAvn  on  the  station.  NTow  hoAvever,  further 
tests  as  to  the  adaptability  of  sorghum  as  a sugar  crop  in  the 
South  are  to  be  postponed  until  another  season.  In  the  mean- 
while the  station  can  only  olier  some  suggestions.  There  are 
sjieveral  varieties  of  sorghum  wdncli  promise  good  tonnage,  AAuth 
Ikir  quantity  of  sugar.  These,  by  iiroper  cultivation  and  ma- 
jiiiring,  and  selection  of  seed,  may  become  valuable  adjuncts  to 
the  sugar  cane  in  Louisiana.  It  is  possible  to  groAA^  two  crops 
in  a season  on  the  same  land.  The  seed  from  sorghum  are  val- 
uable stock  food  and  may  be  used  as  a substitute  for  corn  and 
oats.  They  contain  starch  in  large  quantities  and  it  has  been 
suggested  that  they  Avould  make  an  excellent  glucose  syrup. 

If  good  varieties  of  sorghum  could  be  obtained  which  would 
yield  sugar  in  paying  quantities,  (and  the  experiments  here 
rather  indicate  such  a probability),  the  costly  and  extensive 
plantation  machinery  now  used  only  about  sixty  days  in  a year, 
4Jonld  begin  vrork  in  August  on  Sorghum,  and  continue  till  i^o- 


[121 


vember,  ^rind  cane  during  I^ovemheT  and  December,  and  then 
devote  Janiiarv,  February  and  March  to  the  conversion  of  sor- 
ghuin  seed  into  glucose  syrup. 

This  AAmidd  keep  the  machinery  going  at  least  six  months  in  a 
year,  and  Avouhl  enable  the  planters  to  do  at  their  own  sugar 
houses  Avhat  is  now  done  for  them  as  soon  as  their  vsyrups  and 
molasses  reacli  the  markets  of  the  rvoiid,  viz.:  Mix  them  Avith 
glucose  syrups.  If  there  be  money  in  mixing,  and  from  the 
prevailing  (uistoin  one  Avould  judge  so,  Avhy  not  the  planter  en- 
joy the  profit  ? 

The  aboA^e  are  some  of  the  possibilities  of  sorghum.  Will 
they  be  realize.d  ? jS'ohs  cerrons. 


EECOKD  OF  WEATHER— KEPT  BY  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT 


STATION,  FOR  JULY. 


I 

Date 

THERMOMETER. 

RAIN  FALL, 

s 

5 

Lielies. 

< 

:3 

a 

cc 

c; 

1 

790 

850 

870 

710 

890 

2 

86° 

900 

850 

750 

950 

3 

86- 

910 

850 

700 

950 

4 

87'^ 

980 

790 

•40 

96° 

.07 

5 

88° 

900 

860 

740 

940 

G 

81^ 

90- 

790 

740 

980 

7 

84"^ 

880 

810 

TOO 

910 

8 

88'- 

890 

810 

72- 

920 

9 

78'^ 

790 

790 

780 

850 

.35 

10  . 

76° 

810 

800 

72° 

850 

.82 

11 

840 

790 

740 

850 

.02 

12 

82° 

850 

810 

740 

920 

.16 

18 

81° 

750 

80-' 

730 

900 

1.82 

14 

84° 

890 

870 

720  ^ 

910 

15 

82^ 

900 

810 

750 

910 

16 

H2° 

850 

78° 

710 

8.50 

17 

82° 

86° 

79° 

690 

880 

18 

87° 

88° 

790 

■68° 

880 

19 

86° 

90° 

820 

710 

940 

20 

87° 

90° 

810 

780 

95° 

21 

86*^ 

910 

810 

720 

950 

22 

SO^'^ 

800 

780 

770 

88° 

28 

86° 

820 

770 

72° 

88° 

24 

86° 

860 

820 

780 

91° 

25 

86° 

8sO 

820 

750 

930 

26 

64° 

800 

800 

770 

92° 

27 

86° 

860 

880 

760 

950 

.36 

28 

86'^ 

87° 

820 

780  ■ 

88° 

.17 

29 

850 

88° 

820 

750 

940 

80 

860 

89° 

820 

750 

96° 

81 

Highest  T( 
Eowest  Tt 

80O 

emperatiir 

niperatine 

89° 

e...96° 

i . . .68° 

800 

Total . . 

760 

96° 

. .3.25  inches. 

\ 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  KEPT  BY  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT 
STATION  FOR  AUGlfST  18S6. 


Date. 

THERMOMETER: 

a 1 

RAIN  FALL. 

2 

Inches. 

bio 

< 

0,' 

< 

Ol 

CO 

1 

82° 

88° 

81° 

93° 

76° 

-42 

•2 

85 

87 

80 

93 

76 

.01 

82 

87 

81 

93 

75 

. 

4 

86 

90 

83 

93 

75 

5 

86 

91 

84 

96 

76 

6 

88 

88 

79 

97 

77 

.27 

7 

83 

89 

84 

89 

74 

,8 

82 

8() 

77 

I S7 

72 

9 

86 

81 

79 

91 

68 

.17 

10 

83 

86 

79 

87 

72 

11 

83 

85 

79 

91 

76 

.21 

12 

84 

89 

81 

91 

70 

13 

85 

90 

82 

95 

71 

14 

82 

i 93 

74 

15 

84 

91 

85 

1 93 

75 

16 

88 

95 

85 

1 95 

77 

17 

86 

86 

82 

1 94 

75 

.16 

18 

85 

91 

82 

93 

74 

19 

88 

89  . 

79 

1 

76 

20 

86 

91 

81 

9-i 

75 

21 

84 

84 

80 

i 90 

75 

22 

82 

80 

! 86 

76 

23 

82 

90 

81 

1 '^1 

• 70 

2.1 

24 

77 

88 

82 

i 89 

6(>  . 

25 

85 

87 

78 

89 

75 

26 

81 

86 

86 

72 

27 

84 

81 

89 

73 

28 

83 

86 

75 

87 

71 

.61 

29 

79 

84 

80 

88 

73 

.23 

30 

80 

82 

75 

82 

72 

31 

80 

85 

76 

85 

72 

Total 4.18  inches. 

Highest  Temperature 97'^ 

Lowest  Temperatiiro 60° 


CORN 


BULLETIN  No.  6 


OF  THE 


LSill  S 


Uiiil 


YM 


i ff  S 


IT.  1 rn 


i' 


AlNl) 


State  Experiment  Station, 


VMm.  C.  Stubbs,  Ph.  D., 


DEOEMBEK,  ISSO. 


-ISSUED  EY- 


'riioiviT*so]Nr  .t. 

COMWISSIONKK  OF  AGRICULTURE,  IjATON  KoUGK,  J.A. 


BATON  ROUGE : 

PRINTED  I'.Y  LIX;N  JASiTiEMSKI,  STATE  PKlKTElt, 

1886. 


ST  APE  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  ^ 
Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana.  ^ 

Miijor  T.  J.  Bird,  Cniuniissionor  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

I liarid  yon  hcrowitli,  for  publication,  a Bulletin  on  Corn,  covering 
rcfiHits  of  ex])oriiiU‘nl.s  on  the  Sfate  Ex{)oriinonfc  Station,  Baton  Rouge  and 
Sitgar  Ex})erimcnt  Station,  Kenner,  La,  Bulletins  /On  Cotton  and  Sugar 
Caaie  will  soon  follow. 

Respectfully, 


WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


CORN. 


Stands  first,  both  in  acrea.i?e  and  yield  of  the  <'.ereal  ei^ips  of 
the  XJiiited  States.  The  total  crop  of  the  United  States  for  the  pres- 
ent year  is  estimated  by  the  Department  of  Agrieiilture  at  Wash- 
ington, at  1,050,000,000  bushels,  or  an  average  of  22  bushels  per 
acre. 

The  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  for  tlie  Stateof  Louisiana, 
estimates  the  crop  of  this  State  just  gathered  at  10,209,375  bushels, 
grown  ui)on  910,010  acres  of  land.  Corn  is  grown  more  geuieral- 
ly  over  the  United  States  than  any  other  crop,  but  the  (*entre  of 
maximum  production  is  found  in  tl.'e  ])rairie  and  the  river  bot- 
toms of  the  West,  where  all  the  conditions  of  ])rofitable  growth 
exist  ill  great  perfection.  Where  the  soil  is  susceptible  of  easy 
culture  and  adapted  to  improved  inpilements  with  a fair  sto('k  of 
fertility,  moistened  with  showers  at  short infervails  <luring  grow- 
ing season  and  in  a climate  with  sunny  skies,  and  whicli  per- 
mits of  warm  days  and  idghts  for  a sufhcient  length  of  Ibne  to 
secure  maturity  there  will  be  found  the  conditions  soptjipie  for 
large  production.  Neither  excessive  l ains  nor  drouglits  :ire  eom 
ducive  to  maximum  results,  but  on  the  contrary,  moisture  iu 
such  quantities  and  at  such  intervals  as  to  ket'p  the  ground 
damp,  not  wet. 

The  corn  })lant  is  emphatically  a (diild  of  the  sun.  It  cannot 
stand  frost  either  in  the  vSiiring  or  fall.  The  lirst,  most  of  our 
progressive  planters  are  painfully  aware  of;  the  second  is  more 
vividly  impressed  upon  the  minds  of  tlie  Northwestern  faruK'r. 
This  sensitiveness  to  frost  limits  its  cultivation  in  mountainous 
regions.  The  absence  of  sunshine,  and  the  ]n*esence  of  damp 
weather  prevents  its  cultivation  in  Northern  Europe. 

EOTAXUCAL  llELATTOTs'S  OF  COEN. 

This  ])lant  is  known  to  the  botanist  as  Zca  Mays*',  and  be- 
longs to  the  cereals  ; but  unlike  other  cereals,  it  has  its  stami. 
nate  and  pistillate  flowers  on  different  parts  of  the  plant.  The 
former  is  familiarly  known  as  the  tassel,  and  the  latter  as  the 
silk.  The  latter  receives  the  i^olleii  from  the  former  and  thus 
impregnated  forms  the  grain  or  seed.  This  natural  arrange- 
jneiit  of  its  parts  affords  abundant  opxxirtunity  for  variation, 
which  has  been  done  to  a marvelous  extent  so  that  now  we  have 
in  the  United  Statens,  many  hundred  varieties,  includiug  all 
sizes,  shapes,  colors,  hardness,  number  of  rows,  etc,,  etc.  It  is 
almost  impossible  to  grow  two  varieties  close  to  each,  other 
without  mixing. 


[1] 


Tills  property  of  corn  olfers  a valuabie  snggestioii  to  the 
tlioiightful  farmer;  the  necessity  of  aiiiiiially  selecting  liis  seed. 
Sometimes  stalks  of  hne  size  and  liealtiiy  appeal ance  but  vv ant- 
ing in  pistillate  flowers  (or  seed  producing  organs)  are  per- 
mitted to  fertilize  the  silks  of  other  stalks.  Good  ears  of  corn 
may  be  produced  from  this  union,  which  w*ouId  be  excellent  for 
feeding  purposes,  but  almost  worthless  for  seed,  since  many 
grains  would  produce  stalks  with  only  the  stamiiiate  flowers 
(tassels)  and  no  ears.  Sometimes  as  in  suckers,  a few  naked 
grairiS  appear  with  the  tassel,  and  occasionally  a few  staminate 
flowers  are  found  with  the  pistillate.  A close  examination  of  a 
stalk  of  corn,  will  reveal  embryonic  ears  at  several  joints  or 
node  oC  the  corn.  By  iirtiflcial  means,  several  of  tliese  buds 
h.(Vc  been  developed  in  the  varieties  known  as  “Prolife.’^  In 
corn  bce.ring  only  one  - ir,  it  is  tlieuxiper  bud  that  develoips,  and 
as  the  number  of  ears  increase,  the  next  buds  below  develop, 
and  so  on  to  three  or  flve  ears  to  a stalk.  By  constant  selec- 
tion ami  careful  cultivation  we  can  after  a while  produce  a va- 
riety of  one,  two  or  more  ears,  and  impress  upon  them  the  hered- 
itary habit  of  reproducing  the  same  number  of  ears  for  a long 
time.  All  of  our  Southern  corn  is  divided  into  two  clashes, — 
Dell;  and  Plint — names  known  and  understood  by  all  planters 
Uuu  idi  The  Dent  is  softer  than  the  Flint  and  hence  pre- 

fciicd  lur  meal  and  sto.  k feed,  the  ears  are  higher  up  on  the 
stajk,  end  is  m;t  much  disposed  to  sucker.  The  Flint  usually 
suciv.  mare,  bears  less  ears,  which  grow  closer  to  the  ground, 
anu  c^v-cwl*  to  be  haruv  x,  and  freer  fiOiu  attacks  of  insects,  par- 
ticiijuiiy  the  wecvel.  For  tlic  last  reason  it  is  preferred  by 
many  planters,  especially  iu  South  Louisiana,  where  a yellow 
Flint  varieiy  perfectly  acclimated  exists,  and  is  called  “Creole 
corn.’^ 

The  origin  of  Jndi^»n  corn  is  completely  unknown.  It  was 
found  in  the  possessirm  of  the  Indians  and  by  tliem  highly 
prized,  upon  the  discovery  of  America.  How  long  they  had  been 
cultivating  it,  is  only  a conjecture,  sufficiently  long  however  to 
have  established  nearly  all  the  varieties  now  known  to  us.  Some 
botanist's  are  disposed  to  place  the  original  homo  of  the  corn 
jflarit  ill  Mexico,  but  only  one  botanist,  Herr  Boezl,  a German, 
lias  ever  discovered  a true  Zea  growing  wild  in  that  country. 
Ill  the  State  of  Guerrero,  he  found  a small  two  rowed  corn,  witli 
covered  ears,  small  and  hard  grains  which  may  be  considered  as 
the  possible  progenitor  of  oar  Indian  corn. 

The  varieties  of  Indian  corn  are  numerous,  several  agricultu- 
ral museums  containing  as  many  as  three  hundred  distinct  kinds. 
There  is  no  possible  way  for  a plant  to  vary,  that  has  not  been 
successfully  exemplified  in  corn.  Time  of  maturity,  height  of 
plant,  size  of  stalk,  number  of  ears,  number  of  rows  on  ear,  shape 
and  texture  of  grain,  color  of  grain,  size  of  grain,  proportion  of 
grain  to  cob,  number  of  grains  to  ear,  difference  in  chemical 


[5] 

<*omT)osition.  Its  placticity  is  liere  well  illnstrated,  and  further 
adapts  it  to  the  varied  couditioris  of  soil  cliinate  and  cuitiva'^ion. 
1 leiice  its  extended  distrihi-tioii  over  so  lai’^e  an  area,  Jt  can 
be  cultivated  on  a lar^e  scale,  mostly  by  inachiner}^,  as  in  the 
prairies  of  the  West,  or  it  may  be  itrown  in  hills  around  the 
wi^i  wani  or  hut  of  the  savage  and  worked  only  with  wooden  or 
liiai.  uopioiaeLts.  it  can  be  Ci  usUod  to  powder  in  the  ponderous 
niaciiirnry  of  our  large  milling  establishments,  or  pulverized 
slowly  in  the  stone  or  wooden  mortars  of  the  barbarian.  The. 
[iroduct  ot  botli  furnishes  an  artleie  at  once  nutritious  and 
wholesome  as  a food  for  man  or  his  auimais. 

THE  CULTIVATION  OF  CORN 

Depends  largely  upon  locality,  and  no  fixed  rules  adapted  to 
all  countries  can  possibly  be  given.  As  a general  rule,  the  cus- 
tom which  prevails  In  a community  is  the  one  best  adapted  to  it. 
Blit  this  is  not  always  true — a cultivation  adapted  to  “new 
ground’^  will  rarely  succeed  upon  worn  soils  j yet  we  find  many 
farmers  to-day  persistently  following  the  iiractices  of  their 
rathm  s,  forgetful  of  the  fact  that  the  latter  worked  virgin  soil 
while  they  are  contending  with  lands  badly  rim  down  if  not  worn 
out.  Oltanges  in  local  conditions  will  ofrcii  require  chaiiges  in 
cultivation,  and  here  as  elsev  liere,  good  judgment  on  the  part  of 
the  farmer,  is  required.  The  best  timeto  jilaiit  corn  in  the  Soutli 
is  as  early  as  possible,  to  insure  it  against  the  late  frosts  of 
spring.  By  this  means,  ample  time  is  given  to  work  it,  and  the 
corn  is  usually  in  a condition  to  be  benefitted  by  the  rains  of 
May  and  June.  It  is  tlie  experience  of  the  writer,  corroborated 
by  that  of  many  practical  farmers,  that  our  surest  and  best  crops 
of  corn  are  from  early  planting.  However,  exceilent  crops  may 
be  made  planted  later  and  the  writer  has  seen  enormous  yields 
made  from  corn  planted  as  la.te  as  July.  Corn  should  however, 
never  be  planted  until  the  temperature  of  the  earth  at  one  inch 
is  above  50^  F.  The  })revailing  custom  of  planting  when  the 
budding  of  red  maple  begins  or  the  leaves  of  the  white  oak  get  as 
big  as  a squirrel’s  ear,”  is  generally  a correct  one.  In  planting, 
the  best  of  seed  should  be  used,  it  is  diseonragiug  to  find  after 
the  labor  of  a season,  that  you  have  nursed  into  full  growth  a 
stalk  without  a ear.  This  could  ultimately  be  avoided  by  care- 
fully raising  and  selecting  annually  seed.  Every  planter  should 
have  a patch  each  year  for  seed,  and  soon  after  tasseling,  every 
stalk  without  a good  ear  of  corn  on  it  should  have  its  tassel  re- 
moved at  once,  to  prevent  further  propagation  of  its  kind.  In 
this  way  seed  may  be  obtained  winch  will  ultimately  produce  no 
barren  stalks.  The  depth  to  plant  depends  entirely  upon  soils 
and  moisture.  Quick  germination  is  desirable,  and  to  secure 
this  three  conditions  are  imperatively  demanded.  Access  of  air, 
abundance  of  moisture  and  a temperature  from  oOO-fiO^E.  The 
last  is  usually  vouchsafed  to  ns  after  the  opening  of  the  spring 


[C] 


but  the  otlier  conditions  are  variable  and  cause  frequently  gTeat 
losses.  In  early  sprin,^- M lien  our  soils  are  usually  well  mois- 
tened, a de})th  of  one  to  three  inches  will  be  found  to  ^ive  the  best 
genninatioiq  ])rovided  the  ground  is  y)ulverized  and  slightly 
j)a<jked  upon  the  seed.  Later  a deeper  de|)th  may  be  required  to 
furnish  the  moisture  neede<l  for  germination.  Sometimes  after 
lieavy  beating  rains  of  spring,  the  soil  is  so  compacted  as  to  ex- 
clude the  a4r  and  the  corn  rots  in  the  ground.  This  may  some- 
times be  averted  b}"  y^assing  a light  harrow  over  the  soil  to 
break  the  crust. 

Planting,  once  done  exclusively  by  hand,  is  now  so  effect- 
ively and  cheayily  y)erforme<.l  by  macbinery,  tlmt  every  planter 
wlio  grows  twenty  acres  of  corn  should  have  a corn  planter.  The 
same  implement  can  be  used  for  planting  also  cow  peas.  Both 
systems  of  planting,  in  rows  and  in  checks  or  cross-rows,  prevail 
in  the  South.  Whi(*h  is  best  ada])ted  to  a locality  must  be  de- 
termined by  the  good  sense  ot  the  planter. 

In  after  cultivation  the  turn  plow,  the  harrovr,  the  horse 
hoe,  the  hand  lioe,  the.  cultivator,  the  sweep,  the  scooter  and 
scrape,  are  all  used  in  the  South.  It  would  be  folly  to  prescribe 
a method  to  be  followed  by  every  planter,  but  in  the  South,  the 
nearest  approach  that  our  environment  will  yiermit,.  is  the  prac- 
tice of  thorough  preparation  of  soil,  proper  fertilization  and  as 
shallow  cultivation  thereafter  as  possible,  the  better  it  will  be 
for  our  crop  ami  our  pocket.  In  wet  and  stiff  lauds,  drainage  is 
the  first  cuiiditiou  of  success  and  ail  others  are  made  subservi- 
ent to  this.  ilonce,  high  ridges,  worked  with  turn  plows  are 
frequently  found.  Whenever  possible,  band  hoes  slioidd  be  dis- 
pensed with,  as  an  element  of  cost,  greater  tlnui  the  benefit  con- 
ferred. In  some  portions  of  the  S(  uth,  the  blades  are  stripped 
from  the  corn  and  converted  into  fodder  for  stock.  Such  a pro- 
cedure is  condemned  by  accurate  experiments  recently  made  on 
the  Alabama  Experiment  Station.  The  injury  to  the  corn 
j)rovcd  greater  than  the  value  of  the  fodder  saved,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  the  labor  in  saving  it.  In  the  Korth  “stoveEMs  highly 
esteemed  as  a cattle  feed  during  the  winter. 

REQUIRED  FOR  CORN. 

In  Bulletin  JSo.  2,  the  following  remarks  were  made  in  re-^ 
gard  to  manures  for  corn,  which  are  herein  inserted  : 

Although  cx)rn  is  the  cereal  crop  of  the  United  States,  and 
excels  in  quantity  all  others  combined,  yet  its  maiiurial  require- 
ments have  not  been  definitely  settled.  This  is  due  to  the  fact 
that  it  is  grown  in  aii  kinds  of  soil  and  almost  in  all  latitudes. 
1^0  jdant  is  susceptible  of  more  differentiation  under  cultiVatioiq 
there  being  no  end  to  varieties  ; in  size  from  the  tiuy  pop  corn 
to  the  maininoth  prolific  ; in  ox>lor,  from  the  black  Mexican  to 
the  j^nr^st  whiter  and  in  hardness  from  the  soft  dent  to  the  re- 


[7] 


frjietory  flint.  A similar  diversity  of  opinion  prevails  as  to  the 
eoTuposition  of  the  mannre  liest  adapted  to  its  growth.  Mr, 
Lawes,  of  England,  placing  it  among  cereals,  prescribes  Nitro- 
gen in  heavy  doses.  M.  (leorges  Vilhg  of  France,  assigns  it  a 
jilace  among  the  Idiosplioric  Acid  plants,  and  recommends  for  it 
jnaiinros  containing  a large  amonnt  of  Acid  Phosphate.  Mr, 
Harris,  in  his  book,  ‘^Talks  on  Manures,’’  is  im.-Iineil  to  jdaee  it 
among  cereals,  but  mentions  soine  facts  viiich  would  indicate 
that  its  feeding  capacitios  are  like  the  jiea  and  clover.  Other 
leading  scientific  men  liave  given  formulas  for  it,  varying 
largely  in  cost  and  in  (piantities  of  the  chief  ingredients. 
Through  the  instrumentality  of  Jbmfessor  A’f.  O.  Atwater,  ex- 
director of  tiic  Connecticut  IC^periment  Station,  a large  number 
of  experiments  were  tried  all  over  the  eastern  part  of  the  United 
States  to  test  the  manurial  re(]uirements  of  corn.  In  his  pub- 
lished “Eeport  of  Experiments’’  are  given  tlie  results,  wliich  are 
far  from  being  satisfactory.  Of  the  <S0  results  reported,  J^hos- 
phoric  Acid  was  the  regulating  ingredient  in  29,  i’otasli  in  12 
and  Nitrogen  in  4.  PliOS[)horic  Acid  was  moi(^  or  less  effective 
in  31,  Potash  in  24,  Nitrogen  in  4.  Ph()S])ltoric  Acid  was  in- 
different, i.  e.  produced  no  results,  in  17,  Putnsh  in  44  and  Ni- 
trogen in  40. 

One  positive  conclusion  can  be  drawn  from  these  results, 
viz. : that  the  soils  operated  on  varied' greatly  in  com})osition. 
This  conclusion,  liowever,  suggests  the  j)ro])riety  of  each  ind»- 
Audnal  farmer  trying  experiments  upon  his  own  soils.  liowever, 
in  the  South,  where  clean  culture  has  well  nigh  exhausted  our 
soils  of  vegetable  iuatter,  and  where  Phosphoric  Acid  is  nearly 
every\Nhefe  wanting,  it  has  been  found  that  both  Nitrogen  and 
Phosphoric  Acid  are  imperatively  needed  in  manures  for  corn. 

To  test  manurial  requirements  of  corn  in  Louisiana  a series 
of  unlike  experiments  were  made  at  both  the  Sugar  IPxperiment 
Station  and  at  the  State  Exj)eriment  Station.  The  former  is 
located  in  the  black  lands  just  aboA’e  New  Orleans  and  tlie  latter 
upon  the  bluff  lands  at  Baton  Ivonge.  Below  will  be  found  the 
experiments  with  results. 

At  the  Sugar  Experiinent  Station  a plat  was  devoted  to 
varieties  which  are  herein  inserted. 

GOBN  EXPERIMENTS  AT  SUOAR  EXPEPtIMENT  STA- 
TION, KENNER,  j.A. 

PLAT  NO.  10— VAEIET1E8. 

No.  1 — ^Yellow  Flint,  grown  on  titled  drained  land. 

No.  2 — Yellow  Flint,  grown  Ifom  Western  seed. 

No.  3. — Mexican  Flint,  grown  from  seed  obtained  at  Exposition 

of  1885. 

No.  4 — Creole  Corn. 


' '/ 


[8] 

No.  5 — Cross  between  Mexican  and  Creole. 

No.  (). — White  Mexican  from  seed  obtained  at  Exposition  of  ’85. 

These  varieties  were  grown  on  the  Alice  C.  plantation,  St. 
Mary’s  parish  and  were  i resented  by  Mr.  D.  If.  Calder. 

. Each  of  al)Ove  experiments  were  divided  into  d parts — “ a,” 
b ” and  c,-  ” a manured  witli  an  Aminoniated  cid  Phos- 
phate at  rate  300  lbs.  per  acre.  b ” receiving  no  manure  and 
an  Ammoniated  Acid  Phosphate  at  rate  of  300  lbs.  per  acre 
with  Potash  in  form  of  Muriate  at  rate  00  lbs.  to  acre  and  the 
d'ollovi^iug  results  weie  obtained : 

Experiment  Xo.  1 — Yellow  Flint  from  Tiled  Brained  Land. 
jManured  used. 

(a)  300  lbs.  Anioniated  Acid  Phosphate. 

(b)  Nothing. 

^ . 300  lbs.  Ammoniated  Acid  Phosphate, 

00  lbs  Muriate  Potash, 


Yield  per  acre. 
1380  lbs. 
1140  ‘‘ 

1500 


KSMAKKS— MEDIUM  HEIGHT— MIXED  GRAIX'— OXE  EAR  TO  THE  STALK. 

Experiment  Xo.  2 — Yellow  Flint  from  Western  Seed. 


Manures  used.  Yield  per  acre, 

(a)  Like  No.  1 . 1200  lbs. 

■b)  “ 1 . ■ ■ 1100  ‘‘ 

(c)  “ 1 1170 

•REMARKS— MEDIUM  HEIGHT- -SEED  PURE— EARS  NOT  WELL  FILLED, 


(a)  Manured 
-{b)  like 
. (c)  No.  1 


Experiment  Xo.  3 — Mexican  Flint. 


•Yield  per  acre. 
1200  lbs. 
1020 
1200 


REMARKS^MEDIUM  HEIGHT— GOOD  SEED— WORTHY  OF  FURTHER  TRIAL. 


(a)  Manured 
• .(b)  like 
.(c)  No.  1 


Experiment  Xo.  4 — Creole  Corn. 

Yield  per  acre. 
000  lbs. 
700 
771 


REMARKS-STAXD  POOR-GOOD  HEIGHT— SEED  SMALL. 

Experiment  Xo.  5 — Cross  of  Mexican  and  Creole. 


Yield  per  acre. 
1530  lbs. 
1435  “ 
1575 


(a)  Maiuired 
v(b|  like" 

/(c)  No.  1 


REMAKKS-A  TALL  CORN— STAKD  PCOR— 2 EARS  TO  STALK— \VORTnT  OP 


PTRTHEE  TRIAL. 


Expcyiment  No.  0 — White  ]\fexica}i. 


, V 300  lbs  Ainoiiiated  Acid  Thospliato 
* 00  lbs  Muriate  Potash 


Yield  per  acre. 
1030  ibs. 


REMARKS— A BEAUTIFUL  WUITE  CORK— QUITE  PROLIFIC,  AXD  WORTHY 
OP  FURTHER  TRIAL. 

Cultivation  of  Ahove. 

Laud  broken  with  two-liorse  plow,  harrowed,  furrows, 
opened  with  plow,  seed  deposited  two  feet  axiart,  3-5  grains  to 
Idil,  on  ]\[arch  10th  and  covered  with  hoes,  corn  worked  twice 
with  iilows,  gathered  September  Tth. 

EXPERIMENT  IN  FERTILIZERS,  ON  CORN  AT  THE  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT 

STxVTION. 

The  soil  upon  which  this  corn  was  grown  has  been  pastures 
for  some  5^ears.  Tlie  ditches  liad  been  tilled  up;  the  ipiarter 
drains  neglected.  Accordingly  it  was  but  imperfectly  x^reiiared; 
in  fact  not  in  a condition  to  test  the  value  of  fertilizers.  Since 
it  was  the  only  field  accessible,  the  experiments  were  made  with 
the  best  x^reiiaration  and  cultivation,  which  our  time  and  means 
lierinitted.  Tlie  soil  is  stiff  black  clay.  A veritable  “ terre 
gras  ” — whose  physical . condition  can  only  be  ameliorated  by 
thorough  drainage  and  deexi  tillage. 

It  is  by  no  means  ^.letlcient  in  xdaiit  food  as  the  following 
analysis  made  at  the  Station  will  show  ; 


ANALYSIS  or  PLAT  NO.  17— CORN  LAND. 


Insoluble  matter 

Soluble  Silica 

Potash 

Soda 

IMagnesia 

01 

02 

Lime 

Iron  Oxide,  ( 

Aluminic  Oxide,  1 

Phosiihoric  Acid 

Sulxihuric  Acid 

Organic  matter 

32 

7.00 

12 

01 

PREPARATION  AND  CULTIAATION. 

The  land  was  broken  Hat  with  fonr-horse  iilow,  liarrowed ; 
rows  laid  off  five  feet  axiart  with  one-horse  plow ; manures  de- 
liosited  in  the  oxien  furrow  and  Avere  bedded  uxiou  Avith  tAvo- 


lioi’f^e  plow,  jMarcli  25t]j,  1886.  These  beds  were  harrowed  on. 
April  2d,  aud  xdanted  April  3d.  Seed  used  Kentucky  Yellow 
Fliiitcoru,  grown  one  year  by  SoniatBros.  and  by  them  donated  to 
the  Station.  The  growth  was  small,  as  iscominon  with  Westerji 
seed  until  acclimated,  but  it  eared  off  very  well,  and  the  yield 
Avould  have  been  quite  fair,  but  for  the  black  birds  which  des- 
troyed quantities  of  it,  particularly  upon  those  plats  where  the 
]nanures  had  induced  early  maturity.  The  ^experiments’  wdtli 
the  Sulphate  of  Ammonia  aud  cotton  seed  meal,  mixed  with, 
mineral  manures,  were  very  line  and  were  the  first  to  mature, 
aud  hence  suffered  more  severely  than  any  other  })ortion  of  the 
field.  1 1 is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  tlie  results  of  these 
experiments  vv^ere  so  seriously  vitiated,  exi^ecially  those  in 
Kitrogen  (15-40). 

The  results  given  below  are  those  ultimately  harvested  and 
by  no  means  represeiff  the  actual  yield  of  the  fertilizers  apj>lied. 
The  corn  was  gathered  September  0th,  1880. 


[11] 


23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

36 

37 

38 


39 


Mixed  Minerals 
Nitrate  Soda  | Katiou 
Mixed  Mineral 
Neti{<teSoda3-3  Ration 

Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerals 
Sulplnite  Ammonia,  I Ration 

Nothing 

Mixed  Minerals 
Sulphate  Ammonia  | Ration 
Mixed  Minerals 
Sulphate  Amonia  3-3  Ration 

Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerals 
Dried  Blood  i Ration 

Nothing 

Mixed  Minerals 
Diie<l  Blood  y Ration 
Mixed  Mineral* 

Dried  Blood  3 3 Ration 

Mixed  Mineral* 

Mixtal  mineral 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  ^ Ration 

Nothing 

Mixed  Minerals 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  | Ration 

Mixed  Minerals 


1- 


Cotton  Seed  Meal  3-3  Ration  S 


450  ( 
300  S 
450  ) 
450  \ 
450 
450  } 
112i  i 


450  / 
225  < 
450  \ 
337i  ^ 
450 
450 
225 


450 

450 

450 

675 

450 

450 

375 


450  ( 
750  \ 
450  } 
1125  ( 


EXPERIMENTS  IN 

COEN  PLAT  NO.  17. 

u 

o 

rertilizers  used. 

1 

Quantiy 

per  acre. 

Yield  i)er 

aere  in  1))S. 

1 

2 

......  c4-  ) Stable  Mushue, 

Com,  ost 

r]i»«p]Kite, 

Sol.  Pacific  Sugar  Gnano 

100  Bushels 

300  Ponmls. 

830  Pounds. 

1180 

3 

300 

(( 

■ 980 

(1 

4 

300 

a 

965 

u 

5 

Stud]]iczka’s  Good.s 

300 

1135 

ti 

6 

Stono  Gnano 

300 

<< 

970 

i t 

7 

Noihirnr 

i i 

885 

tt 

8 

Sterns  Am’d  Guano 

300 

u 

865 

a 

9 

Sterns  Sugar  Goods 

300 

u 

875 

It 

10 

Posters  Tornuila 

300 

( ( 

1060 

ti 

11 

Acid  Phosphate 

300 

ti 

1135 

it 

12 

Nolh  !!)<»■ 

ti 

742 

ti 

13 

Tankage  

3(»() 

a 

760 

tt 

14 

Tankage  ^ 

300  ? 
100  ^ 
150 

n 

730 

it 

15 

Adies  Cotton  Hulls  S 

Nitrate  Soda 

It 

11374 

8371 

965 

it 

16 

Sulphate  Ammonia 

1124 

it 

17 

Notliing 

a 

It 

18 

Dried  Blood 

225 

u 

1000 

tt 

19 

Cotton  Seed  Meal 

375 

u 

1225 

tt 

20 

21 

Mixed  iVlincra Is  ^ 

300  ? 
150  i 
450  ^ 

i i 

u 

833 

750 

tt 

tt 

22 

Nitrate  Soda  Ration  ^ 
Nothing 

150  ) 

a 

1027 

i. 

928 

1000 

906 

650 

975 

706 

1350 

712 

687^ 

1031 

775 

1125 

675 

450 

843 

623 

1175 


xlttention  is  again  called  to  apparent  results  on  experinients 
l“>to  39.  Here  is  an  excellent  opportunity  to  judge  of  the 
injurious  elfects  of  black  birds  for  only  a few  days.  These  ex- 
perinieiits,  except  those  umiianured,  were  the  first  to  mature 
and  presented  a beautiful  appearance,  just  before  they  were 
attacked  by  the  birds.  Tlie  superior  effects  of  these  fertilizers 
could  be  easily  seen  and  distinguished  for  a half  of  a mile  and 
yet  nearly  the  entire  crop  of  corn  was  destroyed  in  less  than  a 
week,  by  thousands  of  these  pests  and  the  results  harvested, 
give  an  increased  yield  to  unmanured  i3lats.  The  Snlxihate  of 
Ammonia  and  Cotton  Seed  Meal  groups  were  far  in  excess  of 
every  manure  used  and  seem  well  adax)ted  to  the  re(xuirements 
of  this  crop  and  soil. 

On  Apwl  20tli  the  remaining  experiments  on  this  plat  were 
])lauted  with  Yellow  Flint  f 'reoie  corn,  also  kindly  donated  by 
the  Soniat  Bros. 


c 

Kind  of  Fertilizer. 

Anf  t used  per  acre 

Yield  per  acre. 

40 

[Cottou  Seed  Meul  1 

300  ( , 

' 1 ouiids. 

22*25  Pounds. 

41 

CM  chilla  Guano  5 

Notliino’ 

300  s 

! 1705  ‘‘ 

4*2 

Ouch  ilia  Guano  

300  ‘* 

L500  ‘‘ 

4:5 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  } 

300  ? 

1955 

44 

Cliarlestou  Floats  i 

Nothiiif'' 

300  i 

1B65 

45 

Floats 

300 

1600  “ 

These  experiments  were  not  interrupted  by  the  birds.  The 
corn  vras  tall  and  well  eared.  The  rains  of  June  forced  it  so 
rapidly  to  growth  as  to  i)reclude  the  last  working  or  laying  it 
l)y.”  It  accordingly  received  only  one  plowing  after  it  was  up. 
The  effects  of  cotton  seed  meal  are  very  apparent.  Yot  so  with 
either  Orchilla  or  Floats,  both  of  which  are  insoluble  forms  of 
Phosiihori'c  Acid.  Perhaps  the  period  of  growth  was  too  short 
to  permit  of  their  assimilation  by  the  corn,  since  both  are  only 
slowly  available  as  plant  food. 

The  following  experiments  were  conducted  at  Baton  Eouge. 

PREPARATION  AND  CULTIVATION  OP  THE  LAND. 

Broken  with  two-horse  plow,  harrowed  ; furrows  opened  with 
onc-liorse  plow  IJ  feet  apart ; manures  deposited  April  2d  and 
land  bedded ; corn  planted  14th  and  loth,  with  seed  obtained 
from  Mr.  Jno.  McQuade  and  Mr.  Jno.  Gass;  off-barred  May  Gth; 
hoed  and  dirt  thrown  back  on  the  12th  ; first  furrow  thrown  back 
with  turn  plow,  after  subsoiling  with  scooter  and  second  furrow 
with  short  scooter  and  heel  scrape;  replanted  when  hoed  ; re- 
l)lanted  again  24th  of  May ; i>lowed  with  scooter  and  scrape^ 


[13] 


/ 


June  3(1  and  Itli ; after  which  til e rains  prevented  further  enlti- 
vatiou  j the  corn  was  dropj^ed  three  feet  apart  in  tlie  drill  and 
thinned  to  one  stalk  in  a hill,  but  the  bud  worm  played  such  sad 
havoc,  that  twice  replanting  failed  to  secure  the  perfect  stand 
desired.  It  was  gathered  October  8th. 


[14] 


COEN  EXPERIMENTS. 


Manures  used. 


N<.(hiiig 

Nitrate  Soria 

i^alphate  Ammonia 
Coitv'ii  8v.e<l  Meal  . 

Acid  I’hospliate  . . . 

Muriate  Potash  . . . 

Cotton  Seed  Meal, 

Acid  Phosphate 
Crdtnn  Seed  Meal, 

Miniate  Potash 
Acid  Idiosphate 
Muriate  Potash  ^ 

Mixed  Miiurals, 

Nitrate  Moi'a  ^ Ration 
Mixed  Minr rals  / 

Nitrate  Soda  | Kation  ^ 
iMixcd  Miiu-rals  ? 

Nitrate  Soda.  3-3  Ration  ] 

’oixed  Alim  rals  } 

Snjpliaie  Anunorda -A  Ration  « ^ 
Mixed  Minerals  ( 

Sid:  iiaie  Aii.moiiia  | Ration  S 
N’  xc'i  Minerals 
•^ulphate  Animoiiia  3-3  Ration 
Mixed  Alinovals 


Mixed 

AJiiicrals. 


Mixerl  Minerals 

Cotton  Seed.  Meal  Ration 

Mined  Alinerals 

Cotton  t^ced  Meal  f Ration 

Mixed  Minerals 

Co  ton  Seed  Meal  3-3  Ration  ) 

Ali  -aal  Minerals 

Nothing 

Cotto’i  .'^eed  Aleal,  > Basal, 
Muriate  Potash,  VAIixtnre 

l)is.  Bone  Black  Ration 
Basal  Mixture,  f 

Pis.  Bone  Black  f Ration  [ 
Basal  Alixtiire, 
i)is.  Bone  Black  3-3 Ration 
Basal  Mixture 


Basal  Alixtiire, 

Arid  Phosphate  ^ Ration 
B^'Sal  Mixture, 

Acid  Phosphate  f Ration 
Basal  Mixture, 

Acid  Phosphate  3-3  Ration 
Basal  Mixture, 

Orchiilla  Gnano  ^ Ration 
B isal  Mixture, 

Orchulla  Guano  f Ration 
Basal  Mixture, 

Oiehiila  Guano  3-3 Ration 
Basal  Mixture 


lbs.  pr.  acre 


140 

1037-11 

310 

•J80 

90 

310  ) 

280  ( 

3iU  f 
90  S 
280  } 

90  > 

370 

70 

370  ( 

140  j 
370 
210 
370 

91 
37  0 
1037-11  S 
o7u  } 
1555-11  ^ 
370 

370  ) 

155  ^ 

37u 
310 
7170 
405 
370 


lbs, 


9-11  i 

I 


310  > 
90  > 
120  ) 
400  ( 
240  \ 
400  ( 
300  S 
400 
400  > 
140  i 
400 
280 
400 
420 
400  / 
140  I 
400  I 
280  5 
400  ( 
420  S 
400 


Yield  in  lbs 
per  acre. 


1040  lbs. 
2050  “ 

2130  “ 
2250 
lOH) 

1650  “ 

2270  “ 
2440  “ 
2160 
2450  '' 
2650 
2700 
2270 
2780  “ 

2880  “ 
2450  “ 

2900  “ 

2690  “ 

2260 

2460  “ 
2240  ‘‘ 


2420 

2770 

3200 

3150 

3i;30 

2740 

2610 

2830 

2810 

2700 

25^ 


/ 

Bushels  per 
acre. 


21.58  Bushels 
26.97 

28.03  “ 

29.61 

22.10  “ 

21.71  “ 

29.87 

32.10 

28.40  '' 

32.24  ‘‘ 

714.87  “ 

3.5.53 

29.87 

36.58  * “ 

37.89  “ 

32.24 

38.16  “ 

35.719 

29.73 

32.37  ‘‘ 

•.^9.47 

711.84  “ 

:16.45 

42.11 
41.45 
41.49 

36.05 

•35.26 

38.16 

37.89  “ 

35.53  ‘‘ 
33.69 


[15  1 

CORN  EXPE RIMENTS—  Cm  tinned. 


:i7 


:{8 


10 


41 


44 


Manures  used. 


Bnsal  Mixture,  } 

Bone  Dust  4 Ration  f 
B mal  Mixture,  ^ 

Bone  Dust  f Ration  ) 

Basal  Mixture,  ? 

lioue  Dust  :5-3  “ ) 

Basal  Mixtuio, 

Cbarlcston  Floats  J Ration 
Basal  iviixtuie,  ( 

Charleston  Floats  | Ration  ) ' 
B isal  Mixture,  } 

(Jharloston  Floats  3-3  Ration  \ 

Basal  ilixtinc 

Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ^ Meal 
Arid  Plio.sj)li:i,'t(5,  > riios])hate 
Kauite  ^ Ration  yj-  Ration. 
Meal  l‘liospliate,  I 
ICanite  liation  S 
Meal  Piiosphate,  ^ 

Kanitc  3 3 Ration  ) 


47} Meal  riiosiduite 
Moiil  Phos?)hate 


54 


56 


(Raw) 


Moiil  Phosphate,  ^ 

Siilphato  Potash  ^ Ration  ) 
Meal  Phosi)haie,  ( 

Snl[>li[ite  I’otash  } Ration  s 
Meal  Phosphate,  ( 

Sulphate  Potash  3-3  Ration  ( 

Meal  Phospha  te 

Meal  Phosphate, 

Muriate  Potash  Ration 
Meal  Phosphate,  ) 

Muriate  I'otash  | Ration  ) 
Meal  Phosphate.  } 

Muriate  I'otash  3-3  Ration  ( 

Cotton  Seed  (Raw) 

Cotton  Seed  ( 

Acid  Phosphate  ^ 

(Cotton  Seed  ) 

Acid  Phosphate  /(Raw) 

Kin  it  e > 

Compost 

Compobt  I 

Kinitc,  ) 

Cotton  Seed  Meal, 

Cotton  14 nil  Ashes 
Cotton  Seed  Meal, 

Cotton  Hull  Ashes 
Gypsum 

Tankage 

Tankage,  } 

Ashes  Cotton  Hulls  i 
Tankage,  ) 

Ashes  Cotton  Hulls  > 
Gypsum  ) 

Studniezka’s  Guano  . 


67 


lbs.  per  aero,  i Yield  in  lbs 


per  acre. 


Ibs.i 


€0  Planters  Fertilizer. 


Nothing 


400 
140 
400 
‘^80 
m I 
420  ^ 

400 
140 
400  ( 

280  5 
400  I 
420  S 
400 
310  ) 

280  V 

200  S 

590 
400 
590  ( 

COO  ( 

590 
590  ? 

45 

590  i 
90  ( 

590  I 
135  ) 

590 
590  } 

45  ^ 

590  ( 

90  ( 

590 
135 

1050  “ 

1050  I 
280  ^ 

1050  ) 

280  > “ 

200  S 

35  Bu.shels 
70  I “ 

200  { Pounds. 
310  \ 

280  i 
310  ) 

280  V 

140  ) 

300 
300 
280 
300  ) 

280 
140  ) 

500 
500 


2700  lbs. 
2730  “ 

2270  ‘‘ 

2370 
2150  “ 

2240 
22G0  “ 

2320  “ 

2540 

2530  “ 

2290 
2500  “ 

2420 

2450  “ 

2400  “ 

2170  “ 

2120 

2220  “ 
1840  “ 

1990  “ 


204.0 

2000  ‘* 
2370  “ 


1960 

2000  ‘‘ 

2130 
2320  “ 

2200 

2170  “ 

2040  “ 

1840  “ 


Bushels  per 
acre. 


35.53  Bushels 

35.92  ‘• 

29.’87 

31.19 

28.29  '' 

29.47  ‘‘ 

;9-73 

30.53 


33.42 

33.29 
36.13 
32  89 

31.84 

32.24 

32.37 

28.55 

27.89 

29  21 
24.21 

26.19 

26.84 

27.11 

31.19 


25.79 

26.32 

28.03 

30.53 

28.95 

28.55 

26.86 

24.21 


[16] 


EXPERIMENTS. 


jN'os.  4,  18,  30  and  20  are  omitted  from  al)ove,  Tiecaime  on; 
account  of  tlie  delay  in  getting  tlie  dried  bleed,  they  were  not 
planted  foj  ten  days  after. 

The  dilference  in  yields  shows  how  stronglj’-  seasons  may 
effect  results. 

The  com  planted  April  35tli  had  very  favorable  seasons^ 
that  on  2r)th  did  not.  Both  received  some  number  of  workings. 
See  the  results : 


t*j|  Manures  used. 

1 

j Yield  per  acre 

1 

Bushels. 

41200  lbs  Dried  Plood. 

1 910  lbs. 

11.97 

Biislicls. 

t 100  lbs  Dried  Blood  i- 
Mixed  Minerals 

Ratioul  .. 

15.92 

j 

5 200  lbs.  Dried  Blood 
j ( Mitred  Minerals  f 

1 1520  1 

[ 20.00 

300  lbs.  Dried  Blood 
t)  Mixed  Minera's  3-3 

1 1250  “ j 

16.. 50 

In  the  above  ve  have  counted  as  a bushel  7G  pounds  corn 
on  the  ear  witli  a small  amount  of  the  shuck  attached. 

The  object  of  these  experinients  was  to  test  the  value  of 
the  difTeront  forms  of  ^s'itrogen,  Phosjdioric  Acid  and  Potasli 
(the  chief  ingredients  of  all  fertilizers)  upon  this  soil.  Accord- 
ingly there  has  been  used  all  the  forms  of  Nitrogen  accessible. 
Mineral  Nitrogen,  in  form  of  Nitrate  Soda  and  Sulphate 
of  Ammonia ; Yegetable  Nitrogen  in  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  Ani- 
mal Nitrogen  in  Dried  Blood  and  Tankage.  Of  Piios]  )hates  there 
has  been  tried  : the  Soluble  in  Dissolved  Bone  Black  and  Acid 
Phos])hate  and  the  Insoluble  in  Bone,  Orchilla  Guano  and 
Charleston  Floats.  The  last  is  the  natural  Phosphate  of  South 
Carolina.  redm*ed  m an  impaij,.<ilde  powder  and  Orchilla  Guano 
is  a natural  bird  Phosjhate  from  th{‘  (kiriblman  Sea.  The  Potash 
Salts  used  are  from  the  Prussian  mines,  Krnite  being  the  crude 
product  and  the  others  manufactured  from  it. 

Tankage,  tlie  refuse  of  the  slaughter  houses,  is  a mixture 
of  Dried  Blood,  Bone  and  Meat.  The  compost  is  prepared  a(*- 
cording  to  formula  given  in  Bulletin  No.  2.  For  a further  des- 
cription of  above  manures  see  Bulletin  No.  2,  i)ages  8 et  .sc<|. 


QUESTIONS  ASKED  OF  THESE  EXPERIMENTS. 

1.  Is  this  soil  in  need  of  Nitrogen  to  grow  corn  '? 

2.  If  so  in  what  form  and  quantity  ? 

3.  Is  Phosphoric  Acid  needed  ? 

4.  If  so  in  what  form  and  quantity  ? 

5.  Is  Potash  needed  ? 

6.  If  so  in  what  form  and  quantity  ? 

7.  Comparative  effects  of  i^opular  manures  ? 


I 


[17] 


By  examining  the  above  experiments  we  will  find  that  Kos.  2, 
3,  4 and  5,  put  the  question  as  to  the  requirements  of  this  soil 
for  Nitrogen  alone  and  what  form  of  it  is  best. 

The  combination  of  these  forms  of  Nitrogen  in  diherent 
quantities  with  mixed  Minerals,  are  also  used,  by  the  side  of 
mixed  Minerals  alone,  to  tell  both  the  form  and  the  quantit}"  of 
Nitrogen  best  adapted  to  growtli  of  corn  on  this  soil. 

Experiment  No.  6 is  a question  as  to  the  need  of  rhosphori(3 
acid  alone  on  this  soil. 

Experiment  No.  7 is  a similar  question  as  to  Potash. 
Experiment  No.  8.  combines  Nitrogen,  and  Phosphoric  Acid 
while  No.  9 combines  Nitrogen  and  Potash. 

Nos.  19,  17  and  24,  combines  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Pot  a dt. 
Further  down  combinations  of  Pliospiioric  Acid  and  Potasin 
similar  to  those  of  Nitrogen,  already  described,  are  ibutid. 

By  tabulating  these  carefully,  results  of  great  value  can  In*, 
obtained — not  in  one  year — but  through  several  years,  wlicii  tlie 
modifying  factors  of  seasons,  culture,  etc.,  can  be  (‘limiuated  as 
far  as  iiossible.  Accordingly  these  experiments  will  be  repeated 
on  the  samesoil  for  a series  of  years  and  at  the  end  results  calciiia- 
ted.  Till  then  they  serve  only  as  suggestions. 

The  average  of  the  3 unfertilized  jdats  is 1900  lbs. 

The  average  of  the  3 Nitrogen  plats,  Nos.  2,  3 and  5 is. 2 143  ‘‘ 

Gain  by  Nitrogen  alone 237  lbs. 

The  average  of  the  3 Mixed  Minerals,  Nos,  10,  17,  24  is. 2350  E^s. 
The  average  of  the  3 Nitrogen  Grout^s,  11,  12,  13  ) 

11,  15,  10  i is  2020 
21,  22,  23  ) 


Gain  by  Nitrogen  in  combination 201  lbs. 

Very  nearly  similar  results.  Tlie  different  forms  of  Nitro- 
gen give : 

Nitrate  Soda,  Groups  Nos.  11,  12  and  13 7800  lbs. 

Sulphate  Ammonia,  Groups  Nos.  11,  15  and  16 7930  ‘‘ 

Cotton  Seed  Meal,  Groups  Nos.  21,  22  and  23  7850  “ 

Practically  no  difference. 

Applying  the  question  as  to  quantity  needed,  we  have : 

Sum  of  J Eations,  Nos.  11,  14  and  21 7620  lbs. 

of  § Eations,  Nos.  12,  15  and  22 8120 

of  I Eations,  Nos.  13,  16  and  23 7840 

of  3 Mixed  Minerals,  10,  17  and  24 7070 


It  is  plain  from  above  that  increased  quantities  of  Nitrogen 
have  not  paid  this  year. 


[18J 


Exannning'  for  Phospdoric  Acid,  ayc  fiud : 

The  average  of  the  3 Basal  Mixtures  is 2656  lbs. 

The  average  of  5 Phosidioric  Groups  26,  27,  28 ') 

30,  31,  32  I 

33,  34,  35  Y 2638  lbs.  . 
37,  38,  39 
40,  41,  42  3 

or  uo  gain,  but  exaiuiiiing  them  as  to  form  of  Phosphoric  Acid, 


Ave  huA^e : 

Average  of  Dis.  Bone  Black,  Group  26,  27,  28 2796 

‘‘  of  Acid  Phosj)hate,  Group  30,  31, 32 2826 

of  Orchilla,  Group  33,  34,  35 2780 

of  Bone  Dust  37,  88,  39 2533 

of  Floats,  Groups,  40,  41,  42  2253 


A slight  gain  on  three  and  a loss  on  the  rest.  In  other 
words  the  Phosphoric  manures  have  not  this  year  greatly  bene- 
litted  the  crop,  in  any  form  and  in  any  quantity. 

Beferring  to  Potash  we  liaA^e  : 

Average  of  Meal  Phosphate  E^os.  47  and  51  is 2375  lbs. 

( 44,  45  and  46  ) 

Average  of  3 Potash  Groups  Eos.  \ 38,  49  and  50  > 2363 

( 52,  53  and  54  ) 

or  no  gain  for  Potash. 

The  different  forms  of  Potash  yield  as  folloAvs  : 


Average  of  Kanite  Eos.  44,  45  and  46 2463  lbs. 

“ of  Muriate  Eos.  48,  49  and  50 2456 

‘‘  of  Sulphate  Eos.'  52,  53  and  54  2170 


or  a slight  increase  for  Kanite  and  Muriate,  Avith  a loss  for  the 
Sulphate. 

It  is  clear  from  aboA^e  that  none  of  the  manures  used 
The  reason  may  be  found  in  the  fact  that  there.  Avas  not  corn 
enough  on  the  ground  to  make  a very  heaA^y  yield.  The  rows 
were  4J  feet  apart  and  hills  3 feet,  and  only  one  stalk  left  to  the 
hill.  The  natural  fertility  of  the  soil,  under  the  very  favorable 
season  readily  develoj)ed  and  matured  such  a stand,  hence  small 
increase,  wherever  manures  of  eAwy  kind  were  used. 

Tlie  frutli  is  the  laud  is  miicli  better  than  it  seemed  to  be 
a ml  it  must  hereafter  be  treated  more  heroically.  Larger  stands 
Avith  the  same  manures  may  liereafter  show  more  decisive 
results. 


KECORD  OF  WEATHER— KEPT  BY  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT 
STATION,  FOR  SEPTEMBER.  1886.  ' 


Date 

THERMOMETER. 

RAIN  FALL. 

s 

% 

S 

B 

Inches. 

% 

< 

‘Ph‘  ' 

Pu 

3 

m 

Ci 

CO 

1 

76° 

84° 

74° 

84° 

65° 

2 

83° 

88° 

77° 

89° 

66° 

3 

84° 

84° 

76° 

85° 

72° 

.28 

4 

84° 

86° 

77° 

87° 

'70° 

5 

84° 

85° 

78° 

86° 

70° 

1 

6 

82° 

86° 

77° 

88° 

73° 

7 

82° 

86° 

79° 

86° 

71° 

.35 

8 

82° 

84° 

77° 

85° 

71° 

9 

80° 

82° 

79° 

85° 

73° 

10 

80° 

88° 

78° 

88° 

70° 

11 

83° 

79° 

77° 

90° 

72° 

.05 

12 

84° 

80° 

91° 

72° 

13 

88° 

79° 

90° 

71° 

14 

81°  ■ 

81° 

79° 

82° 

75° 

.23 

15 

83° 

87° 

75° 

88° 

73° 

16 

81° 

87° 

80° 

89° 

69° 

17 

84° 

89° 

80° 

90° 

73° 

18 

84° 

86° 

83° 

88° 

75° 

19 

78° 

82° 

79° 

83° 

74° 

.26 

20 

79° 

89° 

75° 

83°  . 

74° 

21 

80° 

78° 

77° 

84° 

71° 

22 

81° 

86° 

77° 

87° 

73° 

23 

84° 

84° 

77° 

88° 

72°  ; 

24 

80° 

75° 

77° 

83° 

74° 

1.8 

25 

75° 

76° 

83° 

73° 

1.5 

26 

79° 

78° 

77° 

81° 

739 

.65 

27 

81° 

84° 

75° 

87° 

72° 

28 

77° 

84° 

75° 

87° 

68° 

.17 

29 

68° 

71° 

67° 

76° 

66° 

30 

72° 

76° 

67° 

76° 

59° 

— ^ ^ 

r 0/1  : — 

r 


Maxinmui  Tt  mperalure. . 
Lowest  Temperature  . . . . .69^ 


.'TJifliy. 


[20] 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  KEPT  BY  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT 
STATION  FOR  OCTOBER  18S6. 


Date. 

THERMOMETER: 

RAIN  FALL. 

August. 

9 A.  M.  - 

CO 

9 P.  M. 

Maximum 

Minimum. 

1 

Inches. 

1 

710 

780 

68° 

78° 

63° 

2 

64 

67 

64 

71 

55 

3 

70 

69 

- 77 

56 

4 

75 

81 

68  . 

81 

62 

5 

, 79 

68 

79 

57 

6 

73 

75 

79 

55 

7 

79 

79 

73 

83 

56 

8 

79 

80 

74 

82 

64 

9 

79 

80 

83 

67 

10 

78 

75 

82 

67 

11 

74 

79 

77 

83 

68 

12 

81 

83 

77 

83 

72 

1. 

13 

81 

81 

77 

85 

72 

14 

79 

85 

74 

87 

71 

15 

71 

75 

66 

86 

76 

16 

69 

74 

64 

74 

60 

17 

72 

70 

79 

56 

18 

79 

80 

70 

85 

67 

19 

73 

79 

69 

85 

65 

20 

72 

80  . 

. 66  , 

81 

60 

21 

74 

82 

64 

82 

60 

22 

76 

82 

65 

83 

59 

23 

77 

68 

82 

57 

24 

78 

82 

66 

83 

59 

25 

78 

81 

69 

81 

58 

26 

68 

70 

64 

70 

65 

27 

58 

63 

54 

63 

53 

• • 

28 

54 

60 

45 

61 

42  ' 

29 

54 

65 

39 

30 

57 

50 

69 

40 

31 

69 

53  ' 

70 

42 



. Total ..1.  inch. 

870 

.390 


Maxiinum  Temperature. 
Minimum  Temperature 


SUGAR  CANE 

(FIELD  EXPERIMEN^^^*«eiVT 

May  j, 


®*'KSSsjy 

BULLETIN  No,  7 


OF  THE 


ISli  M EMIENI  Sffll 


"Wm.  C.  Stubbs,  Ph.  D., 


IDIHECTOR 


KENXER,  LA.,  JAKUAEY,  1887. 


ISSUED  BY 

THOiMFSOIS^  jr. 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  la. 


BATON  ROUGE : 

printed  by  LEON  JASTREMSKI,  STATE  PRINTER, 
1887. 


. LOUI.^^ANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  ) 
Kenner,  Louisiana,  j 

Ma  jor  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Bouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — I Laud  you  liercwitL  a Bulletin  covering  “Field  Experiments” 
in  Suj^ar  Cane  made  during  tlie  jiast  year.  Bulletins  coveiing  “Laboratory” 
and  “Sugar  House  Exjierimeuts'”  will  follow. 

Respectfully, 


WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


SUGAR  CANE. 


HISTORY. 

From  ancient  historical  writings  it  is  learned  that  sugar  cane 
came  originally  from  India.  Pliny,  the  older,  Varro,  and  Sen- 
eca, well  known  Latin  authors,  speak  of  it.  India  may  then,  with 
certainty,  be  called  the  birth  place  of  sugar  cane.  Thence  it 
passed  into  China',  where  its  cultivation  has  been  carried  on  for 
immemorial  time.  It  can  then  be  traced  into  Arabia,  Nubia, 
Ethiopia  and  Egypt.  About  the  year  1500  A.  D.,  after  the  cru- 
sades, theYenetians  introduced  it  into  Syria,  Cyprus  and  Sicily. 
Later,  Dom  Henry,  King  of  Portugal,  introduced  it  into  the 
IMadeira  and  Canary  Isles,  where  was  manufactured  for  300 
years,  all  the  sugar  used  in  Europe.  Since  that  time  it  has  been 
slowly  supplanted  by  the  vine.  Portugal  at  end  of  this  epocli 
sent  it  to  Saint  Thomas.  After  the  discovery  of  America,  Peter 
Etienza  introduced  it  on  the  island  of  St.  Domingo,  and  from 
this  island  it  has  spread  over  the  tropical  and  semi-tropical  ])or-' 
tions  of  North  and  South  America.  The  history  of  the  sugar 
cane  in  Louisiana  is  too  well-known  to  require  repetition  here. 

BOTANICAL  RELATIONS. 

Sugar  cane  belongs  to  the  large  family  of  grasses  (gramina- 
ciiT ; to  the  tribe  andropogon,  and  its  botanical  name 
is  ftacchariim  officinannn  or  arundo  sacchaHfera.  Sugar 
cane  is  a gigantic  stalk  0 to  12  feet  in  height,  erect  during 
growth,  but  bent  or  reclined,  at  maturity.  Its  roots  are  fibrous 
and  lateral  stretching  several  feet  in  every  direction,  and  usual- 
ly not  penetrating  the  soil  to  any  great  depth.  Hence  its  insta^ 
bility  in  loose  or  soft  soils,  and  its  liability  to  be  blown  down  by 
wind. 

Its  cylindrical  stalk  is  composed  of  nodes  and  internodes, 
sometimes  reaching  as  high  as  80  in  number.  These  joints  are 
long  or  short,  according  to  variety  grown,  or  to  favorable  or  nn- 
favorable  conditions  of  growth.  The  upper  part  of  each  joint 
divides  into  two  parts,  the  inner  one  forming  the  rind  of  the 
iiextjoint  above,  and  the  outer  one  uniting  with  cells  from  rvith- 
iu,  forms  the  leaf.  On  the  stalk  near  the  nodes,  occur  a white,' 
pulverulent,  waxy  substance,  called  cerosin.  Its  chemical  com- 
l>osition  is  0-24  H48  O,  and  would  be  called  in  chemistry,  an  al- 
cohol of  rhe  fatty  series.  The  color  of  the  stalk  depends  upon' 
the  variety  cultivated.  The  leaves  of  the  cane  are  alternate, 
clasping,  j)ale  to  dark  green  in  color,  receding  from  the  stalk' 
during  growth,  and  falling  off  at  maturity.  At  the  base  of  each, 
leaf  is  an  eye  or  bud,  which  contains  the  germ  of  a cane,  and  is' 


[^] 


the  true  seed  of  the  sugar  cane.  Around  the  stalk  at  the  eye^  are' 
several  rows  of  semitransparent  points,  which  produce  roots^ 
when  the  cane  is  placed  in  contact  with  moist  earth.  Just  above, 
these  rows  is  a light  colored  semitransparent  narrow  band  whicli> 
clearly  divides  the  lower  from  the  upper  joint.  In  tropical  coun- 
tries the  cane  powers,  tiist  sending  forth  a long  shoot  (arrow), 
upon  which  is  borne  a panicle  of  sterile  flowers.  The  flowers- 
never  produce  seeds.  In  this  respect  it  resembles  the  bananai 
and  agave. 

The  inference  that  sugar  cane,  coming  origiually  from  India 
would  require  a vrarm,  moderately’  damp  climate,  with  intervals 
of  dry  weather  is  fully  sustained  by  experiences  in  its  culture^ 
It  appears  also  to  thrive  better  near  the  sea  ; whether  this  is. 
due  to  the  extensive  moisture  existing  in  the  ])revailing  sea 
breezes,  or  wdiether  the  latter  bear  inward  certain  saline  salts 
which  increase  the  fertility  of  the  soils,  is  yet  an  uncertain  ques- 
tion. 

Though  cane  is  cultivated  in  countries  varying  greatly  in; 
climate  and  temperature,  yet  it  has  been  found  to  succeed  best 
when  the  main  average  temperature  is  between  GO^  and  00°  F,. 
and  with  an  annual  rainfall  of  from  GO  to  80  inches.  These  am 
natural  conditions  best  adapted  to  its  growth,  but  there  are 
countries  where  the  deficiency  of  rain  fall  can  easily  be  reme- 
died by  irrigation,  a practice  which  might  sometimes  be  sue- 
cessfully  and  cheaply  apjAied  in  Louisiana.  But  while  this 
amount  of  rain  and  this  mean  temperature  is  necessary  to  its 
most  successful  growth  ; another  condition  is  essential  to  the 
accomplishment  of  the  latter,  viz. : Proper  distribution  of  both.. 
Two  distinct  seasons  usually  exist  in  countries  of  highest  pro- 
ductions— the  one  warm  and  rainy,  lasting  from  4 to  G months^ 
with  a mean  temperature  of  80  to  90°  F ; the  other,  dry,  or  very 
moderately  rainy,  and  a mean  temperature  about  70°  F.  The  first 
is  a season  of  rapid  growth  and  development ; the  second  is  a 
period  of  the  arrest  of  growth,  the  elaboration  of  sugar  and  the 
slow  evolution  of  perfect  maturity.  Again  a large  amount  of 
humidity  in  the  air  (70  per  cent,  at  least)  is  conducive  to  best 
results.  Bright,  sunshiny  days,  with  dry  winds,  are  therefore^ 
prejudicial.  , 

SOILS  ADAPTED  TO  CANE. 

Are  those  naturally  rich  and  filled  with  vegetable  matter... 
However,  when  cane  is  planted  upon  soils  of  medium  fertility 
and  irrigated  properly,  it  will,  with  the  aid  of  judicious  manures,,, 
yield  well  and  give  highly  remunerative  results.  Climate,  rain- 
fall and  manures,  are  far  more  essential  factors  in  cane  culture 
than  soils. 

Infertile,  fresh,  friable  and  deep  soils,  with  proi>er  rainfall,, 
the  cane  is  well  formed,  large  and  full  of  sugar. 

In  sandy  and  light  soils,  the  canes,  without  manure,  are* 
small  but  very  sugary.  Calcareous  soils  develop  a superior  cane 


:ricli  in  sugar  and  easily  worked.  In  ricli  alluvial  soils,  not  pro- 
^perly  drained,  or  too  rich  in  certain  salts,  the  canes  though  fine 
in  appearance,  are  i^oor  in  juice,  work  difficultly  and  produce  a 
great  deal  of  molasses. 

A complete  study  of  the  sugar  soils  of  Louisiana  was  begun 
last  summer,  and  samples  were  analyzed  from  Jefferson,  St. 
Bernard,  St.  Mary,  Terrebonue,  St.  Charles,  Ascension,  Assump- 
tion and  Eapides.  This  work  will  be  continued  by  the  station 
•during  the  summer  months  until  finished,  when  a si^ecial 
Bulletin  on  the  sugar  soils  of  Louisiana  will  be  issued. 

The  culture  of  cane  depends  entirely  upon  the  character 
’of  the  soil.  That  culture  which  will  keep  the  soil  porous,  pul- 
verable,  free  from  weeds  and  which  will  disturb  the  roots  of  the 
'Caue  the  least,  is  the  best.  Every  planter  should  aim  in  cultiva. 
tion  to  accomplish  all  these  as  nearly  as  possible. 

Field  Experiments  in  cane  at  the  station  during  the  past 
year  were  of  of  four  kinds,  as  given  in  Bulletin  No.  3,  issued  in 
April  188G  : 

1st.  Germination  questions. 

2iid.  Physiological  questions. 

3(1.  Earieties  best  adapted  to  Louisiana. 

4th.  Manurial  requirements. 

GERMINATION  QUESTIONS. 

It  has  long  been  a question  among  planters  whether  to  plant 
the  tops,  the  entire  stalk,  or  only  the  matured  part.  The  prac- 
tice of  planting  the  green  unmatured  tops  is  the  one  suggested 
by  economy,  since  these  contain  little  or  no  sugar,  and  are  fre- 
^quently  thrown  a’^my.  This  practice  is,  however,  severely  crit- 
icised by  some,  upon  reasons  drawn  from  known  principles  of 
vegetable  physiology.  The  cane,  say  they,  has  only  sterile 
fiowers  and  consequently  give  no  seed  or  grains.  Therefore 
the  eyes  of  the  cane  are  intended  to  replace  the  true  seed  or 
grain.  In  all  seed  bearing  plants,  those  seed  germinate  and 
iruitify  best,  which  are  permitted  to  reach  perfect  maturity, 
therefore  in  imitation  of  this  natural  law,  we  must  seek  that 
part  of  the  stalk  which  contains  the  largest  and  best  developed 
^eyes,  in  order  to  secure  seed  which  will  produce  the  most  vig- 
orous plants.  It  is  further  claimed  that  where  tops  are  univer- 
^■sally  used  as  seed  that  a degeneracy  of  the  cane  will  follow,  since 
the  latter  is  always  reproduced  with  those  parts  of  the  cane 
where  the  juices  are  the  poorest  in  nourishment  [sugar]  and  the 
eyes  the  most  imperfectly  develoj)ed,  Hence  it  is  a practice 
with  some  of  our  planters  never  to  plant  fall  cane  until  the  po- 
lariscope  shows  at  least  10  per  cent,  sugar  in  the  cane.  Fcr 
roiitva  there  are  others  who  claim  that  the  planting  of  the  tops 
is  justifiable  from  imrely  scientific  reasons,  besides  the  economy 
involved.  They  regard  the  cane  planted  as  ‘‘cuttings”  rather 
than  true  seed,  and  the  eyes  as  buds  to  be  developed  under 
proper  conditions.  They  say  that  the  florist  when  he  wants  to 


[6] 


root  new  plants,  never  uses  the  old  or  mature  wood,  but  rather 
the  young  and  succulent  portions.  Therefore  in  planting  cane 
the  youngest  and  most  succulent  portions  will  secure  the  best 
results.  Which  is  right  has  not  yet  been  decided  by  science. 
Experiments  in  the  held  have  demonstrated  that  eyes  from  both 
the  mature  and  immature  parts  of  the  stalk  will  germinate.  But 
which  are  the  best,  i.  e.  which  will  insure  the  best  and  surest 
results  under  the  varying  conditions  of  our  seasons,  soils  and 
rainfall  ? To  determine  this  question,  the  following  experiments 
were  instituted  with  a view  of  continuing  them  through  a series 
of  years  in  order  to  eliminate  as  far  as  possible  all  the  modifying 
factors,  incident  to  one  yeaEs  experiment.  Great  pains  were 
taken  to  select  healthy  stalks  of  uniform  length.  These  were 
cut  up  into  short  pieces  beginning  with  the  green  immature  top. 

PLAT  O— CANE — aERMlNATION  QUESTIONS. 
Experiment  i^o.  1 — Planted  with  green  tops  usually  thrown  away.. 

“ 2 — 2 joints  next  to  top  [green.] 

3 — Next  2 joints  [partially  gre^ii.] 

a a 4 a u a 

o u 5 u u ii 

u o 6 u a a 

u u 7 u a n 

u u g u u u 

“ 9—2  Butt  joints. 

‘‘  ‘‘  10 — Upper  thirds  of  the  cane. 

“ 11 — Middle  of  the  cane. 

12 — Butt  of  the  cane. 

This  plat  was  planted  in  the  ftill  and  the  subsequent  severe' 
winter,  with  a late  unfavorable  spring,  so  prevented  germination 
as  to  vitiate  results.  All  germinated  badly,  but  No.  3 gave  the 
largest  number  of  sprouts  ; No.  2 next,  with  No.  7 third.  These- 
experiments  have  been  repeated,  with  better  promises  of  success. 

PHYSIOLOGICAL  QUESTIONS. 

Influence  of  Suckers. — A very  great  diversity  of  opinion  pre- 
vails as  to  influence  of  suckers,  ‘^side  shoots,”  which  spring  up 
around  the  base  of  the  original  sprout.  This  opinion  has  been 
based  partly  upon  poorly  conducted  experiments,  and  j)artly 
upon  the  erroneous  impression  which  this  wrongly  used  term 
‘^sucker”  has  produced  upon  the  mind.  Some  think  it  an  abnor- 
mal growth,  a live  parasite  preying  upon  the  nutriment  of  the 
main  stalk  and  thus  depriving  the  latter  temporarily  ot  its- 
vigor,  at  a time  when  rapid  growth  is  so  desirable,  and  therefore 
they  should  be  removed.  It  has  been  found  on  the  other  hand 
however,  that  these  suckers,  if  permitted  to  grow,  reach  maturi- 
ty almost  as  soon  as  the  parent  stalk,  is  equally  as  large,  and 
quite  as  rich  in  sugar.  They  also  add  largely  to  the  crop,  and 
when  a thin  stand  is  obtained,  the  multiplication  of  suckers  rap- 
idly closes  the  gaps  and  gives  in  the  end  fair  yields.  Some 
planters  thus  ascribe  to  suckers  the  greater  jiart  of  their  crop,. 


[7] 


and  encourage  tlieir  growth  by  awaiting  for  their  full  develop- 
ment in  the  spring  before  proceeding  to  a vigorous  cultivation  of 
their  crop.  They  further  claim  that  the  suckers  give  stubble  the 
next  year,  while  the  original  or  central  stalks  do  not  ratoon 
well,  if  at  all. 

All  these  descrepancies  of  opinion  arise  from  a misunder- 
standing and  misuse  of  the  term  ‘^sucker.’^  The  habit  usually 
denominated  suckeriug  in  cane,  is  not  snckering  at  all,  but  a 
I)rocess  common  to  all  graminaceous  plants  and  known  usually 
as  “ tillering.”  It  is  a natural  means  ©f  increase  and  of  pres^v- 
ing  its  own  existence  in  the  battle  of  life.  By  this  means,  grass- 
es and  small  grains  are  enabled  to  occupy  the  entire  ground  to 
the  exclusion  of  other  plants,  and  thus  secure  increased  har- 
vests. This  “tillering”  is  an  underground  development  char- 
acteristic of  cane  and  wheat,  and  springs  from  underground  buds 
specially  prepared  for  this  process.  Simultaneous  with  the  de- 
velopment of  the  sucker  is  a set  of  roots  of  its  own,  spriugmg 
directly  from  it  and  in  no  way  interfering  with  the  roots  of  the 
original  idant.  The  extent  of  tillering  or  snckering  depends 
therefore  upon  the  healthy  growth  of  the  plant,  the  fertility  of 
the  soil,  the  weather  during  early  groAvth,  the  thickness  of  the 
stand,  and  the  time  it  has  to  sucker  in.  Abundant  tillering  is 
an  evidence  of  thriftiness  and  an  index  to  increased  root  devel- 
opment. The  cane  however  truly  ‘•‘•mckers’’’  but  fortunately  siwdi 
occurrences  are  rare.  By  true  suekers,  is  meant,  the  develop- 
ment of  eyes  above  ground,  which  produce  stalks  living  at  t-he 
expense  of  the  parent  stalk.  This  occurs  whenever  tlie  upward 
growth  of  the  plant  is  checked,  or  the  stalk  is  bent  down  from 
any  cause,  followed  by  ver^-  damp  weather  etc.  This  process  is 
very  common  to  some  varieties  of  sorghum  after  its  main  stalk 
has  reached  maturity.  It  is  also  found  in  oats,  which  frequently 
send  forth  branches  from  the  axils  of  leaves  which  bear  grain. 
In  both  instances  the  seed  unequally  ripens.  True  suckers  in 
enne  are  therefore  very  objectionable  and  should  be  prevented  if 
possible. 

Duplicate  experiments  were  made  to  test  the  question  of  re- 
moving the  so  called  suckers,  both  at  the  Sugar  Experiment 
Station,  and  at  the  State  Experiment  Station  Louisiana  State 
University  and  A.  & M.  College  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  and  with 
almost  identical  results. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  these  exi)eriments : 

3 plats  were  manured  and  planted  and  cultivated  alike. 

On  No.  1 the  “suckers  were  removed  daily  until  June  22d. 

On  No.  2 the  “suckers”  were  removed  daily  until  Sei)tember 

22d. 

On  No.  3 they  were  not  disturbed.  Before  giving  the  re- 
sults which  are  decidedly  positive,  a description  of  the  difficul- 
ties encountered,  and  the  effects  i^roduced  by  snckering  will  be 
given. 

The  original  cane  grew  very  slowly  and  seemed  to  have 


[8] 


pended  all  of  its  energy  in  tryiog  to  make  ^^snckers.”  When 
one  sucker  was  carefully  removed,  several  would  appear  in  a 
day  or  two  afterwards.  I^either  time,  removal  of  suckers,  cul- 
tivation nor  any  practice  tried  could  dissuade  the  plant  from  its 
disposition  to  sucker.  On  June  22d  it  was  determined  to  let 
plat  No.  1,  which  up  to  that  time  had  been  carefully  desuckered, 
to  proceed  with  its  suckering  at  will.  In  two  weeks  time,  the 
cane  had  a thick  stand  and  a wonderful  growth.  Several  of 
these  suckers  by  actual  measurement  growing  over  two  feet  in 
vertical  height  in  two  weeks. 

Plat  No.  2 was  restrained  from  suckering  till  September 
22d,  at  which  time  it  was  abandoned,  and  when  the  frost  struck 
it  there  was  a vigorous  growth  of  densely  crowded  young  cane 
about  two  feet  high.  This  prohibition  of  ‘Tillering’^  however, 
produced  true  sucJcers.  Early  in  July  it  was  lound  that  the  eyes 
of  the  cane  were  developing  under  the  leaf,  soon  made  apparent 
by  a vigorous  shoot  from  the  centre  of  the  leaf.  These  develop- 
ments took  place  as  fast  as  the  eyes  were  matured.  They  were 
removed  as  fast  as  discovered.  This  process  of  true  suckers 
continued  up  to  the  top  of  the  cane,  so  that  at  the  end  of  the 
season  there  was  scarcely  an  eye  to  be  found  on  any  stalk  in  the 
plat. 

This  ceaseless  attempt  at  tillering  and  suckering  was  also 
destructive  of  the  sugar  in  the  stalk,  as  repeated  analyses  show- 
ed never  more  than  4 per  cent  sugar  in  the  caiie.  The  results 
at  Baton  Kouge  on  a different  soil  were  the  same. 


RESULTS  OF  SUCKERING  CANE  NOVEMBER  6,  183G. 

YIELD  RER  ACRE.  ANALA^SES  OF  JUICE. 


Ton  8, 

^ . 5 Desuckered  till  \ .q 

Juue22nd  f 
o ^ Desuckered  till  ) 

\ Sept.  22nd.  \ 

( All  tlie  Suck-  ) 

No.  3.  < ers  Permit-  > 22.62 

( ted  to  Grow.  ) 


Total  Solids.  Sugar 

13.4  per  cent  10.  per  cent. 

i Not  Worth  Harvesting.  } 

I Still  Standing. 

14.27  10.6  per  cent. 


From  the  above  it  is  perfectly  plain  that  the  “tillering’’ 
[suckering]  of  cane  is  a natural  process  of  great  benefit,  and 
should  be  restricted  with  great  care.  To  what  extent  and 
Avhen  a too  great  a tendency  to  this  process  should  be  corrected 
is  a question  for  the  individual  planter  to  decide.  Cane  planted 
too  thick,  in  thin  soils,  in  badly  broken,  or  poorly  tilled  land, 
and  very  late  in  season,  tiller  but  little.  The  tendency  never- 
theless exists,  bnt  root  growth  is  checked  and  with  it  the  pros- 
pects of  a crop.  Hence  the  aim  should  be  to  attain  the  healthi- 
est and  richest  type  of  the  plant,  and  such  is  to  be  found  only 
wdien  the  conditions  exist  for  its  freest  and  fullest  development 
of  all  its  parts  in  a manner  devised  by  nature.  This  suggests 
then,  care  in  planting,  not  to  secure  too  heavy  a stand  in  the 


beginniDg  for  the  fertility  of  the  soil ; proper  maiiuriog,  in 
<]|uautity,  quality,  aud  mode  of  application;  deep  plowing  in 
preparation  of  land,  and  early  cultivation  of  croi>,  and  shallow 
culture  thereafter  to  prevent  disturbance  of  increased  root 
growth,  early  planting  with  well  selected  seed,  and  upon 
mellow  well  drained  soil.  A close  attention  to  the  above  and 
the  process  of  suckering  can  be  encouraged  with  hope  of  highest 
results. 

Whether  the  stubble  comes  only  from  the  suckers,  can  be 
possitively  determined  next  year,  since  these  idats  will  be  re- 
served for  that  i)urpose. 


VARIETIES  OF  CANE. 


. The  following  is  taken  from  Bulletin  Xo.  3 : 

Early  in  the  fall  planters  througliout  the  State  were  re- 
quested to  send  to  Station  a few  selected  cane  of  the  dilferent 
varieties  grown  by  them.  The  object  was  to  test  whether,  by 
selection  and  proper  manuring,  an  improved  variety  could  not 
be  permanently  developed.  The  following  have  been  received: 


No.  1. 
“ 2. 

3. 

4. 


9. 

10. 

“ 11. 
12. 
1.3. 

14. 
“ 1.5. 
“ 16. 

17. 

18. 
19. 


Selected  red  caue,  from  Ashland  plantation,  Kenner  & Brent, 
striped  Mexican  “ 

white  La  Pice  “ “ 

Japanese,  from  Tchonpitonlas  x>lantation,  Soniat  Bros, 
small  red,  “ “ 

striped,  “ 

“ bastard,  “ “ 

“ large  red,  “ “ 

“ largo  red  and  striped,  from  Station. 

‘‘  large  red,  from  Cj'premort,  St.  Mary,  .T.  M.  Burguieres. 
“ yellow  ribbon.  Port  Hickey,  \V.  S.  Slaughter  & Bros. 

(I  U li 

“ rod,  from  Baton  Bonge,  S.  Shorten. 

red,  from  Homestead,  Dr.  Win.  E.  Brickell. 

“ rilibon,  “ “ 

“ Bourbon,  from  Cuba,  D.  D.  Colcock. 

“ red,  from  Homestead,  Dr.  Wm.  E.  Brickell, 

“ red  (tops),  “ “ 

“ yellow  La  Pice,  from  H.  A.  LeSassier. 


Of  these  IS'os.  6 and  19,  failed  to  germinate.  Fresh  speci- 
mens of  jS'o.  19  have  been  received  and  planted  this  fall  from 
31r.  LeSassier. 


[101 


ANALYSIS  OF  VARIETIES  NOVEMBER  22,  1886. 


No.  of 
Expt. 

!S{)ecnic 

Gravity. 

De^recH 

Baume. 

To!  al 
Solids. 

Cane 

Sugar. 

1 

1.0613 

8.3 

15. 

11.4 

g 

1.0G30 

8.5 

15.4 

12  5 

3 

1.0621 

8.4 

15.2 

12. 

1.0531 

7.3 

13.1 

9.4 

5 

1.0634 

8.6 

15 . 5 

13.2- 

D 

7 

1.0643 

S.7 

i5!7 

13." 

8 

1.0604 

8.2 

14.8 

12.1 

9 

1.06 

8.5 

15.4 

13.2 

10 

l.t:669 

9. 

16  3 

13.2 

11 

1-0634 

8.G 

15.5 

12.7 

12 

1.0643 

8.7 

15.7 

13. 

13 

1.0o52 

8.8 

15.9 

14.2 

14 

1.0678 

9.1 

16.5 

13.5 

15 

1.0652 

8.8 

15-9 

14.2 

16 

1.0634 

8.6 

15.5 

12.8 

17 

1.0d3O 

8.5 

15.4 

12.7 

These  varieties  were  harvested  and  planted  ITov.  22d,  1886^ 
Three  average  stalks  from  each  variety  were  crushed  and  ana- 
lysed with  results  given  above.  At  same  time  they  were  criti- 
cally examined  and  classilied  as  follows: 

Nos.  1,  8,  9,  12,  13  and  14,  were  unquestionablj^  alike,  anil 
were  of  the  purple  variety  so  common  in  this  countrp. 

No.  5 was  a red  cane  of  medium  size.  Eed  stripes  of  vary- 
ing thickness  on  a yellowish  brown  ground,  with  some  splotches 
of  yellowish  green  near  the  nodes. 

Nos.  2,  10,  11  and  10,  striped  cane.  Reddish  stripes  of  va- 
rying breadth  on  yellowish  green  ground.  Doubtless  all  of  same- 
variety. 

No.  7,  Bastard  cane.  When  planted  one-half  of  each  joint 
was  red  and  the  other  white.  The  cane  harvested  on  this  plat 
was  pure  w^hite  or  striped.  Evidently  not  the  iiroduct  of  the 
cane  planted. 

Nos.  3 and  16.  The  one  the  ^^Bourbon”  cane  directly  from: 
Cuba.  The  other  the  white  LaPice  from  Messrs.  Kenner  ife 
Brent’s  Ashland  plantation,  Avere  so  nearly  alike  that  a close 
examination  failed  to  detect  a dilterence. 

No.  17  was  a large  red  cane,  distinct  in  every  Avay  from  the 
purple  variety.  Color  of  different  shades  but  no  stripes. 

Through  the  courtesj"  of  Commissioner  Norman  J.  Colman,, 
of  Washington,  the  United  States  Consuls  in  the  various  sugar 
growing  countries,  have  been  requested  to  send  samples  of  all 
obtainable  varieties  of  sugar  cane  to  this  Station.  It  is  thus^- 
hoped  that  a large  number  may  be  secured  and  ultimately  va- 
rieties better  adapted  to  Louisiana  obtained,  besides  affording 
an  opportunity  of  studying  and  classifying  the  various  kinds:, 
now  cultivated. 


[11] 


TRASHING  C4NE. 

It  is  a practice  in  some  countries  to  have  the  leaves  of  the 
cane  as  they  mature,  removed.  The  process  is  called  trashing. 
In  the  early  part  of  September,  a portion  of  Experiments  Nos. 
2,  12,  13,  15,  and  16,  were  selected  for  testing  this  on  a small 
scale.  Accordingly  as  fast  as  the  leaves  matured  they  were  re- 
moved. At  harvest  time  Nov.  22d,  selected  samples  were  ana- 
lysed with  following  results : 


ANALYSIS  OF  TRASHED  CANE. 


1^0,  ot 

Expt. 

Specitic 

Gravity. 

Degrees 

Baume. 

Total 

Solids. 

Cane 

Sugar. 

2 

1.0660 

«.9 

16.1 

14. 

12 

1.0652 

S.8 

15.9 

13.8 

13 

1.0739 

0.^ 

17.9 

15.5 

15 

1.0660 

8.9 

16.1 

14. 

16 

1.087H 

9.1 

16.5 

15.7 

A comparison  with  table  on  page will  show  decided 

gains  in  ever^^  instance  by  trashing  except  No.  15.  Even  here 
the  total  solids  are  increased — but  the  sugar  is  slightly  dimin- 
ished. 


MANURIAL  REQUIRE^IENTS. 

It  is  highly  important  to  discover  a fertilizer  that  will  give 
a maximum  tonnage  with  maximum  sugar  content  with  cane 
upon  the  soils  of  Louisiana.  The  latter  are  now  under  investiga- 
tion bj'  the  Station,  and  it  is  hoped  that  in  a few  years  they  may  be 
accurately  classified  and  manures  adapted  to  each  specifically 
determined.  The  station  has  cane  growing,  beginning  at  the 
levee  and  running  back  six  and  a half  acres.  The  soil  near  the 
levee  is  a mixture  of  what  is  usually  denominated  sandy  and 
black  lands.  It  gradually  shades  into  the  latter,  till  at  a depth 
of  two  acres,  it  is  a veritable  ‘‘terre  gras.”  Three  analyses  of 
this  soil,  taken  at  different  distances  from  the  river,  were  made 
last  summer,  ^ind  are  herewith  appended. 


[121 


ANALYSES  OF  SOILS  OF  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION. 


Plat  No.  16 — Next 
to  River — Mixed 

Plat  No.  2 — Group 
1 — 200  y’ds  from 
River — Black 

Plat  No.  2— Group 

7 — 400  y’ds  from 
River— Black 

oOll. 

Soil. 

Soil. 

Insoluble  Matter. . . 

79.37 

77.52 

74.21 

Soluble  Silica 

.01 

.01 

.01 

Potash 

.31 

.20 

.13 

Soda 

.48 

.19 

.23 

Lime 

.46 

.57 

.52 

Magnesia 

.04 

.03 

.03 

Peroxide  of  Irou  ? 
Alumina > 

6.37 

6.74 

6.63 

Phosphoric  Acid 

.12 

.11 

.10 

Sulphuric  Acid 

.04 

.04 

.03 

Organic  Matter 

10.50 

14.50 

16.24 

Carbonic  Acid . ^ } 
Chlorine  and  Loss  ) 

2.30 

.09 

1.87 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

An  examination  of  above  shows  that  so  far  as  the  mineral 
ingredients  are  concerned,  that  these  soils  are  almost  identical. 
The  organic  matter  increases  as  we  go  from  the  river.  These 
soils  are  deficient  in  physical  qualities  rather  than  chemical  ingre- 
dients. The  former  limiting  the  available  sui)ply  of  the  latter,  aud 
requiring  the  application  of  manures  for  large  crops.  To  test  the 
kinds  and  quantities  required,  has  been  the  object  of  the  series  of 
experiments  which  follow.  It  should  be  remembered  that  any 
physical  amendment  to  a soil,  such  as  uuderdraiuing,  deep  plow- 
ing, subsoiling,  etc.,  is  in  itself  a manure,  since  it  enables  the 
roots  of  a plant  to  forage  over  an  increased  area  and  thus  ob- 
tain larger  supplies  of  available  food.  Unfortunately  for  the 
Station,  the  seed  used  in  its  experiments  were  seriously  injured 
by  being  badly  put  away.  Accordingly  no  stands  were  obtained 
anywhere  on  the  Station.  Through  hot  beds  prepared  on  the 
Station  aud  the  liberality  of  our  neighbors,  Messrs.  SoniatBros., 
this  defect  was  partially  repaired.  In  May  all  the  gaps  were 
filled  up  with  transplanted  cane,  placed  six  inches  apart,  or  two 
plants  to  the  running  foot.  Thus  a uniform  but  by  no  means 
a large  stand  was  obtained  late  in  Ma^^,  and  in  reading  the  re- 
sults given,  due  allowances  must  be  made  for  these  deficiencies. 
Had  twice  the  stand  been  obtained  early  in  the  season,  the  re- 
sults would  probably  have  been  A^ery  much  larger. 

Of  the  plats  gh^en  in  Bulletin  No.  3,  Nos.  1 and  9,  on  ac- 
count of  very  defective  stands  were  abandoned  and  the  cane 
transplanted  to  fill  up  A^acaucies  in  other  plats.  Nos.  2,  7,  S 
and  parts  of  land  5,  Avere  successfully  carried  through  the  sugar 
house.  Nos.  14  and  IG  Avere  used  for  seed  in  fall  planting,  while 
Nos.  G and  parts  of  4 and  5 haA^e  been  Avindrowed  for  seed  and 
for  the  mill,  to  be  worked  up  at  various  times  during  the  Avinter. 


[13] 


Samples  of  caue  from  all  of  these  plats  have  however  been  sev- 
eral times  analyzed  and  resnlts  with  dates  of  analyses  will  be 
g^iven  under  proper  heads. 

PLAT  NUMP.ER  2.— CANE. 

Ground  prepared  with  four  horse  plow.  Harrowed  and  ma- 
nures put  out  and  cane  jilanted  Oct.  19th,  1885.  Nos.  3,  8,  13, 
18,  23,  28,  33  and  38,  were  not  manured  at  time  of  planting. 
They  were  manured  May  21111.  Ground  was  hard  and  cloddy 
when  planted.  Hence  much  of  the  seed  dryrotted  during  the 
drouth  which  prevailed  immediately  after.  Having  failed  to 
secure  a stand  from  the  seed,  this  plat  together  with  all  the 
others  was  transplanted  with  cane  from  prepared  hot  beds  and 
from  our  neighbors  field.  The  stalks  of  cane  of  all  sizes  from 
a few  inches  to  a foot  or  more  in  height  with  the  mother  stalk 
attached  were  very  very  successfully  transplanted,  6 inches 
apart.  Thus  a stand  of  one  running  stalk  every  six  inches  was 
obtained,  which,  though  uniform,  was  far  from  being  enough. 
The  manures  used  are  appended  with  tonnage  and  sugar  con- 
tent. 


[14] 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  2. 


No.  of 
Expt 


1 

2 

*3 

4 

5 

6 
7 

*8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

*13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 
21 
22 

*23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

*28 

2& 


Manures  Used  Per  Acre. 


200  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal 
100  “ acid  paosphate 
< 333  lbs  cotton  st^ed  meal 
^ 167  “ acid  pho.'-pbate 
f 140  lbs  snlpliate  ammonia 
I 120  dried  blood  \ 

{ 200  cotton  seed  meal  } 

I 460  “ acid  phosphate  | 
[ 80  “ muriate  acid  j 

\ 466  lbs  cotton  seed  meaj. 

) 234  “ acid  phosphate 
j 600  “ cotton  seed  meal  ^ 

) 300  “ acid  phosphate  ^ 

S600  cotton  seed  meal  i 

300  acid  phosphate  > 
300  kainite  ) 

600  “ cotton  seed  meal... 

( 260  “ sulphate  ammonia 
< 460  acid  phosphate 
( 80  “ mnriiile  acid 
j 300  “ acid  phosphate  ) 

I 300  “ kainite  ' 

300  “ kainite 

200  “ cotton  seed  meal  ^ 
100  “ floats  \ 

S 333  “ cotton  seed  meal  } 

I 167  ‘‘  floats 
\ 466  “ cotton  seed  meal 
\23i  “ floats 
5 466  “ cotton  seed  meal 
} 334  “ floats 
600  “ cotton  seed  meal 
300  “ floats 

( 600  “ cottonseed  meal 
I 300  “ floats 
( 300  “ kainite 
f 600  “ cottonseed  meal') 
j 300  floats 
i 300  “ kainite  ( 

[ 200  “ gypsum  j 

Nothing 

600  lbs  cotton  seed  meal  ) 
300  “ floats 

300  cotton  hull  ashes  ) 

300  “ tankage 

450  “ 

700  ‘‘  

900  “ 

900  

900  “ 

300  “ kainite 
( 900  “ tankage ) 

^ 300  ‘‘  kainite  

( 200  “ gypsum  \ 

900  “ tankage 
300  “ cotton  hull  ashes 
i 900  “ rank age  ) 

} 200  “ gypsum  ^ 

1700  lbs  cotton  seed,  raw 


Tons 
Per  Acre 


.30 

.52 


21.22 


23 


23. 

18. 

19. 

15. 

14. 

12. 

15. 


19-10 


18.05 


14.26 
16.. 36 


16. 

16. 

16. 

17. 

15. 


18.42 


19.32 


16.40 


Total 

■Solids 


17. 

16. 


12.6 

12.9 

12.6 

14.2 
13. 

12.9 

12.4 

13.6 

12.9 

14.0 

14.4 

13.7 

14.4 

13.9 

13.7 

15.4 

14.5 

15.4 

15.1 

14.5 

15.7 

14.3 

15.5 
15.5 

16.1 
16'.  3 

15.7 

15.5' 

14.8 


Cane 

Sugar 


10.7 

10.5 

10.6 

10.6 

11. 

10.4 
9.6 

10.8 

10.1 

10.7 

11.8 

11.2 

12. 

11.1 

12. 

11.6 

11. 

12.1 

12.4 

12.5 

13.5 

11.6 
11.9 
12.1 

12.5 

13. 

12.4 

12.2 

11.2 


When  work- 
ed in  Sugar 
House, 


Oct.  29, 
Nov.  1. 

Nov.  1. 

Nov.  6. 
Oct.  29. 

Nov.  2. 
Nov.  3. 
Nov.  3. 

Nov.  4. 
Nov.  4. 
Nov.  8. 

Nov.  8. 
Nov.  9. 
Nov.  9. 
Nov,  10. 

Nov.  13. 

Nov.  13. 

Nov.  15. 

Nov.  15. 

Nov.  16. 
Nov.  16. 
Nov.  16. 
Nov.  17. 
Nov.  17. 

Nov.  18. 

Nov.  18. 

Nov.  19. 

Nov.  20. 
Nov.  21. 


:}0 

31 

32 
"33 

34 


36 

37 

38 

39 

40 


1700  “ cotton  seed,  raw  ^ 
300  “ acid  pliosphats  ) 
1700  “ cotton  seed,  raw  ) 
300  “ acid  phosphate  > 
300  “ kaiuite  ) 

1700  cotton  seed,  raw 
300  “ cotton  hull  ashes 
466  “ cotton  seed  meal  ^ 

' 234  “ acidphosphie  S 
I 1700  “ cotton  seed,  raw 
I 300  “ lloats 
1700  “ cotton  seed,  raw  ) 
300  ‘‘  lloats 
200  “ gypsnm  ) 

10  tons  stalile  niannre  t 
10  tons  stable  manure  , ^ 

300  Ihs  acid  phosphate^  ^ 

Nothing 

. 10  tons  stable  manure  ) 

300  lbs  acid  pho.'i)hate 
* 300  “ kainite  ) 

10  tons  stable  manure  , 
300  lbs  floats 


Tons 
Per  Acre 

Total 

Solids 

Cane 

Sugar 

VV  hen  work- 

ed in  Sugar 
House. 

16.40 

15.7 

12.8 

Nov.  22. 

17  00 

16. 

13.6 

Nov.  22. 

16.84 

14.6 

11.1 

•Nov.  23. 

17.24 

15. 

11.8 

Nov.  23. 

, ,15.56 

15.4 

11-9 

Nov.  24. 

. 18.50 

14.8 

11. 

j Nov.  24. 

12.00 

14.0 

10.8 

I Nov.  25. 

. 13.63 

15. 

11. 

1 Nov.  25. 

8.72 

15. 

11.4 

Nov..  25. 

13.72 

15.4 

11.5 

Nov.  25. 

. 13.08 

16.1 

13. 

Nov.  25. 

’"Manures  applied  to  tliese  plates  on  24th  May.  Rest  October  19th. 
tThese  experimeuts  were  in  tbe  rear  of  the  plat,  and  were  cein’edated 
upon  by  freedmen. 


By  examining  above  it  is  foniul  that  a mixture  of  cotton 
seed  meal  and  acid  phosphate  has  produced  the  highest  results 
— that  kainite  has  added  nothing  to  the  crop — that  the  addition 
of  acid  phosphate  to  the  cotton  seed  meal  has  greatly  increased 
the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  crop,  and  that  the  application 
of  manures  in  the  fall  has  been  as  satisfactory  as  spring  appli- 
cation of  the  same  manures.  Several  other  suggestions  might 
be  accepted  from  these  experiments,  but  it  is  perhaps  better  to 
await  another  year’s  development  before  doing  so. 

PfIOSPHORie  ACID  MANURES— PLAT  7. 

The  object  of  this  plat  is  to  test  the  form  and  quantity  of 
pliosiihoric  acid  best  adapted  to  cane  ; using  it  in  a soluble  form 
^in  dissolved  bone  black  and  aciel  phosphate,  in  a precijiitated 
form  as  precipitated  bone  black  and  precipitated  acid  phosphate, 
and  in  an  iusaluble  form  as  bone  dust  and  finely  ground  Charles- 
ton phosphate,  called  ^^fioats”;  also  in  the  natural  form  of  Or- 
chilia  guano.  This  xilat  was  planted  Febrnarj^  20th  and  22d 
and  gaps  filled  with  transplanted  cane  May  23d  and  25th. 


[16] 


GROUP  1— DISSOLVED  BONE  BLACK. 


Experiment  No. 


(Phosphoric  Acid.) 

( 18  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

1/18  lbs.  kainite. 
f ^Basal  mixture. 

Basal  mixture. 

6 lbs.  dissolved  bone  black,  equal  to  ^ ration. 

— Nothiu<^.  , 

Basal  mixture. 

1*2  lbs  dissolved  bone  black,  equal  to  f ration. 

^ Basal  mixture. 

\ 18  ibs.  dissolved  bone  black,  equal  to  full  ration. 


GROUP  2— ACID  PHOSPHATE. 


Experiment  No.  G — Basal  mixture, 

a u Y ^ Basal  mixture. 

' \ G lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

“ 8 — Nothing. 

ti  a 0 ( Basal  mixture. 

( 12  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 
ic  i(  in^  Basal  mixture. 

I 18  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 


GROUP  3— PRECIPITATED  BONE  BLA.CK. 

(Precipitated  Phosphoric  Acid.) 
Experiment  No.  11 — Basal  mixture. 


12 


Basal  mixture. 

6 lbs.  preJpitated  bone  black,  equal  to  1- ration. 

“ 13 — Nothing. 

a a 14  ^ Basal  mixture. 

> 12  lbs.  precipitated  bone  black,  equal  to  f ration. 
^ Basal  mixture. 

\ 18  lbs.  precipitated  bone  black,  equal  to  full  ration. 
GROUP  4— PRECIPITATED  ACID  PHOSPHATE. 


(Precipitated  Phosphoric  Acid. 

Experiment  No.  16 — Basal  mixture. 

u jrj.  < Basal  mixture. 

( 6 lbs.  preciiiitatedacidphosidiate,  equaPo  ration 
“ 18 — Nothing. 

“ ]q  ) Basal  mixture. 

^ } 12  lbs.  precipitated  acid  plios.  equal  to  | ration. 

( Basal  mixture. 


20 


'(  18  lbs.  precipitated  acid  phos.  equal  to  full  ration  ^ 
GROUP  5— BONE  DUST. 


22 
ii 

24 

25 


(Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid.) 
Experiment  Eo.  25 — Basal  mixture. 

Basal  mixture. 

6 lbs.  bone  dust,  equal  to  ^ ration. 

23 — Nothing. 

Basal  mixture. 

12  lbs.  bone  dust,  equal  to  f ration. 
Basil  mixture. 

18  lbs.  bone  dust,  equal  to  full  ration. 


GROUP  6-ROCK  PHOSPHATE. 

(Insolnbie  Phosphoric  Acid. 

*•  “ 26— Basal  mixture. 

K 27  ^ Basal  mixture. 

} 6 lbs.  floats,  equal  to  ^ ration. 

28— Nothing. 

it  ii  oq  ^ Pasal  mixture. 

) 12  lbs.  floats,  equal  to  f ration, 
orv  5 I^asal  mixture. 

18  lbs.  floats,  equal  to  full  ration. 

GROUP  7— NATURAL  PHOSPHATE. 

Experiment  No.  31 — Basal  mixture. 
u “ ao  ^ Basal  mixture. 

) 6 lbs.  Orchilla  gbano,  equal  to  ration. 

“ “ 33-' Nothing. 

^ naixture. 

12  lbs.  Orchiila  guano,  equal  to  f ration. 

18  lbs.  Orchilla  guano,  equal  to  full  ration. 


*Basal  mixture  in  this  group  meaus  18  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal  aud  18  lbs. 
kainite. 


RESULTS  OF  EXPERIMENTS  PLAT  NO.  7. 


No  of 

Expt. 

Ton u age  Pei 
Acre. 

rotal  Solids. 

Cane  Sugar. 

When  Ground  in  Sugar  House 

1 

15.75 

15.7 

12.7 

December  1st. 

2 

17.76 

15.9 

13.2 

November  25th. 

3 

14.06 

15 . 5 

12.1 

December  2nd. 

4 

16.78 

15.4 

11.8 

November25rh. 

5 

18.75 

15.5 

12.3 

November  25th. 

6 

15.40 

15.5 

12.5 

December  1st. 

7 

18.48 

15.4 

12.8 

November  30th. 

8 

14.34 

15.4 

11.6 

December  2nd. 

0 

16.34 

15.2 

12.4 

November  30th. 

10 

16.42 

14.8 

11.5 

November  30th. 

11 

12.94 

15.7 

12.7 

December  1st. 

12 

15.41 

15.5 

12.5 

November  30th. 

13 

12.03 

15.4 

12.1 

December  2ud. 

14 

13.73 

15.5 

12.5 

November  30th. 

15 

12.23 

15.2 

12.3 

November  30th. 

16 

12.45 

16.1 

12.7 

Deceml)er  6th. 

17 

15.93 

.15.4 

12  1 

December  1st. 

18 

, 12.30 

15.7 

12.8 

December  7tb. 

19 

13.88 

15. 

11.3 

Tlec ember  ^s^ 

20 

14.18 

15.2 

11.6 

December  1st. 

21 

11.29 

16.3 

13.8 

|December  6th. 

22 

13.58 

15.9 

12.5 

|December  2nd. 

23 

11.96 

15.5 

12.7 

December  7th. 

24 

12.19 

15.9 

12.5 

December  2nd. 

25- 

12.90 

16.1 

13.8 

December  2nd. 

26 

11.51 

16.3 

13.4 

December  6tb. 

27 

12.00 

16.1 

13.1 

December  3d. 

28 

10.95 

15.9 

' 12.9 

December7tb. 

29 

11.85 

15.5 

12.4 

December  7th. 

30 

14.06 

15.5 

12.4 

December  7th. 

31 

9.34 

15.7 

13.1 

December  6th. 

32 

10.16 

15.9 

12.9 

De(;ember  3d 

33 

8.24 

15.2 

12. 

(H'.cember  7th. 

34 

8.44 

15.7 

13. 

DecemTier  3d. 

35 

10.65 

13.7 

11.3 

December  3d. 

[18]' 

By  comparing  in  each  group  the  ^^basal  mixture”  with  the 
^^basal  mixture  mixed  with  the  phosphate’  we  obtain  the  benefit 
derived  from  the  phosphoric  acid,  and  by  comparing  them  with 
the  unfertilized  experiments,  we  obtain  the  increase  due  to  the 
manure.  It  must  be  noted  however,  that  the  ‘biothings”  oc- 
cupied the  center  of  the  plat  and  from  their  location  were  natu- 
rally better  than  the  rest  of  the  plat.  This  natural  advantage 
was  recognized  before  planting,  but  no  better  arrangement 
could  be  devised. 

Taking  each  group  ui)  separately  we  have  for  Group  1 Dis- 
solved Bone  Black : 

GROUP  1. 


yield  of  ‘‘Nothing”  per  acre .14.06  tons. 

“ “ Basal  mixture 15.75  “ 

“ “ i Ration  Dissolved  Bone  Bhick 17.76  ‘‘ 

“ “ 16.78  “ 

“ “3-3  “ “ “ “ 18.75  “ 

Increase  due  to  V ration  over  Basal  Mixture 2.01  “ 

1.03  “ 

“ “ “3-3  “ “ “ “ 3.00  “ 

Increase  of  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 1.69  “ 

“ “ ration  Dissolved  Bone  Black  over  nothing 3.70  “ 

“ “ f “ “ “ “ “ “ 2.72  “ 

“ “ 3-3  “ “ “ “ “ “ 4.69  “ 

COMPARING  EACH  GROUP  IN  THIS  WAY  WE  HAVE  GROUP  2. 

Increase  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 1.06  tons. 

“ ration  Acid  Phos])hate  over  nothing 4.14  “ 

“ f “ “ “ “ “ 2-00  “ 

“ 3-3  “ “ “ “ “ 2.08  “ 

GROUP  3. 

Increase  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 91  tons. 

“ i ration  in-ec.  Dissolved  Bone  Black 3.38  “ 

“ I-  “ “ “ “ “ 1.70  “ 

“ 3-3  “ “ “ “ “ 20  “ 


GROUP  4. 


Increase  of  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 15  tons. 

“ i ration  Pres.  Acid  Phosphate 3.63  “ 

“ I “ “ “ “ 1.58  “ 

“ 3-3  “ “ “ “ 94  “ 


GROUP  5. 


Increase  of  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 67  tons. 

“ ration  Bone  Meal  over  nothing 1.62  “ 

“ f “ “ “ “ “ 23  “ 

“ 3-3  “ “ “ “ “ 94  “ 

GROUP  6. 

■Increase  of  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 56  tous. 

“ i ration  Floats  over  nothing 1.05  “ 

<<  I “ “ “ “ ’ 9#  “ 

3-3  “ “ “ “ “ 


[19] 


GROUP  7. 


increase  of  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 1,10  tens. 

i ration  Orch ilia  over  nothing... 1.92  “ 

^ 20  “ 

3-3  “ “ “ “ 2.41 


AGGREGATING  AND  COMPARING  RESULTS  WE  HAVE. 


Uri’oup  1. — Total  increase  of  Dissolved  hone  hlack  overhothing 


a 

2. — 

a 

u 

“ Acid  Phosphare 

u 

....  8.22  ‘‘ 

3!— 

a 

u 

“ Prec.  Dissolved  Bone 

(( 

“ ' ....  5.28  “ 

4.— 

( ( 

££ 

“ Prec.  Acid  Phosphate 

“ ....  7.09 

5.— 

({ 

££ 

Bone  Meal 

u 

“■  ....  2.89  ‘‘ 

is 

6.— 

u 

U 

Floats 

u 

“ ....  4.96  *• 

7.— 

u 

iC 

“ Orchilla 

u 

....  4.53  “ 

11.11  tons. 


It  is  evident  from  above  that  pliosphoric  acid  gives  an  in- 
crease in  yield,  but  that  this  yield  is  not  in  proportion  to  quan- 
tity applied.  Large  quantities  are  therefore  useless  and  ex- 
pensive if  we  may  judge  from  above  results.  These  exi>erinieuts 
ure  not  very  decisive  as  to  the  form  of  phosphoric  acid  desired. 
While  the  soluble  forms  are  ahead  and  the  precepited  next,  the 
gains  are  too  small  to  be  pronounced  decided,  and  yet  enough  to 
commend  these  forms  to  our  preference. 


POTASSIC  MANURES— PLAT  8. 

This  plat  was  designed  to  test  the  form  and  quantity  ©f 
jxitash  best  adapted  to  cane,  using  the  muriate,  sulphate,  nitrate, 
carbonate  and  kainite.  The  ashes  of  cotton  hulls  have  been 
used  elsewhere  in  other  plats.  For  fiotatoes  and  sugar  beets  the 
sulphate  is  preferred  to  the  muriate,  the  latter  injuring  the  sugar 
in  beets  and  the  starch  in  potatoes.  This  plat  was  planted 
3Iarch  15,  and  gaps  filled  with  transplanted  cane  May  21. 

GROUP  1— FORMS  OF  POTASH  ALONE. 

Experiment  No.  1 — 4 lbs.  muriute  of  potash. 

“ “ 2 —16  lbs.  kainite. 

“ 3 — Nothing. 

“ 4 — 4 lbs.  sulphate  potash. 

“ “ 5 — 2f  lbs.  carbonate  potash. 

GROUP  2— MURIATE  POTASH. 

S18  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

15  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

*Meal  phosphate. 
a “ 7 ^ Meal  phosphate. 

I 4 lbs.  muriate  potash,  equal  to  1 ration. 

‘‘  “ 8— Nothing, 

u Q ^ Meal  phosphate. 

I 8 lbs.  muriate  potash,  equal  to  | ration. 

.i(  u i Meal  phosphate. 

^ 12  lbs.  muriate  potash,  equal  to  fall  ration. 


[20] 


GROUP  3— KAINITE. 


Experiment  No. 

<<  u 

ii  u 

<<  <( 


u n 


11 — Meal  phospliate. 

< Meal  phosphate. 

^ 16  lbs.  kainite,  eq^ual  to  i ration. 

13 — Nothing. 

( Meal  phosphate. 

( 32  lbs.  kainite  equal  to  f ration. 

S Meal  phosphate. 

\ 48  lbs.  kainite,  equal  to  full  ration. 


/ 


GROUP  4— SULPHATE  POTASH. 

Experiment  No.  16 — Meal  phosphate. 

(I  K Meal  phosphate. 

I 4 lbs.  sulphate  potash,  equal  to  ration. 

“ 18 — Nothing. 

<<  jq  ( Meal  phosphate. 

‘ ) 8 lbs.  sulphate  potash,  equal  to|  ration. 

( 12  lbs.  sulphate  potash,  equal  to  full  ration. 


Experiment 

il 

i 

it 


GROUP  5— CARBONATE  POTASH. 

No.  21 — Meal  phosphate. 

if  QQ  j Meal  phosphate. 

I 2|  lbs.  carbonate  potash;  equal  to  ^ ration.. 

“ 23— Nothing. 

((  24  ^ Meal  phosphate. 

} 5^  lbs.  carbonate  potash,  equal  to  f ration.. 

i lbs.  carbonate  potash,  equal  to  full  ration. 


GROUP  G— NITRATE  POTASH. 


Experiment 


u 


u 


a 


No.  20— Meal  phosphate. 

( 9 lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ 27  < 15  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

( 4i  lbs.  nitrate  Potash,  equal  to  ration. 

28 — Nothing. 

( 9 Ihs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ 29 < 15  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

( 9 lbs.  nitrate  Potash  equal  to  f ration. 

( 9 lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ 30  < 15  lbs.  acid  x>hosx>hate. 

( IS^lbs.  nitrate  Potash,  equal  te  full  ration. 


* Meal  phosphate  in  this  plat  means  18  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal  and  15  lbs. 
acid  phosphate. 

Group  No.  1 and  Experiments  No.  10,  15,  20,  25  and  30,  hare  not  yet 
been  worked  up.  They  have  been  put  away  in  different  ways  to  be  worked 
up  during  the  winter. 


C21J 


No.  of 
Expt. 

Tonuag®  Per 
Acre. 

Total  Solids. 

Cane  Sugar. 

When  Worked  in  the  Mill. 

6 

17.27 

14.6  p.c. 

14.  p.  c. 

December  8th. 

7 

20.74 

15.9 

12.9 

December  lOth, 

8 

22.76 

15.5 

12.4 

December  9th. 

9 

22.46 

15.9 

13. 

December  lOth. 

11 

13.54 

16.6 

13.8 

December  8th. 

12 

19.35 

15.9 

13. 

December  10th. 

13 

22.95 

15.4 

12.4 

Docember  9th. 

14 

22.57 

15.7 

12.6 

December  10th, 

16 

13.20 

16.2 

13.6 

December  8th. 

17 

15.26 

15.8 

13.1 

December  13th. 

18 

13-72 

15. 

11.7 

December  9th. 

19 

13.20 

15.7 

12.9 

Decomber  13th. 

21 

7.42 

15. 

11.8 

December  8th. 

22 

11.58 

14.6 

10.7 

December  13th. 

23 

10.98 

14.4 

11.2 

December  9th. 

24 

9.15 

14.5 

10.5 

December  13th. 

26 

7.76 

15.4 

11.8 

December  8th. 

27 

10.20 

14.8 

11.4 

December  14th. 

28 

12.00 

14.9 

11.1 

December  9th. 

29 

13.58 

13.9 

10.5 

December  14th. 

The  results  of  these  experiments  are  highly  discordant  and 
very  unsatisfactory.  The  largest  yields  are  the  unfertilized 
plats.  A portion  of  this  plat  was  in  corn  and  peas  previous  to 
these  experiments,  and  was  in  excellent  order,  and  ploughed 
wen.  The  rest  was  in  stubble.  The  unfertilized  experiments 
oecupied  the  centre  of  the  plat,  came  up  better  and  grew  off 
faster  than  elsewhere.  The  manner  in  which  the  plat  had  been 
previously  frequently  ploughed,  had  caused  a ridge  in  the  cen- 
tre of  the  plat.  Hence  this  ridge  was  from  its  position  the  best 
drained  dart  of  the  plat.  Again  this  plat  occupied  the  extreme 
western  part  of  the  Station  and  was  the  last  cane  cut.  Hence 
in  spite  of  our  efforts  to  prevent  them,  depredations  by  the 
freedmen  were  frequent  and  severe.  Groups  No.  8,  5 and  6,  were 
never  equal  to  the  others,  and  it  is  believed  that  they  were  en- 
tirely within  the  stubble  of  the  previous  year.  Group  No.  6 
was  the  last  cane  planted  on  the  station,  much  later  than  the 
rest,  and  never  caught  up.  Group  No.  5 never  did  well.  In 
fact  during  the  season  whenever  carbonate  of  potash;  either 
pure  or  in  the  ashes  of  cotton  hulls,  was  used,  a diminished 
^owth  and  sickly  hue  were  plainly  visible  in  the  cane.  The 
juices  from  these  plats  as  well  as  those  from  Plat  7,  have  been 
analysed  carefully  as  to  their  ash  content,  to  determine  what 
effect  increased  quantities  of  mineral  manures  may  have  on  the 
cane.  The  centrifugal  molasses  ultimately  coming  from  the 
sugar  obtained  from  each  of  these  experiments  has  been  analysed 
to  determine  the  mineral  matter  present,  preventing  crystaliza- 
tion.  Results  of  these  analyses  will  be  included  in  the  Bulletin 
on  the  Sugar  House. 


[22] 


TILE  DRAINING. 

Last  fall  tlie  Station  had  several  acres  tiled  drained.  One 
plat  was  selected  one  acre  wide  and  four  acres  deep,  and  one- 
half  of  it  was  tiled,  while  the  other  was  not.  The  object  was  to 
deteianine  by  duplicate  experiments  the  effect  of  tiles  on  this 
soil.  The  tiles  in  this  plat  are  laid  four  feet  deep,  and  at  a uni- 
form distance  of  20  feet,  using  tile  of  sizes  from  2^  to  4 inches  in 
diameter.  Plats  4 and  5 are  divided  by  an  imaginary  line,  the 
latter  tiled  and  the  former  iiot.  The  same  experiments  were 
made  on  each.  These  plats  were  planted  with  stubble,  trans- 
planted from  an  abandoned  field  of  our  neighbors,  Soniat  Bros., 
on  the  last  of  May.  The  first  group  only  was  harvested,  the 
rest  being  windrowed  for  seed. 


RESULTS  OF  TILED  AND  UNTILED  SOIL— PLATS  4 AND  5. 


Tons.^Pei- 

Acre. 

Total  Solids. 

Sugar. 

When  Ground. 

Espt.  No. 

ii  U 

1 

Untiled 

0.72 

14.8 

12.1 

December  7th, 

1 

Tiied 

12.08 

15.2 

12.4 

<• 

U (C 

2 

Untiled  , 

0.62 

14.2 

10.9 

<(  (( 

U 

2 

Tiled 

14.80 

14.8 

11.6 

(( 

C4  iC 

3 

Unfertilized^ 

7.64 

13.7 

10.6 

it  a 

The  manure  used  on  ^N’o.  1,  was  a mixture  cotton  seed  meal, 
acid  phosphate  and  kainite,  and  on  'No.  2,  only  cotton  seed  meal 
and  acid  phosphate. 

No  2 tiled,  was  next  to  the  main  canal  into  which  the  .tiles 
emptied,  ^o.  1 tiled  next,  then  unfertilized  tiled  plat,  then  Ko.  2 
untiled,  and  last  and  furthest  from  the  tiles  was  Xo.  1 untiled^ 
This  plat  was  originally  the  blackest  and  stillest  piece  of  land: 
on  the  place,  and  was,  on  this  account,  selected  for  tiling.  Its 
improvement  from  tiling  is  very  perceptible,  in  appearance,  in 
plowing  and  in  the  growth  of  cane.  During  the  summer  when- 
the  drouth  checked  the  growth  of  all  the  other  plats  on  the  Sta- 
tion, the  tiled  drained  cane  continued  to  grow,  and  it  was  the* 
last  to  be  killed  by  the  frost  in  the  fall-  It  is  too  early  yet  tO' 
recount  the  benefits  of  tile  drainage  on  Louisiana  soil.  Suffice 
to  say  that  it  is  giving  promise  of  great  success  and  if  one-half 
of  the  benefits  claimed  for  it,  are  realised,  it  will  be  a great  booife 
to  sugar  growers. 

The  following  are  the  manures  used  on  each  plat : 

PLATS  4 AND  5. 

( 25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

Experiment  No.  1 25  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

( 25  lbs.  kainite. 
n nS  25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

( 25  lbs.  acid  phosphate, 
a “ 3— Nothing. 

( 25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ 4 ^ 25  lbs.  Orchilla  phosphate. 

( 25  lbs.  kainite. 


[23] 


a a r ^ ' otton  seed  meal. 

2.5  lbs.  Orcliilla  Pbosiiliate. 

“ “ 6 — Notbiog. 

( 25  lbs.  c tton  seed  meal. 

“ 7<  25  lbs.  bone  drist. 

^ 25  lbs.  kainite. 

d'  K o ) ‘^'5  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

( 25  lbs.  bone  dust. 

“ 9 — Notbing. 

^ 25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

10 25  lbs.  floats. 

( 25  lbs.  kainite. 
u 11  5 t^^dton  seed  meal. 

I 25  lbs.  floats, 
o 12 — Noih.ng. 

f 25  ibs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

“ “ 13  ^ 25  lbs.  ashes  cotton  hulls. 

( 25  lbs.  kainite. 
n . , ^ 25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

( 25  lbs.  ashes  cotton  hulls. 

“ “ 1.5 — Nothing. 

“ ‘M6— 25  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

‘ “ •'  17 — 25  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

“ ''  18—25  lbs.  kainite. 

These  plats  were  analysed  three  times  during  the  season-' 
and  results  are  here  given. 


I 


[24] 


ANALYSIS  OF  CANE  FROM  PLATS  FOUR  AND  FIVE— TILED  AND 

UNTILED. 


October  25th. 

December  2nd. 

December  7th. 

Untiled. 

Tiled. 

Untiled. 

Tiled. 

Untiled. 

Tiled. 

H 

O 

O 

H 

p 

H 

O 

H 

O 

H 

o 

•-»> 

rt- 

E. 

o 

a> 

P 

p 

p 

® 

P 

p 

P 

o 

P 

P 

® 

o 

ert- 

P 

p 

0 

® 

CO 

CO 

GO 

CO 

CO 

c 

GO 

2? 

CO 

02 

GO 

GO 

M 

Iri 

c 

or? 

0^ 

Pi 

QfQ 

ofp 

p 

QTQ 

o 

P 

OQ 

ct* 

p 

5.’ 

p 

P 

p 

d. 

P 

d 

P 

OD 

•-< 

oc 

OB 

Cf, 

05 

OB 

*-s 

1 

13.7 

9.7 

13.4 

10.5 

14.8 

12.1 

15.2 

2.4 

2 

13.2 

8.9 

14.6 

11.3 

14.2 

10.9 

14.8 

11. ft 

3 

13.9 

10. 

13.7 

10.6 

4 

14.8 

ii.3 

14.3 

11.4 

13.9 

11.6 

12.8 

11.4 

5 

14.1 

11.4 

13.2 

10.0 

16.8 

15. 

15.4 

13. 

6 

12.8 

9.1 

14.8 

12.7 

7 

14.8 

11.5 

14.4 

11.1 

14.6 

12.5 

8 

13.2 

9. 

14.8 

11.7 

15.7 

13.4 

9 

15.4 

13. 

10 

14.6 

11.7 

15.8 

12.6 

15.4 

13. 

14.6 

12.5 

11 

14.4 

11.3 

15.2 

11.3 

14.6 

12.5 

17. 

15.3 

12 

14.8 

11. 

14.6 

12.5 

13 

13.7 

9.5 

14.3 

11.  ; 

13.9 

11.6 

14 

15.2 

10.9 

15.5 

13. 

15.4 

13. 

13. 

11.2 

15 

15. 

11.7 

15.4 

13. 

16 

k.  8 

10-8 

12.3 

8.6 

16.3 

14.8 

14.8 

12.7 

17 

13.9 

10.7 

14-5 

11.3 

14.8 

12.7 

18 

13.9 

10.1 

14.8 

11.9 

16.3 

14.8 

14.1 

11.9 

The  effects  of  the  tiles  were  far  more  apparent  in  the  size  of  the  cane 
than  in  the  purity  of  the  juice. 


NITROGEN  MANURES— PLAT  6. 

This  plat  is  also  tiled  drained,  the  tiles  running  east  and 
west,  while  the  different  forms  of  nitrogen  were  applied  north 
and  south,  so  that  whatever  leeching  might  occur  from  each  ni- 
trogen group  could  be  caught  and  analysed.  This,  to  date,  has 
been  four  tiines  successfully  accomplished,  results  of  which  will 
constitute  the  matter  of  a separate  bulletin. 

In  these  experiments  such  quantities  of  each  form  is  taken 
as  to  represent  equal  amounts  of  nitrogen,  and  these  are  taken 
in  one-third,  two-third  and  full  rations.  Our  object  is  to  test 
the  best  form  and  quantity  of  nitrogen  for  cane,  as  well  as  to 
test  the  other  question  of  loss  of  these  manures  by  leaching. 
This  plat  was  planted  March  11.  Ifc  was  windrowed  for  seed 
and  the  analysis  given  below  are  of  samples  selected  from  each 
plat.  This  plat  was  not  transplanted  and  the  gaps  vitiated  the 
tonnage  and  hence  it  was  used  for  seed. 


RESUL  T OF  ANLYSIS  OF  SAMPLES— PLAT  6. 


Manures  Used. 

GROUP  1— FORMS  OF  NITROGEN  ALONE. 
Experiment  No.  1 — Spbs.  nitrate  soda. 

Experiment  No.  2—3  lbs.  sulphate  of  ammonia. 

•*  “ 3 — Nothing. 

“ " 4— lbs.  dried  blood. 

“ **  5 — 12  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal. 

GROUP  2— NITRATE  OF  SODA. 

(15  lbs.  acid  phosphate. 

“ “ 6 < 4 lbs.  muriate  potash. 

( *Mixed  minerals. 

«.(  “75  mineials. 

5 5 lbs.  nitrate  soda,  equal  to  ^ ration. 

“ “ 8— Nothing- 

i,  , t(  g ( Mixed  minerals. 

5 10  lbs.  nitrate  soda,  equal  to  f ration. 

.1  .,  C Mixed  minerals. 

■‘^'^515  lbs.  nitrate  soda,  equal  to  full  ration. 

GROUP  3— SULPHATE  OF  AMMONIA. 
Experiment  No.  11 — Mixed  minerals. 

,,  Mixed  minerals. 


3|  lbs.  sulphate  of  ammonia,  equal  to  ^ ration. 
13— Nothing. 

I . C Mixed  minerals. 


7i  lbs.  Sulphate  of  Ammonia,  equal  to  f ration. 
Mixed  minerals. 


14 


IS.  sulphate  of  ammonia,  equal  to  full  ration. 
GROUP  4— DELED  BLOOD. 


Experiment  No.  16— Mixed  minerals. 

,,  4,  j- C Mixed  minerals. 

^ 5 7^  lbs  dried  blood,  equal  to  ^ ration- 
“ “ 18 — Nothing. 

,4  ,4  .qf  Mixed  minerals. 

15  lbs.  dried  blood,  equal  to  f ration. 

44  4i  2g  C Mixed  minerals. 

I 22J  lbs.  dried  blood,  equal  to  full  ration. 
GROUP  5— COTTON  SEED  MEAL. 
Experiment No21 — Mixed  minerals. 

44  44  00  5 

5 12  lbs  cotton  seed  meal,  equal  to  § ration. 

“ “ 23— Nothing. 

41  44  24  5 Mixed  minerals. 

I 24  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal,  equal  to  | ration. 

4,  “25  5 Mixed  minerals. 

5 36  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal,  equal  to  full  ration. 
GROUP  6— FISH  SCRAP. 

Experiment  No  26 — Mixed  minerals. 

44  44  27  5 Mixed  minerals. 

5 10  dried  fish,  equal  to  ^ ration. 

44  4 4 28 — Nothing. 

44  “ 00  5 Mixed  minerals. 

5 20  lbs.  dried  fish,  equal  to  f ration. 

4,  44  Oft  5 Mixed  minerals. 

5 30  lbs.  dried  fish,  equal  to  full  r-tion. 

G OUP  7— MIXED  NITROGEN. 

Experiment  No  31 — Mixed  minerals. 

1 Mixed  minerals. 

44  41  32  i If  lbs.  nitrate  soda.  1 equal  to  4 ration. 

I l|  lbs.  sulphate  ammonia.  > Mixed  nitrogen. 
) 4 lbs.  cotton  seed  meal.  ) 

“ “ 33 — Nothing. 

f Mixed  minerals. 

44  44  04  J 3f  lbs.  nitrate  soda.  1 

} 2J  lbs,  sulphate  ammonia  > equal  to  f ration 
(.  8 lbs.  cotton  seed  meal.  ) 

I Mixed  minerals. 

44  „ 35  5 lbs.  nitrate  soda,  1 

\ 3i  lbs.  sulphate  ammonia.  > equal  to  full  ration. 
1 12  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal.  ) 

GROUP  &-FORMS  OF  NITROGEN  ALONE. 

“ “ 36 — Fish  scrap. 

“ “ 37— Fish  scrap. 

“ “ 38 — Nothing. 

“ “39  Mixed  Nitrogen. 


2.0 

» 

hVJO 

a » 
T'?  a 

'I 

1 

16.1 

13. 

2 

16.8 

14.7 

3 

16.6 

14.4 

A 

5 

16.1 

13- 

0 

7 

8 

14.5 

11.4 

9 

14.5 

11.4 

10 

15.9 

13. 

11 

15.7 

12.9 

12 

16.1 

13.1 

13 

16.1 

13.2 

14 

15.7 

12.9 

15 

15.7 

12.9 

■6 

15.7 

12.9 

17 

16.8 

14. 

18 

15.7 

13.1 

19 

15.4 

12.8 

20 

16.3 

14. 

21 

15. 

12.3 

22 

15.7 

11.2 

23 

16.6 

14.5 

24 

15. 

12.4 

25 

15.4 

12.8 

26 

15.4 

12.8 

27 

14.8 

11.7 

28 

15.9 

13. 

29 

30 

31 

16.3 

13.5 

16. t 

14.5 

32 

13.9 

11.6 

33 

13.5 

11.5 

34 

14.3 

11.9 

35 

15. 

11.7 

36 

16.5 

14. 

37 

13.* 

11.7 

38 

13.9 

11.9 

39 

13. C 

11.7 

’'Mixed  minerals  in  this  plat  always  mean  15  lbs.  acid  phosphate  and  4 lbs,  muriate 


[26  I 


SANDY  LAND  EXPERIMENT— PLAT  NO.  16. 

The  following  experiments  were  placed  upon  sandy  land  to 
test  the  proportions  of  nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid  and  potash, 
adapted  to  cane  on  this  character  of  soil.  Planted  February  19 
and  20. 

This  plat  was  used  for  seed  in  fall  planting,  but  small 
clumps  from  each  experiment  were  left  standing,  and  from  these 
the  analyses  begun  in  September  were  continued  till  late  in 
November. 


RESULTS  OF  ANALYSES  OF  CANE  FROM  PLAT  NO.  16. 


( 32^  lbs  cotton  seed  ojeal.' 
Experiment  No.  12  12^  lbs  kainite. 

( 5 lbs  acid  pbospliate. 

1 30  lbs  cotton  seed  meal. 
“ 2 j 12^  lbs  kainite. 

( 7^  lb*  acid  phosphate. 

25  lbs  cotton  seed  meal. 
12^  lbs  kainite. 

I2i  acid  phosphate. 

25  lbs  cotton  seed  meal. 

15  lbs  kainite. 

12|  lbs  acid  phosphate.  ' 

5 —  Nothijig. 

6 —  Nothing. 

18f  lbs  cotton  seed  meal. 
18f  lbs  acid  phosphate. 
12-J  lbs  kainite. 

18f  lbs  cotton  seed  meal. 
82  18f  lbs  acid  phosphate. 

( 25  lbs  kainite. 
g \ 18f  lbs  cotton  seed  meal. 

\ ,18|  lbs  acid  phosphate. 

515  lbs  cotton  seed  meal. 
22^  lbs  acid  phosphate. 
12|  lbs  kainite. 


Proportions  of  ni- 
trogen to  phos.  acid  to  potash 
3 1 li 


H 


Sept.  8 th. 

Sept. 

24  th 

Oct.  8th. 

Nov. 

20  th. 

Total 

Cane 

Total  1 

Cane 

Total 

Cane 

Total 

Cane 

Solids 

Sugar 

Solids,  j 

Sugar. 

Solids 

Sugar 

Solids 

Sugar 

1 

10.8 

7.1 

9.9 

6. 

13.7 

11. 

13.9 

10. 

2 

13.7 

10.2 

13-7 

10.6 

12.2 

9.2 

16.2 

13.4 

3 

12.4 

9.2 

13. 

9.6 

13.4 

10.5 

14.7 

12.5 

4 

10.8 

7. 

11.3 

8.5 

12.6 

9.8 

16.2 

13.3 

5 

11. 

7-1 

11.9 

7.9 

13.6 

10.5 

14.7 

11.2 

6 

12.1 

8.2 

14.5 

12.1 

13.4 

9.8 

15.4 

12.9 

7 

11. 

7.2 

13. 

9.1 

13.4 

10.2 

15.8 

13. 

8 

11.1 

7.8 

13.2 

9.7 

12.5 

9.3 

17.1 

14.9 

9 

11.7 

7.6 

ll  .9 

8.2 

14.1 

10.9 

10 

11.3 

7.2 

12.5 

8.6 

13. 

9.9 

16.9 

15. 

[27] 


STUBBLE  CANE— PLAT  NO.  14. 

This  plat  is  the  onh^  piece  of  first  year  stubble  ou  the  place. 
It  was  used  to  windrow  cane  in  during  the  past  winter,  and  has 
been  greatly  injured.  As  it  was  the  only  oi)p*ortunity  of  trying 
some  experiments  upon  first  year  stubble,  it  was  deemed  expe- 
dient to  run  the  risk  of  the  injury.  Accordingly  it  was  off- 
bared,  dug,  and  manures  applied  March  18th  and  19th,  and 
well  harrowed  in.  The  object  of  the  experiment  is  to  test  ma- 
nurial  requirements  of  stubble  cane  upon  sandy  land. 


3 
4- 


1 


1 


1 ^ cotton  seed  meal.  } Nitrogen  to  phos.  acid. 

^ .5  lbs  acid  phosphate.  (3  1 

30  lbs  cotton  seed  meal. 

71  lbs  acid  phosphate. 

25  ll)s  cotton  seed  meal.  ^ 

121  lOs  ^^cid  phosphate.  ( 

-Nothing. 

( 18f  lbs  cotton  seed  meal.  ) 

5 I8f  lbs  acid  phosphate.  / 

( 4 lbs  muriate  potash.  ) 

18|  lbs  cotton  seed  meal.  ? . 

If  lbs  acid  phosphates.  ^ 

15  lbs  cotton  soed  meal.  ^ i o 

221 10s  acid  phosphate.  > 

5 lbs  nitrate  soda.  j 

7 lbs  sulpha  te  ammonia  | Formula  recommended  for 
^ cane  stubble  by  Agricultn- 
I ral  Station  at  St.  Denis, 
j 

1 h^'ormula  recqmmended  for 
Stubble  cane  by  Geo.  Ville, 
of  France. 


8 { f)  lbs  dried  blood. 

I 28  lbs  acid  phosphate. 

4 lbs  muriate  potash. 

( 14  lbs  nitrate  potash. 

“ “ 9<^  321  10s  acid  iihosphate. 

(211  lbs  gypsum. 

10 — 30  lbs  tankage. 
u u ^ 30  lbs  tankage. 

( 20  lbs  ashes  cottan  seed  hulls. 

<•  <<  12 — 15  bushels  compost,  (see  page  19  Bulletin  No.  2.) 

“ 13 — 50  lbs  Sterns’  ammouiated  dissolved  bone. 

“ “ 14 — 50  lbs  Sterns’  sugar  goods. 

“ 15 — 50  lbs  Stono  guano. 

“ 16— 50  lbs  Studniczka’s  cane  grower.  . . 

“ “ 17 — 50  lbs  Rogers’ sugar  goods. 

‘‘  18 — 50  lbs  Foster’s  formula. 

“ “ 19 — 50  lbs  Mapes’ potato  manure. 

“ 20 — 50  lbs  Mapes  vine  and  fruit  manure, 

“ “ 21 — Nothing. 

“ “ 22 — 50  lbs  Soluble  Pacific  guano. 

“ “ 23  50  lbs  Planters  cane  fertilizer. 

The  Pacific  sugar  goods  reached  here  too  late  to  be  put  on  stubble.  . 

This  plat  has  been  wiudrowed  for  seed,  but  small  clumps  ou  each  plat 
were  left  standing,  and  from  these  the  analyses  began  in  October  have  beeiL 
continued.  The  results  of  analyses  are  given. 


[281 


RESULTS  OF  ANALYSIS  OF  CANE,  PLAT  14. 


Oct. 

2nd. 

Oct.  25th. 

Nov. 

25th. 

No.  of 
Exp’t. 

Total 

Solids 

Cane 

Sugar. 

Total 

Solids. 

Cane 

Sugar 

Total 

Solids 

Cane 

Sugar. 

1 

13.8 

8.4 

15. 

12.5 

16.1 

13.4 

2 

13.8 

8.8 

13.2 

9.9 

14.8 

12.8 

3 

12.8 

8.8 

14.6 

11.6 

14.3 

11.2 

4 

13.7 

10.2 

15.9 

13.3 

14.6 

12. 

5 

13.9 

9.9 

13.6 

9.9 

14.3 

10.9 

6 

13.2 

9.1 

15.2 

13. 

14.3 

11.6 

7 

11.9 

7.1 

13.7 

11.5 

16.1 

14.2 

8 

13.4 

9.3 

14.3 

11.8 

16.5 

14.5 

9 

13. 

8.7 

13. 

9.7 

15.4 

13. 

10 

13.7 

9.8 

14.3 

10.4 

16.6 

14.6 

11 

11.9 

7.0 

12.8 

8-6 

14.8 

11.9 

12 

13.2 

9.9 

14.8 

11.8 

13.2 

10.9 

13 

15.3 

11.8 

15. 

12.8 

13. 

12.8 

14 

13.7 

9.8 

13.6 

11. 

13.7 

10. 

15 

13.7 

9.9 

14.5 

12. 

16.1 

13. 

16 

12.8 

8.6 

14.5 

11. 

14.6 

12.4 

17 

13.7 

10.0 

15.9 

13.2 

16.3 

13.8 

18 

15.7 

' 13.1 

15.4 

.13. 

13.2 

9.4 

19 

12.8 

9.3 

13  6 

9.5 

15.4 

12.5 

20 

13. 

9.2 

15.2 

12.8 

15.4 

13- 

21 

13.4 

9.7 

13.6 

11-4 

14.3 

11.6 

22 

13.6 

10.1 

14.1 

10-2 

14.1 

10. 

23 

12.8 

9. 

15. 

12.5 

14.5 

11.4 

24 

14.8 

11.5 

13.7 

10.6 

15.2 

12.9 

The  Station  having  but  a small  plat  of  stubble  cane,  and  the 
stand  on  this  defective,  it  instituted  a series  of  experiments 
upon  Tchoupitoulas  Plantation,  Messrs.  SoniatBros.  These  ex- 
periments were  selected  so  as  to  cover  all  three  prevailing  soils 
of  this  section  of  the  State,  viz.,  sandy,  mixed  and  black. 


[29] 


RESULTS  OF  EXPERIMENTS  STUBBLE  CANE— TCHOUPITOULAS 

PLANTATION. 


525 

p 

Sandy  Land 

Mixed  Land. 

Black  Land. 

W 

Manures  Used. 

Total 

Cane 

Total 

Cane 

Total 

Cane 

Solids 

Sugar 

Solids 

Sugar 

Solids 

Sugar 

1 

32i  Ihs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

5 lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

17.0 

13.5 

18.3 

15.7 

17.2 

13.6 

2 

30  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal, 
lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

16.8 

14.5 

18.1 

15.6 

17.4 

14.7 

3 

) 25  lbs  Cotton  Seed  meal. 

12|  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

16.5 

13.4 

17.9 

15.3 

17.7 

14.9 

4 

18f  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

18f  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

16.3 

13.6 

17.9 

15. 

17.5 

14.6 

5 

Nothing. 

17-2 

14.6 

17. 

14.8 

17.5 

14.4 

6 

15  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

22i  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

16.3 

13. 

16.8 

13.3 

18.6 

15.3 

30  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

7 

! 6 lbs  Dried  Blood. 

1 28  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

16.6 

13.2 

17.9 

14.8 

17.9 

14.8 

^ 4 lbs  Muriate  Potash. 

30  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

8 

6 lbs  Dried  Blood. 

' 28  lbs  A<}id  Phosphate. 

16.8 

^ 13.5 

17.2 

14  3 

17.2 

14.2 

9 

30  lbs  Tankage. 

16.8 

13.5 

16.6 

13.4 

16.5 

13.2 

10 

Nothing:. 

16.3 

13. 

17.8 

14.9 

17.5 

14.6 

11 

1 30  lbs  Tankage. 

1 4 lbs  Muriate  Potash. 

:6.3 

13. 

18.5 

15.7 

18.1 

15.5 

12 

i 

1 30  lbs  Tankage. 

' 20  lbs  Gypsum. 

18.5 

15.9 

17.5 

14.6 

21.0 

17.7 

13 

3 

0 lbs  Orciiilla  Guano. 

16.1 

13.2 

15.5 

13. 

17. 

14.5 

14 

30  lbs  Charleston  Floats. 

16.1 

12.8 

17-2 

15. 

18.1 

15-8 

15 

Nothing. 

16.5 

13.3 

17-9 

13.9 

18.3 

14.4 

16 

30  lbs  Stern^s  Sugar  goods. 

17.9 

14. 

17.9 

14.1 

17.4 

13.8 

17 

30  lbs  Studniczkas  Goods. 

17.8 

13.9 

17. 

13.3 

16-8 

12.8 

18 

30  lbs  Rogers’  Cane  Fertilizer. 

15.9 

12.5 

16.8 

13.9 

17.8 

14.1 

19 

30  lbs  Pacihc  Guano. 

17.5 

13.9 

15. 

11.9 

17.9 

14.5 

20 

Nothing. 

16.6 

14. 

17. 

14.9 

17.2 

15. 

i 24  lbs  Nitrate  Soda. 

21 

/ 28  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

( 4 lbs  Muriate  potash. 

16.5 

14. 

17.4 

15.7 

17.2 

15.5 

r 12  lbs  Nitrate  Soda. 

22 

i 

1 24  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

1 2S  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

16.5 

14.3 

17.4 

15.7 

17.9 

16.8 

4 lbs  Muriate  Potash. 
f 8 lbs  Nitrate  Soda. 

23 

j 

I 32  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

1 28  ibs  Acid  Phosphate. 

1,  4 lbs  Mbriate  Potash. 

. 28  lbs  A^id  Phosphate. 

16.3 

13.8 

16.3 

13.8 

18.3 

16.5 

24 

4 lbs  Miiriate  Potash. 

; 8 lbs  Cart’s  Rotted  Bagasse. 

16.8 

14.3 

17.2 

14.9 

17.5 

15.5 

25 

s 

: lbs  Cart’s  Rotted  Bagasse. 

17.4 

14.9 

17.7 

15.6 

18.3 

16.5 

26 

Nothing. 

17.2 

15. 

18.1 

16.4 

17.5 

15.6 

*8  lbs.  Nitrate  Soda  applied  at  three  different  times. 

RESULT  OF  MANORIAL  EXPERIMENTS  WITH  CANE. 


During  the  season  just  ended,  the  Station  has  several 
times  analysed  specimens  of  cane  from  the  300  experiments  grown 


[39] 

Oil  the  gTOUDcls.  It  has  also  aualysed  several  hundred  for  the 
farmers  of  the  State,  grown  upon  every  variety  of  soil,  and  with 
perhaps  every  kind  of  manure  used  in  varyiug  quantities.  In 
all,  over  2000  distinct  analyses  have  been  made.  Many  of  these 
have  been  published  from  time  to  time  in  the  journals  of  the 
State.  A peculiarity  of  these  results  has  been  noticed  by  many 
observing  planters,  and  has  been  commented  uijon  in  corres- 
pondences with  the  Station.  The  peculiarity  is  this : On  the 
Station  the  unfertilized  plats  have  frequently  given  the  highest 
per  centage  of  sugar.  This  is  easily  explained  wTen  a close  ex- 
amination of  the  soil  of  the  Station  is  made.  It  is  a very  black 
soil  which  has  long  been  badly  cultivated,  with  little  or  no 
drainage,  and  although  its  chemical  composition  is  very  fair,  its 
execrable  physical  condition  checks  the  i)lant  in  its  root  devel- 
opment, and  prevents  the  collection  and  assimilation  of  that  food 
iiecessary  to  a large,continuous  growth,  and  the  plant  so  check- 
ed prematurely  ripens  even  in  our  short  seasons..  The  amount 
of  sugar  in  a cane  is  Just  in  proportion  to  maturity.  Therefore, 
a plant  checked  in  its  growth  from  any  cause,  i>overty  of  soil, 
drouth,  etc.,  at  once  does  the  only  thing  left  for  it,  matures,  i.  e. 
stores  up  sugar.  Hence  upon  poor  soils,  unfertilized  plats  in 
favorable  seasons  will  perliaps  always  be  the  richest  in  sugar. 
Why  then  use  manures  ? The  reply  is,  to  increase  tonnage. 
The  period  of  growTh  in  this  country  is  very  short,  and  therefore 
to  get  the  highest  results,  w^e  must  fertilize  wdth  quickly  avail- 
able juanures,  so  as  to  force  the  cane  into  a good  grow  th,  by  the 
time  the  cool  nights  of  September  and  October  check  vegeta- 
tion and  induce  maturity.  The  manures  give  increased  tonnage 
but  rarely,  increased  per  centage  of  sugar.  It  is  hoped  that  at 
an  early  day  a fertilizer  may  be  found  which  will  accomplish 
both.  But  in  the  use  of  manures,  great  care  should  be  exer- 
cised in  selecting  those  w hich,  while  causing  a rapid  growth, 
will  at  the  same  time  induce  a moderate  elaboration  of  sugar. 
Nitrogenous  manures  alone  produce  a sappy,  succulent,  one 
sided  growth,  make  a cane  rich  in  ferment  and  albuminoids  but 
low  in  saccharine  matter,  except  upon  soils  rich  in  available 
mineral  matter.  Therefore  nitrogenous  manures  should  rarely 
be  used  alone  and  never  in  excessive  quantities.  The  exact 
(quantity  to  be  used  per  acre  cannot  be  accurately  foretold. 
Sometimes  favorable  seasons  will  permit  of  the  appropriation 
of  very  large  quantities  to  great  advantage,  while  unfavorable 
seasons  fail  to  utilize  even  small  quantities.  Again,  if  an  ex- 
cessive quantity  used  this  year  is  not  appropriated  by  the  plant 
the  greater  part  of  it,  is  lost  from  the  soil  or  rendered  unavail- 
able for  the  next  season.  Hence  prudence  would  suggest  the 
application  of  enough  of  this  kind  of  manure  to  make  under  a 
medium  season,  a fair  crop.  The  maximum  amount  of  nitrogen 
according  to  this  would  be  from  40  to  60  lbs.  per  acre,  an  amount 
usually  contained  in  600  and  800  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal.  But 
phosphoric  acid  and  potash  must  be  present  either  in  the  ma- 
nure or  in  the  soil,  in  readily  available  forms,  in  order  to  com- 


[^n 

bine  with  the  nitrogen  to  make  a perfect  plant.  The  former 
when  present  in  the  right  proportions,  Avith  nitrogen,  causes  a 
quicker  and  more  vigorous  growth,  than  the  latter  alone,  since 
the  presence  of  this  ingredient,  [Phosphoric  Acid],  causes  a more 
rapid  translocation  of  the  albummoids  [Avhose  formation  seems 
to  be  the  chief  function  of  nitrogen]  through  the  sap  or  juice  of 
the  cane,  and  at  same  time  conduces  to  the  formation  and  de- 
l)Osition  of  sugar. 

The  potash  on  the  other  hand,  conspires  with  the  ohloro- 
phyl  grains  of  the  leaf  to  form  carbohydrates,  which  are  all  ul- 
timately in  the  (*-ane  resolved  into  sugar. 

Therefore  when  soils  are  deficient  in  these  ingredients,  they 
must  be  suj)plied  in  the  manures.  Excessive  quantities  of  these 
ingredients  can  be  used  Avifehout  fear  of  subsequent  loss  from  the 
soil,  if  not  utilized  the  first  season.  Numerous  experiments 
have  abundantly  proA^en  this. 

But  w^hether  excessiA^e  quantities  of  these  ingredients  in  the 
manure,  especially  potash,  cause  excessive  quantities  in  the 
juice  of  the  cane  to  the  prevention  of  the  crystalization  of  sugar, 
are  questions  noAv  being  in A’CvSti gated  by  the  Station. 

Jt  is  belieA^ed  that  potash  exists  in  available  form  and  quan- 
tity in  most  of  the  sugar  soils  of  the  State.  At  all  CA^ents,  very 
small  quantities  of  this  ingredient  in  manures  suffice  to  make 
large  crops,  and  increased  quantities  do  not  enhance  either  the 
tonnage  or  sugar  content.  On  the  other  hand,  the  application 
of  phosphoric  manures  seems  to  be  beneficial  to  all  soils. 

From  the  results  of  the  field  experiments  of  the  past  year, 
the  Station  Aroiild  say  that  Nitrogen  and  Phosphoric  Acid  are 
the  ingredients  absolutely  needed  for  cane  on  the  sugar  soils 
and  lands  of  this  State,  and  that  cotton  seed  meal  and  soluble 
phosphates  furnish  these  ingredients  in  as  cheap  and  as  efficient 
forms  as  can  be  obtained  by  the  planters,  and  that  small  quan- 
tities of  potash  may  be  beneficial  and  can  be  easii}"  and  cheaply 
suiiplied  in  the  form  of  kainite. 

When  the  soil  contains  a moderate  amount  of  vegetable 
matter,  cotton  seed  meal  and  acid  phosphate  should  be  used 
in  equal  proportions;  if  deficient,  the  cotton  seed  meal  can  be 
increased.  On  pea  faliow^s  it  can  be  decreased. 

Upon  stubble  cane,  cotton  seed  meal  can  be  advantageously 
increased. 

Nitrate  of  Soda  has  been  very  effectiA^ely  used  as  a top 
dressing  during  the  iiast  season  upon  small  and  late  stubble. 

The  first  essential  to  the  successful  production  of  sugar  is  a 
large  crop.  To  attain  this,  the  following  conditions  are  de- 
manded : Thorough  drainage,  excellent  prei)aration  of  soil,  good 
seed  properly  planted,  judicious  manuringv,  both  in  quantity 
quality  and  mode  of  application,  early  culture,  deep  and  thor- 
ough— after  culture  as  shallow  as  possible  for  good  work,  and  a 
laying  by  as  early  as  is  consistent  with  cleanliness  and  good 
<;ondition.  These  being  accomplished,  nature  will  do  the  rest, 
and  a reasonably  large  crop  may  be  confidently  expected. 


[32j 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER— KEPT  BY  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT 
STATION,  FOR  NOVEMBER.  1886. 


Date. 

THERMOMETER. 

RAIN  FALL, 

Sept. 

j 

9 A.  M. 

3 P.  M. 

S 

a 

Maximum 

1 

Minimum. 

Indies. 

1 

66° 

70° 

68° 

70° 

41° 

.00 

2 

65° 

69° 

67° 

70° 

45° 

.00 

3 

66° 

70° 

68° 

70° 

42° 

.00 

4 

64° 

69° 

67° 

69° 

44° 

.00 

5 

65° 

70° 

60° 

68 

46° 

.00 

6 

64° 

69° 

54° 

65° 

45° 

.00 

7 

6-i° 

70° 

68° 

71° 

43° 

.00 

8 

70° 

73° 

71° 

73° 

48° 

.00 

9 

72° 

75° 

71° 

75° 

49° 

1.00 

10 

70° 

73° 

71° 

73° 

48° 

.15 

11 

74° 

76° 

73° 

75° 

49° 

.00 

1*2 

63° 

70° 

67° 

69° 

48° 

.30 

13 

65 

68° 

64° 

68° 

45° 

.45 

14 

52° 

55° 

52° 

60° 

43° 

.00 

15 

50° 

55° 

52° 

59° 

40° 

.00 

16 

50° 

54° 

50° 

59° 

40° 

1.25 

17 

44° 

49° 

42° 

50° 

33° 

.00 

18 

45° 

50° 

43° 

50° 

36° 

.15 

19 

48° 

60° 

48° 

60° 

40° 

.00 

20 

55° 

60° 

59° 

60° 

43° 

.00 

21 

56° 

61° 

60° 

61° 

44° 

.25 

22 

57° 

61° 

60° 

61° 

46° 

1.50 

23 

60° 

65° 

60° 

65° 

50° 

.50 

24 

55° 

60° 

54° 

60° 

45° 

.00 

25 

43° 

51° 

50° 

53° 

40° 

.00 

26 

44° 

52° 

50° 

52° 

39° 

.00 

27 

43° 

51° 

51° 

51° 

38° 

.00 

28 

44° 

52° 

50° 

52° 

40° 

.00 

29 

46° 

55° 

52° 

55° 

42° 

.00 

30 

44° 

53° 

51° 

53° 

40° 

0.00  lUCxlii  S 

Average 

57° 

62° 

58° 

1 

Lowest  Temperature 75^' 

Lowest  Temperature 33° 


[33] 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  KEPT  BY  LOUISIAIU  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT 
STATION  FOR  DECEMBER  1886. 


Date. 

THERMOMETER: 

RAIN  FALL. 

-t-j 

1 

> § 

t 

S 

•iS 

r 

luclies. 

tc 

X 

< 

• Zi 

< 

C5 

CO 

0 

S 

1 • 

540 

600 

50° 

60° 

490 

2 

54 

60 

50 

I 59 

48 

3 

53 

59 

49 

58 

47 

1.25 

4 

36 

58  ^ 

50 

40 

34 

5 

33 

40 

34 

33 

27 

6 

30 

37 

33 

30 

26 

7 

44 

52 

32 

52 

30 

8 

44 

49 

40 

52 

30 

9 

50 

52 

40 

53 

35 

10 

59 

65 

50 

()5 

34 

11 

70 

73 

58 

74 

45 

12 

73 

75 

70 

75 

48 

13 

73 

76 

70 

76 

49 

14 

73 

76 

71 

76 

49 

15 

73 

76 

71 

76 

49 

16 

74 

77 

72 

77 

50 

17 

77 

79 

74 

79 

52 

18 

77 

79 

74 

79 

52 

.50 

19 

76 

78 

74 

78 

51 

20 

73 

75 

72 

75 

49 

21 

71 

74 

70 

74 

48 

22 

73 

78 

74 

75 

49 

23 

71 

74 

70 

74 

48 

24 

71 

73 

70 

73 

47 

25 

70 

72 

71 

72 

45 

26 

72 

75 

70 

75 

49 

27 

72 

74 

68 

74 

47 

28 

71 

74 

73 

74-. 

47 

1.00 

29 

70 

73 

69 

73 

42 

30 

67 

70 

68 

70 

40 

31 

66 

71 

64 

71 

41 

2.75  inches 

Average 

63 

68 

64 

Lowest  Temperature. 


.26 


CONDENSED  WEATHER  RECORD  OF  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FROM  MARCH  1,1886,  to  JANUARY  1,  1887. 


Mouth. 

Average 

Temperature. 

Maximum 

Temperature. 

Minimum 

Temperature. 

Rainfall 

In  Inches. 

March - 

63^  • 

80° 

37° 

9.13 

April 

69 

87 

41 

7.32 

May 

76 

93 

57 

3.59 

June 

83 

97 

69 

11.50 

July 

83 

96 

68 

3.25 

August 

84 

97 

66 

4.18 

September 

80 

91 

59 

5.24 

October 

73 

87  ■ 

39 

1. 

November 

66 

75  9 

33 

5.55 

December 

65 

79  ’ 

26 

2-75 

Rainfall  for  three  spring  months 20.04 

Rainfall  for  three  summer  months 18.93 

Rainfall  for  three  fall  months 11.79 


COTTON 


BULLETIN  No.  8 


OF  TUB 


I‘.AT()X  IlOUCrE,  LA. 


Wm.  C.  Stubbs,  Ph.  D., 


rDIHECTOR, 


ISSUED  BY 

TtIOMF*SOT^  .T. 

Commissioner  oe  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  la. 


BATON  ROUGE ; 

PRINTED  BY  LEON  JASTREMSKI,  STATE  PRINTER, 


LOUISIANA  SUGAK  EXPEEIMENT  STATION,  ) 
Baton  Eouge,  La.  J 

Major  T.  J.  Biul,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Bovige,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — 1 Land  you  Lero'witL  for  puLlicatiou  Bulletin  No.  8,  covering 
experinienls  in  cotton,  made  during  the  past  season  on  the  State  Experiment 
Station  at  Baton  Rouge,  La.  I regret  that  pressure  of  official  duties  has 
pres  ented  an  earlier  preparation. 

Respectfully, 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


COTTON 


ITS  UISTORY. 


The  liistory  of  cotton  is  coev«"jl  with  kuman  history. 
The  earliest  records  of  the  Asiatics  and  Egyptians  speak  of  it. 
"VVe  are  inforiued  by  the  great  Koniaii  author  Pliny,  that  gar- 
ments of  cotton  were  worn  by  tho  ancient  Egyj)tians  more  than 
one  thoiisa lid  years  before  Christ.  Surplices  were  made  of  it 
for  their  jiriests.  Herodotus  speaks  of  this  plant  as  growing 
in  India  450  P.  C.  and  bearing;  a tieece  more  delicate  and  beau- 
tiful than  tliat  of  slieep.  The  time  of  tlie  origin  and  culture  of 
cotton  in  Asia  is  hidden  in  great  obscurity.  It  ctudainly  anteda- 
ted the  Mavedonian  conquest.  From  that  time  to  the  present,  it 
has  steadiily  grown  in  favor  and  extent  of  cultivation. 

Ci'otton  ('loth  was  used  as  awnings  in  a theatre  b}'  T.uculbis 
and  by  (hesar  to  (a)ver  the  forum  and  to  ])ave  the  street 
leading  troiii  his  liouse  to.tiie  Capitoline  Hill.  The  generrds  of 
Alexander  brought  the  plant  and  fabrics  made  from  it  to  Greece. 
Cotton  has  been  grouTi  from  time  immemorial  in  Central  Afri<ai 
ami  it  is  tlie  o[)inion  ot  many  historians  that  it  was  carried 
thither  from  Asia.  It  is  certain  that  a knowledge  of  this  plant 
and  its  products  was  obtained  by  the  Europeans  from  India  and 
Egypt. 

Cotton  was  found  growing  wild  in  certain  x)arts  of  America 
by  Oolumbiis  in  1492  and  subsequent  explorers  found  it  in 
abundance  along  the  banks  of  the  Mississsippi  and  its  tribu- 
taries. It  is  certain  that  the  Aztecs  and  the  Incas  had  obtained 
a good  knowledge  of  the  cultivation  and  manufacture  of  cotton 
long  before  the  occupation  of  America  by  the  Europeans. 

It  is  therefore  pretty  generally  believed  that  cotton  is  in- 
digenous to  Asia,  Africa  and  America.  It  is  more  certain  that  it 
is  not  native  ot  Eurox^e  and  was  not  generally  known  their  until 
a comx>aratively  recent  date.  The  history  of  cotton  in  the 
Ilniterl  States  dates  from  1784,  when  a shipment  of  eight  bales 
was  made  to  Europe,  since  that  time  its  cnltivatiou  has  steadily 
increased  until  now  our  annual  crox)  reaches  over  six  millions  of 
bales. 

BOTANICAL  RELATIONS. 

Cotton  belongs  to  a large  class  of  x>l‘^Bts,  known  to  the 
Botonists  as  Malvacam.  Of  this  class,  beside  cotton,  we  have  in 
cultivation  tlie  oksa  and  the  hollyhock.  There  are  said  to  be  many 
species  of  cotton — two  of  which  only  are  cultivated  in  the 
South — the  one  upland  or  common  cotton ; Gossiinum  Herba- 


[4] 

ceum,  tlie  other  Sea  Island  cotton.”  Gossipiiiin  Barba  dense.” 
The  latter  is  cnltiV'ated  only  on  the  coast  or  nei|.'  h boring  islands, 
Avhile  the  former  constitutes  the  chief  staple  of  the  Southern 
States.  The  bloom  of  upland  cotton  is  white  or  cream 'colored 
the  first  day,  turning  red  on. the  next  and  falling  on  the  tlsird, 
leaving  a small  boll  enveloped  in  the  calyx.  Tins  boll  continues 
to  develop  until  it  reaches  the  size  and  shape  of  an  egg,  v/hcn 
on  maturity  it  splits  into  three  to  live  cells,  containing  the  seed, 
Avrapped  in  a tomentoso  avooI.  This  avooI  constitutes  the  lint 
or  libre  which  clothes  the  world. 

HABITUDES. 

Cotton  is  emphatically  a child  of  the  sun  and  nourishes 
only  ill  warm  latitudes.  Its  heliotrojiic  teudeimics  are  eA^eii 
more  marked  than  the  poetical  suiitio\ver.  ItvS  re- 

ceh’e  the  first  gloAV  of  morning  light  and  following  the  King  of 
Day,  dismiss  it  at  eve  in  the  Avest  witli  dewy  regrets.  Yf  ilh  us 
it  is  an  annual  herb.  Further  south  it  apiiears  to  be  a shrub, 
Avliile  under  the  tropics,  it  is  a small  tree  enduring  many  years. 
It  is  an  exogenous  plant,  Avith  two  seed  leaves  anJ  a long  top 
root.  Among  our  held  crops  it  stands  Avithout  a fellovr — alone — 
and  peculiar  in  its  luibits  and  characteristics.  Its  nearest  rela- 
tion among  our  cultivated  plants,  as  before  mentioned,  is  the 
okra,  Avith  Avliich  it  crosses,  to  form  some  of  the  many  evanes- 
cent Amrieties  of  olra-coftouy  now  on  the  market.  By  its  long- 
deep  tap  root,  it  is  enabled  to  Avithstand  droughts  and  to  ])ump 
up  from  the  lower  layers  of  the  soil,  plant  food,  unaAmiiable  to 
fibrous  rooteel  plants,  Avhicli  is  (luickly  assimilated  by  its  large 
leaf  surface.  Hence  it  thriA^cs  better  on  poor  land  than  any 
other  field  crop. 

Formerly  cotton  Avas  not  gtOAvm  north  of  the  isothermal 
line  30^,  but  under  the  infiuence  of  phosphatic  iiuAiiures,  its  cul- 
tivation in  late  3'ears  has  been  extended  several  degrees  beyond 
this  line.  The  region  best  adapted  to  successful  culture  is  in- 
cluded between  the  30th  and  35th  degrees  of  IS'orth  Latitude. 
North  of  this  belt  the  seusons  are  too  precarious,  while  south  of 
it,  excessive  rains  and  depredations  of  the  caterpillar  greatly 
interfere  with  large  iiroduction. 

PLANTINO  AND  CULTIVATION. 

The  soil  best  adapted  to  cotton  is  yet  not  fully  decided. 
Olay  loams,  v/ell  drained  and  sandy  loams,  resting  upon  clay 
subsoils  are  both  highly  recommended.  Both  should  contain  a 
fair  amount  of  Au^getable  matter. 

The  Avidth  of  the  rows  and  the  distance  a])art  of  the  stalks 
in  the  row,  must  depend  upon  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  the 
rain  supply.  In  poor  lands  or  on  soils  subject  to  drouth  during 
fruiting  season,  thin  planting  must  be  practiced  to  obtain  the 
largest  results.  Mr.  David  Dickson,  the  great  cotton  planter  of 


[5] 


(reorgin,  -{low  no  more,  always  contended  that  cotton  needed 
distaiice  only  one  vray.  If  tlierefore  tlie  rows  were  wide,  it 
could  be  cru\^  ded  in  the  drill  and  vice  verm. 

I>eei)  and  tliorougli  preparation  of  soil,  followed  by  pulveri- 
zation should  always  precede  jdanting  The  planting  should 
be  done  by  some  of  the  excellent  and  cheap  cotton  planters  now 
to  be  everyvv  In  le  Ibund.  since  only  the  machine  will  give  that 
uniform  and  su’aigiit  stand,  which  so  facilitates  the  subsequent 
chopping,  it  furthermore  economizes  tlm  seed,  a point  of  great 
importance,  wlien  the  true  value  of  th.is  article  as  a manure  and 
feed  stuff  is  appieidated.  The  tirst  idowiiig  of  cotton  may  be  as 
deep  and  thorough  as  jiossible,  but  ail  subsfiquent  workings 
ought  to  lie  as  shallow  as  the  character  of  the  land  will  xiermit, 
since  root-biealvliig  to  this  plant  is  almost  a disaster.  Tiie  im* 
])lemeDts  in  genmal  use  for  the  cultivation  of  cotton  are  the 
scooter  a. mi  scrape,  the  solid  and  buzzard- wing  sweeps,  the  side 
InuTows  and  the  numerous  cultivators.  After  every  heavy  rain 
the  soil  should  be  stirred  and  (hiring  droiigiit  a shallow  im])le- 
ment  run  just  deep  enough  to  break  the  continuity  of  the  pores 
of  the  soil  and  to  form  an  upper  layer,  which  shall  act  as  a 
mnicli  to  conserve  the  moisture  in  the  soil,  has  often  been  found 
liighiy  bmtehcial.  Grass  is  an  enemy  of  the  cotton  planter  and 
shouid  never  be  permitted  (if  possible  to  prevent)  to  obtain  i)os- 
session  of  hi^  heids.  In  cotton  as  iii  all  other  crops  the  lioe 
should  be  used  as  little  as  possible.  It  is  element  of  cost  ex- 
cessive tv)  boar  and  ..with  tliis  plant  often  causes  the  disease 
known  as  ^^sore  by  brcidving  or  removing  the  epidermis  of 
the  tenb.ev  stalk  in  the  effort  of  the  hoemau  to  remove  the 
last  s]>i’’r‘  of  grass. 

When  to  plaiit,  must  be  decided  by  the  climate  and  by  the 
character  of  the  soil.  Wiien  the  ground  is  warm  enongli  to 
promptly  germinate  the  seed  and  give  a vigorous  healthy 
plant,  tlicn  the  seed  can  be  wisely  trusted  in  the  earth.  This  is 
usually  the  case  iu  this  latitude  in  Ai)ril.  Planting  in  May  is 
oftcTi  hazardous,  on  account  of  the  delay  in  germination,  due 
to  the  prevaleiice  of  drouths  at  this  period.  When  May  plant- 
ing is  pfaeticed,  the  seed  should  be  covered  rather  deeply  and 
firmed  with  a light  roller. 

A practice  prevails  among  some  of  our  progressive  planters 
to  plant  late  and  highly  fertilize.  By  this  means,  they  claim  a 
crop  of  grass  which  so  frequently  infests  an  early  planting,  is 
destroyed,  the  costly  hoc  labor  avoided  and  Gie  plant  };ii:>lKd 
<piickly  into  vigor  by  the  underlying  fertilizer,  soon  occupies  the 
gronml  and  renders  the  after  culture  both  simple  and  and  inex- 
pensive. As  a rule,  it  is  best  to  plant  i)oor  unfertilized  lauds 
earl}'  and  rich  or  highly  fertilized  lands  late. 

rjOMPOSITION  OF  THE  COTTON  PLANT.  , 

A five  hundred  pound  bale  of  lint  cotton,  will  require  fifteeir 
hundred  pounds  of  air  dried  seed  cotton.”  Of  the  latter,  one 


[61 


third  or  five  hundred  pounds  is  lint,  aiiotl)er  tin nl  or  five  hun- 
dred pounds  is  hulls  and  the  remaining' five  luiudred  pounds  is 
kernels.  To  produce  this  fifteen  hundred  pounds  of  seed  cotton, 
there  will  be  required  five  hundred  pounds  of  leaves,  fifteen 
hundred  pounds  of  stalks,  five  hundred  pounds  of  roots  and  five 
hundred  of  bolls  or  burrs.  In  other  woids  to  produce  a five 
hundred  pound  bale  of  lint  cotton,  an  acre  must  produce  forty- 
five  hundred  pounds  of  vegetable  matter,  or  two  and  a quarter 
tons. 

To  produce  this  ainonnt  the  following  mineral  ingredients 
will  be  required. 


Lint 

Seed 

Stalks 

Leaves 

Burrs 

Hoots 

Total 

Phosphoric  Acid 

.05 

14.10 

5.43 

5.35 

4.54 

1.91 

31.98 

Potash 

2.10 

13.40 

11.30 

9.05 

9.31 

5.84 

51.00 

Lime 

1.48 

3.85 

13.27 

18.04 

1 7 . 05 

5.71 

00.09 

Magnesia 

.58 

4.95 

4.48 

3.14 

3.98 

2.01 

19.14 

Sulphuric  Acid. 

.31 

1.38 

2.50 

7.28 

8.00 

1.10 

21.17 

Oxide  of*  iron . . 

.15 

.00 

.94 

2.97 

3.32 

1.74 

9.78 

Chlorihe 

.45 

.01 

3.18 

3.44 

2.07 

1.99 

12.34 

Soda 

.53 

1.44 

4.50 

5.50 

5.74 

2. 88 

20.05 

Silica  

1 .00 

0.39 

2.14 

4.48 

9.25 

1.98 

18.23 

Ill  otber  words  a soil  must  furnish  the  above  ingredients 
besides  a goodly  amount  of  isdtrogen  to  make  a five  hundred 
l)ound  bale  of  cotton. 

But  fortunately  most  soils  hold  large  contents  of  all  tiiese 
ingredients  and  supjily  them  abundantly  to  all  ]diints,  except 
Phos])horic  Acid,  Ikitash  and  Nitrogen.  To  supjjly  these 
needed  ingredients  is  the  prime  object  of  manuring.  But  when 
the  cotton  ])ianter  makes  the  proper  disposition  of  the  jiroducts 
of  cotton,  let  us  see  liow  far  he  needs  the  aid  of  marmre  toinaiii- 
taiii  the  original  fertility  of  Ids  soils.  The  leaves  and  cajisules 
should  be  jierinitted  to  fall  to  the  ground  and  not  removed  as  is 
usual,  by  the  depredations  of  lialf  starved  cattle.  The  stalks 
should  be  knocked  down  and  plowed  under  instead  of  being 
destroyed  by  fire.  The  seed  should  be  retunuHl -to  the  soil,  or 
else  when  sold  to  the  oil  mill  their  equivalent  in  a.  first  class 
commercial  fertilizer  should  be  pm  chased.  Wlien  all  this  is 
done  only  the  trilling  loss  of  about  ^ p<>Anel  of  ]>hosplioric  acid 
and  2 pounds  of  Potash  is  siistaineel  to  each  acre.  Theorofi  icrdly 
then  cottoji  is  the  least  exhausting  crop  grown,  but  how  is  it  in 
practice  ? Unfortunately  the  decennial  census  returns  cry  out 
in  thunder  tones  against  us  and  tell  (lie  world  in  couvineing 
figures  that  our  acre- yields  are  fast  decreasing  under  constant 
cropping  in'cottoii.  Our  soils  are  being  rapidly  dejvleted  and 
exhaustion  will  sooner  or  later  come,  unless  we  stop  the  numer- 
ous leaks  now  found  on  many  cotton  plantaticns.  Wisdom 
and  ecoiioiu}^  would  suggest  the  careful  return  to  the 


[7] 


soil  of  every  product  of  cotton  save  the  lint.  Bnt  there  are 
two  incidents  in  cotton  growing,  which  tend  in  themselves  to 
to  soil  de[)letion,  which  are  usiiall}^  over  looked  by  the  agricul- 
tural chemist,  and  rarely  appreciated  by  the  planter.  1st. 
Cotton  is  planted  in  early  spring  and  harvested  in  late  fall,  its 
l)eriod  of  growth  extending  through  the  entire  summer  and 
much  of  the  fall.  During  this  period  of  growth,  with  clean 
culture  under  hot  suns  nitritication  is  most  intense  and  with  it  a 
rapid  oxidation  of  the  vegetable  matter  of  the  soil.  This  par- 
tially explains  why  cotton  is  the  most  profitable  crop  on  poor 
land,  but  it  also  tells  in  plainer  language,  that  the  vegetable 
mould  “ htirnns,^^  so  essential  to  fertility,  is  fast  disappearing  and 
with  it  soil  nitrogen.  Even  our  rich  alluvial  lands  once  thought 
inexhaustible,  from  this  cause,  coupled  with  the  baneful  practice 
of  selling  cotton  seed,  are  now  responding  in  gratitying  returns 
to  the  well  directed  use  of  ^Nitrogenous  manures.  A crop  of 
l>ea  vines  turned  under  every  second  or  third  year,  v/ould  aid 
materially  in  restoring  this  lost  humus. 

2d.  Cotton  is  removed  in  late  fall  and  our  lauds  are  left 
naked  unoccupied  and  exposed  to  the  drenching  rains  of  our 
semitropical  winters  and  much  of  the  liner  material  (which 
furnishes  the  idant  food  in  all  soils)  is  washed  away,  and  a 
goodly  quantity  of  plant  food  is  carried  so  far  down  into  the 
soil  as  to  be  forever  beyond  the  reach  of  plants,  even  the  tap 
root  of  cotton.  The  first  loss  is  very  severe  in  rolling  or  hilly 
lands,  as  is  shown  1)3'  the  nuiiierous  furrowed  red  hillsides  which 
everywhere  meet  the  eye  of  tlie  traveller  through  the  South 
Atlantic  States.  The  second  loss  is  greatest  in  sand3'  lands 
andleast  in  clay.  It  has  been  clearl3'  demonstrated,  that  a 
loss  of  soil  fertilit3' will  always  ocamr  whenever  lands  are  left 
in  bare  fallow.  A plant  suitable  for  occupying  the  ground  be- 
tween the  gathering  of  one  croj)  and  the  i)lanting  of  another, 
Avould  be  an  inestimable  boon  to  the  cotton  ])lanter.  Oats  sown 
in  tiie  cotton  in  August  or  September  and  lightly  harrowed  in 
or  planted  in  October  and  November,  after  the  cotton  has  been 
harvested  affords  onl}'  a partial  remed}'. 

MANURES  FOR  COTTON. 

The  following  taken  from  Bulletin  No.  2,  issued  over  a 3'ear 
ago,  explains  the  manures  used  eiseAviiere  successful!}'. 

Thanks  to  the  Experiment  Stations,  and  a large  class  of  progressive 
farmers  in  the  SoiUli,  the  maniirial  r("(|uirements  <d‘  (3o{,tou  ai'C  veil  under- 
stood, The  following  formula  has  been  used  with  excellent  lesulis  all 
through  the  South,  viz  : 

700  ]l>s.  Cotton  Sred  Meal. 

1,100  Ihs.  A(;i<l  Piio^-ipluite: 

200  lbs.  Kaiu.te. 

This  mixture  is  fully  the  equal  of  tlie  host  guanos  foimO  iu  our  markets, 
and  will  cost  considerably  less.  If  objection  ho  found  to  mixing  it  ou  the 
l)lantation,  some  of  the  factories  in  New  Orleai  s will  manipulate  it  at  a 
small  price  over  cost  of  materials.  Tiie  above  is  recommended  with  the 


[8] 


drawn  iVoiii  a large  nTimlicr  of  experiment®,  carefully  conducted  by 
tbe  writer,  tlmt  cotton  seed  meal  is  fnlly  tlm  e(jnal  of  cotton  seed  as  a source 
of  Nitrogen.  Cotton  sectl  ought  never  to  be  used  as  a fertilizer  until  its  oil, 
which  has  7>o  ferfilicing  value  whatever,  is  extract'^d.  Every  ton  of  cotton  seed 
yields  35  to  40  gidloi-is  of  oil,  wbicb  usaally  sclisat  about  30  cents  per  gallon. 
Therefore,  if  all  the  cotton  seed,  over  and  above  what  is  required  for 
]ilanting,  could  be  passed  through  a mill  for  the  extr.^ction  of  its  oil,  and  the 
latter  turned  into  money,  what  a vast  w(  altb  would  be  added  annually  to 
the  cotton  industry  wbicb  is  now  buried  with  the  seed.  Uufortiiiiately  the 
present  prices  of  all  cotton  seed  products  aie  Ioav,  and,  therefore,  but  little 
imlucemeut  can  be  offered  the  farmer  by  the  mills  to  exchange  his  seed  for 
meal.  The  seed  now  used  by  the  mills  are  pnrehased  outright,  and  the  pro- 
ceeds rarely  return  to  the  farm  npomwliich  tbe  seed  was  grown.  This  is- 
radicathj  wrong  Cotton,  when  everything  except  the  lint  is  returned  to  the 
soil,  is  one  of  the  least  exhausting  crops,  but  when  tbe  seed  are  sold  to  tbe 
mills  and  cattle  consume  tbe  bolls  and  staks  left  in  the  field  (as  is  frequency 
the  case),  it  rises  high  in  the  scale  of  exbiiusting  crops,  and  sooner  or  later* 
the  soils  upon  which  it  is  continually  grown  will  reach  that  point  of 
depletion  as  to  cease  to  yield  remunerative  returns  without  the  addition  of 
fertilizers.  Whenever  the  seed  go  to  thr  mills,  the  meal  and  bulls,  especially 
the  former,  should  bo  returned  to  tbe  tarm  with  proper  care.  The  Sotliern 
cotton  planter  should  buy  no  Nitrogam.  Tlie  manure  from  his  domestic 
animals  reinforced  by  bis  cotton  seed  or  cotton  seed  meal  (should  be  sell  bis 
seed),  ought  to  grow  all  bis  crops.  Under  no  circumstances  should  stable 
manure  or  cotton  seed  be  usrd  alone  under  cotton.  For  small  grain  and 
corn  their  use  is  applicable,  but  uoc  a<lvi-ible.  'lliey  should  both  be  com- 
posted with  acid  phosptiate.  “ The  compost  is  the  best  manure  in  the  world 
for  cotton,”  is  a f(>nut,oii  declaration  amouj^  intelligent  planters  of  Georgia 
and  Alabama.  Tiiete  is  a.  power  in  the  combination,  a strength  in  the  mix- 
ture, a ferment  in  tlie  union  which  mviltiplies  roots,  enlarges  foliage  and  in- 
crea.scs  the  fruit.  Tlie  compost,  pre})arerl  difficulty  for  each  crop,  not  only 
economizes,  but  properly  and  efiectually  utilizes  the  waste  products  of  the 
farm,  and  in  its  jsreparatiou  and  use  tliero  is  dcvflo}»ed  in  the  farmer  powers 
of  observation  and  refieetion  hitherto  latent.  Complete  mauuivs  or  Guanos 
sliould  not  be  purchased  until  all  liomo  resources  for  manure  have  been  ex- 
hausted, and  only  then  when  its  gnaranteed  censtitnents  are  known  to 
be  adapted  to  the  soils  and  crops.  Acid  Phosphates  of  a higli  grade  are  the 
best  to  use  in  a compost.  Below  is  appended  the  formula  best  suited  for 
cotton  : 

100  bushels  Cotton  Seed. 

100  bushels  Stable  Manure. 

1 ton  Acid  Phosphate,  high  grade. 

If  tbe  above  is  to  be  used  on  very  sandy  lands,  one-half  ton  of  Kainit© 
may  I e advantageously  added.  Dissolve  iu  Avater  and  use  the  latter  to  Avet 
the  compost. 

Since  the  success  of  a compost  depends  mateiially  upon  the  proper  man- 
ner of  preparing  it,  full  directions  are  here  inserted  : 

DIRECTIONS  FOR  MAKING  COMPOST. 

Take  an  equal  part  of  the  Stable  Manure,  say  ten  bushels,  and  sjiread  it 
©nt  in  a level  ])lace,  under  shelter,  to  the  nepth  of  three  inches.  Sprinkle 
over  it  100  pounds  of  Acid  Phosphate,  Next  spread  over  this. ten  bushels  of 
Cotton  Seed,  made  tlicronghly  AA  et.  Then  another  spainkle  of  100  pounds  of 
Acid  Phosphate.  Continue  this  rotation  till  the  quantities  are  exhausted 
and  then  coaut  AA'ith  a rich  earth,  from  the  fence  corners,  five  inchs  deep. 
Permit  it  to  remain  until  ready  for  use,  four  to  six  Aveeks  Avill  do,  and  cut 
vertically  down  with  a mattock.  Mix  well  and  apply  from  COO  to  1000^ 
pounds  per  acre  in  the  drill  at  the  time  of  planting. 

Be  careful  to  Avet  the  Coll  on  thoroughly  and  buy  only  a first-class- 
Acid  Phosphate. 


[9] 


How  far  results  obtained  else\^'l)ere  were  applicable  lierc 
remained  to  be  determined  by  experiments,  accor<lingiy  a se- 
ries of  systematic  experiments  in  cotton  was  instituted  at  tlie 
State  Experiment  Station,  for  tlie  purpose  of  determining  tbe 
following  questions  : 

1st — What  ingredients  of  commercial  manures  do  our  soils 
need  for  the  successful  production  of  cotton.  Having  deter- 
mined this  we  have 

2nd — What  form  of  these  ingredients  was  most  beneficial 
to  cotton. 

3<1 — What  quantity  produced  the  best  results. 

The  first  question  is  asked  directly  in  plat  5 and  incident- 
ally in  them  ail.  Tlie  second  and  third  questions  are  answered 
as  to  nitrogen  in  plat  5,  as  to  phosphoric  acid  in  plat  0,  and  as 
to  potash  in  plat  7. 

Of  the  nitrogenous  manures  we  have  used  nitrate  of  soda  (15 
l>er  cent  nitrogen)  j sulphate  of  ammonia  (21  per  cent  of  nitro- 
gen) ; dried  blood  (10  i)er  cent  nitrogen),  and  cotton  seed  meal 
(7  per  cent  nitrogen).  The  first  and  s<'cond  are  mineral,  the  third 
animal,  aiul  the  fourth  vegetable  forms.  Such  quantities  of 
each  are  taken  as  to  represent  equal  (iuantiti(‘s  of  nitrogen  and 
each  are  used  alone  and  in  combination  in  quantities  represent- 
ing one-third,  two-third,  and  a whole  ration. 

Beside  these  fish  scrap,  tankage  and  a mixture  of  nitrate 
soda,  sulphate  of  ammonia  and  cotton  seed  meal,  called  mixed 
nitrogen,  are  also  used. 

The  ])hosphatic  manures  are  represented  by  dissolved  bone 
black,  acid  x)hosphaie,  orchilla  phosphate,  bone  dust,  and 
Charleston  fioats.  The  potaasic  manures  are  supplied  in  kain- 
aud  the  sulphate  and  muriate  of  potash.  Both  of  these  are  used 
- in  like  combinations  and  quantities  as  the  nitrogenous  ma- 
nures. 

The  following  are  the  experiments  with  results  : 
NITROGENOUS  MANURES. 

Size  of  Experimeot  One-Twenticih  of  Acre. 

PLAT  NO.  o-COTTON. 

No.  1 — Nothing. 

No.  2 — 7 Ib.s  Nitrate  Soda. 

No.  3— .5  2-11  lbs  Snl]>bate  of  Ammonia. 

No.  4—10  !bs  Dritd  blond. 

No.  5 — ir>l  11)8  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

No.  6 — 14  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

No.  7 —4^  11)8  Muriate  Potash. 

TV,,  u S ihs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

® ) 14  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

1ST  n i P'S  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

^ ‘ ^14  IbB  Acid  Phosphate. 

No.  10— Nothing. 


14  lb8  Acil  Phosphate  } ^ , 

4,}  lbs  Muriate  Potash.  Mn.erala. 

34  11)8  Nitrate  Soda  } 

Mixed  Minerals.  ( 


Ration. 


No.  11 1 
No.  12 1 


[10] 


No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 


-jo  ^ 7 lbs  Nitrate  So(la=|  ration. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

) KH  11>8  Nitrate  So(la=l  ration. 

^ Mixed  Minerols. 

15 — Mixed  Minerals. 

ip  13-22  lbs  iSiiiphate  Amnionia=|-  ration. 
} Mixed  Minerals. 


No.  17 


No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 


23 


No,  26 


No. 

No. 

No. 


No.  30 

No.  31 

No. 
No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 
No. 

No 


5 2-11  lbs  .Sulphate  Ainrnouia=f  ration. 
Mixed  Minerals. 

7 17-22  lbs  Siilpliate  Ammonia=l  ration. 
Mixed  Minerals. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

2U — Nothing-. 

5 lbs  Dried  Blood=^  ration. 

Mixed  Minerals.. 

10  lbs  Dried  Blood— | ration. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

15  lbs  Dried  Blood=l  ration. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

21 — Mixed  Minerals. 

o-  { 7f  lbs  Cotton  Herd  Meal=l  ration. 

\ Mixed  Minerals. 

15^  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal=|-  ration. 
Mixed  Minerals. 

23^  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal=l  rati  u. 
Mixed  Minerals. 

28 — Mixed  Mineials. 

4^  lbs  Fish  Scraps=^-  ration. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

9 lbs  Fish  Scraps=f  ration. 

Mixed  Minerals 
131  lbs  Fish  Seraps=l  ration. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

32 —  Nothing. 

33 —  Mi xed  M i nerals. 

f 2^  lbs  Nil  rate  Soda  'j 

j If  ll)s  .Sn  phate  Aniiuonia.  [ 


27 


29 


] 2 1-10  lbs  Cot.  Seed  Meal.  [ 
iMi:  ■■ 


Mixed  Nit ro  gen  | ration. 


Mixed  Minerals. 


. 38 


No.  39 
No.  40 


No. 

No. 


o-  ^ Mixed  Nitrog8ii=:}  ration. 

\ Mixed  idim-rals. 
o,>  ) Mixed  Nitrog('n=l  ration. 

I Mixed  Minerals. 

37 — Mixed  Minerahs. 

7-^  los  Tankiigc=l  ration. 

lbs  Muriate  Potash. 

15  ll)S  Taukage=f  ration. 
41  lbs  Muriate  Potash. 

221  U)s  Tankage 
41  ibs  Mnriiite  Potash. 

41 —  15  los.  Tankage. 

42 —  Nothing. 


TREATMENT  OF  PLAT  NO.  5. 


Manures  put  out  April  15th,  bedded  Apeil  15th,  planted  April  17th, 
ofF-barred  May  lltli  and  12t‘J,  ehopped  May  17tn,  dirted  26  and  27tli,  uith 
scooter  and  scraper,  hoed  ,)  uuo  ^i4\h  to  29t'u,  plowed  out  aud  laid  by  June 
30  and  31st,  with  scooter  and  scraper. 


[in 


YIELD  OF  PLAT  NO.  5. 


-(-3 

a 

a 

"S 

Ch 

W 

o 

qc 

g 

'rS 

O 

s 

fcjo 

.2 

o 

r-( 

a 

o 

v 

bib 

a 

o 

ci) 

rd 

fH 

bio 

d 

1 

t 

<p 

o 

<u 

ind  of  Manure. 

m 

1 

! ^ 

H 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

! lbs. 

lbs. 

1 

4 

6 

8 

9 

12 

i 

27i 

5504 

Nothing. 

Nitrate  Soda. 

2 

5 

8 

9 

i 

344 

6d5 

H 

7 

« 

10 

9 

4 

344 

690 

Sulphate  Ammonia 

4 

6 

6 

10 

9 

i 

6254 

Dried  Blood. 

5 

9 

12 

13 

10 

444 

3904 

Cotton  ISIeal, 

b 

8 

9 

10 

b 

4 

354 

7104 

Acid  Phosxjbate. 

7 

5 

6 

9 

10 

4 

304 

6104 

Mniiate  Potash. 

S 

12 

18 

20 

10 

i 

00| 

12054 

1 

Cotton  Meal.  ? 

Aeid  Phosphate.  S 

9 

6 

12 

15 

12 

1 

46 

1 

9204 

Cotton  Meal.  ? 

Muriate  I'otash.  ^ 

10 

4 

7 

8 

9 

u 

I 294 

565 

Nothing. 

11 

8 

9 

8 

14 

1 ^ 

394 

780 

Mixed  Minerals. 

12 

8 

13 

12 

11 

44  ?r 

890  ) 

Nitrate  Soda. 

13 

9 

! 14 

13 

14 

I 1 

51 

1020  V 

|Groui). 

14 

9 

15 

14 

13 

! u 

524 

1045  ^ 

1 

15 

5 

18 

17 

11 

1 1 

52 

1040 

Mixed  Minerals. 

16 

.5 

20 

18 

i 40 

’ 14 

544 

1090  ) 

'Sulphate  ? 

17 

6 

20 

30 

1 (i 

! i 

63 

1260  } 

j Ammonia 

Id 

8 

26 

I 10 

i 

644 

1290  ) 

Group. 

19 

8 

20 

i 22 

! 10 

; 

63 

1260 

j Mixed  Minerals. 

20 

6 

21 

! 21 

4 

t 14 

53.1 

1070 

iNothing. 

21 

11 

i 16 

18 

! 

1 i 

52 

1040  n Dried  J 

22 

12 

18 

20 

1 9 

i 

604 

1205 

IBIoo  1.  1 

23 

12 

18 

21 

1 

1 

61 

1220  ) 

1 Group  ) 

24 

8 

18 

20 

6 

1 1 

53 

1060 

1 Mixed  Minerals. 

25 

14 

25 

30 

1 4 

i 1 

74 

14-0  ) 

1 Cott  on  Meal. 

28 

15 

21 

33 

4 

* 11 

81F 

1625  V 

Groiqi, 

27' 

15 

30 

35 

I 2 

i 

83 

1660  ) 

2d 

8 

16 

20 

8 

1 

53 

1060 

Mixed  Minerals. 

29 

9 

21 

18' 

1 10 

4 

1170  ) 

i'Fk'-Ii  Scrap. 

30 

13 

24 

20  i 

! 4 

1 

62 

1240  ■ 

Group. 

31 

14 

25 

2li 

6’ 

1 

67 

1310) 

32 

6 

12 

13 

4i 

[ 1 

36 

720 

Nothing. 

33) 

7 

17 

21 

IF 

. 484 

965 

Mixed  Minerals. 

34 

8 

22 

18 

3' 

1 

52 

1040  ) 

Mixed 

35 

9 

21 

17 

1 

53 

1060  > i 

Nitrogen. 

36 

10 

23 

20 

5| 

594 

1185  5 iG»'oup, 

37 

8 

16; 

20 

4| 

lil 

li 

494 

985 

Mixed  Minerals. 

38 

12 

IS 

14 

41 

49 

980  ) 
1080  ;> 

Tankage. 

39 

14 

20 

15 

4| 

1; 

54 

Group. 

40 

14 

21 

29 

51 

li 

70 

1-iOO  s 

41 

14 

20 

16 

4} 

1-1 

o! 

5,54 

110.5 

Ihinkage. 

42 

c! 

12 

13l 

4i 

35  i 

700 

Nothing. 

An  inspection  of  above  will  sliow  that  while  the  nitrogenous  mainires 
alone  have  slightly  increased  the  yield  Avhoueverit  was  conibiued,  this  increase 
has  been  very  decided.  It  also  shows  that  the  results  obtained  with  cotton  seed 
meal  both  alone  and  in  combination  were  greater  than  with  other  forms  of  ni- 
trogen, and  that  large  quantities  of  nitrogen  have  not  paid  for  increased  cost. 


[12] 


riiOSPHORIC  ACID  ]\IANUKES— Experiment  1-?,Q  acre, 
PLAT  NO.  0 -COTTON. 

No.  1 — Notliing. 

No.  2 — 9 ]itR.  Pone  Black,  IG  per  cent  soluble. 

No.  3 — 10  Ib.s  Aeui  Tliospliate. 

No.  4 — 10  lbs  Orcliilln  Phos])biite. 

No.  5 — 10  lbs  Po’.ie  Dust. 

No.  G — 10  lbs  Charleston  Floats. 

S 10  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal.  \ , Mixture 

\ 3 lbs  Muriate  Potash.  S Mixture. 

S ^ U’S  Dissolved  Bone  Black=-^  ration. 

\ Basal  Mixture. 

S 0 lbs  Dissolved  Bone  Biack=f  ration. 

( B.isa!  Mixture. 

13f  lbs  Dissolved  Bone  BIack=l  rat'ou. 

Bas  il  Mixture. 

No.  11 — Nolliinu’. 

No.  12  — Basal  Alixtnre. 

No  13-*^  Pbosphate=J-  ration. 

Basal  Mixture. 

No  14^  10  lbs  A id  Pliospbate=|  ration. 

} Basal  Mixture. 

Vr»  ^ !bs  Acid  Phosphate=l  ration. 

.>o.  lo  ^ Mixture. 

No.  16 — Basal  Alixnire. 

ATn  17  S Precipitated  Dissolved  Bone  Black=^  ration. 

^ Basal  Mixture. 


No. 


No.  8 
No.  9 


No.  10 


No. 

No. 


No.  22 
No.  2.1 


No.  26 


\ 9 lbs  Prec  })itated  Di.«solved  Bone  B]ack=f  ration. 

( Basal  Mixt.ire. 

,qS  13t}  1(;S  Precipitated  Dissolved  Bone  Blaek=l  ration. 
} Basal  Mixture. 

No.  20— Nothing. 

No.  21 — Basal  Mixture. 

5 lbs  Orcliilla  Pho8phate=|  ration. 

Ba.^al  Mixture. 

<!  U>  Ids  Oreiiiila  Phospnate=|  ration. 

) ibisal  Mixture. 

No  Oreiiiila  Phospiiate=l  ration. 

‘ ( Basal  Mixture, 

No.  25 — Basal  Mixture. 

5 lus  Bone  Uu8t=^  ration. 

Basal  Mixture. 

xTn  O'-  ^ ‘ks  Boue  Dust=f  ration. 

\ Basal  Mixture. 

No  28^  Bone  Dust=l  ration. 

( Bjisal  Mixture. 

No.  29 — Nothing. 

No.  30 — Basal  Mixture. 

■jyr  qi  S 5 lbs  Charleston  Floats=^  ration. 

\ Basal  Mixture. 

No  32)  Charleston  Floats=|  ration. 

^ Basal  Mixture. 

XT,.  00  i 15  Il>8  Charleston  Floats=l  ration. 
i\o.  66^  Mixture. 

No.  34 — Basal  Mixture. 

No  35  i ^ lbs  Gy{)sum=i  ration. 

( Basal  Mixture. 

6 lbs  Gyp8um=f  ration. 

Basal  Mixture. 

No  37  ; ^ Gy|>sum=|  ration. 

* ' ^ Basal  Mixture. 

No.  38— B is.al  Mixture. 

No.  39 — Nothing. 

Treatment  of  No.  6 same  as  No.  5. 


No.  36 


[13] 


YIELD  OF  PLAT  NO  6. 


4^ 

S 

s 

o 

1 

First  Picking. 

Second  Picking. 

Ofj 

a 

ia 

j 1 

Fourlli  Picking,  j 

! 

Fifth  Picking. 

Total. 

1 

Total  Per  Acre. 

1 

9 

13 

19 

6 

m 

1432 

2 

5 

13 

22 

9 

1 

50 

1500 

8 

15 

18 

8 

f 

46f 

1402 

4 

6 

12 

11 

5 

i 

[lU 

1035 

5 

8 

14 

9 

2 

i 

33i 

1(X)5 

(3 

8 

15 

8 

4 

i 

35J 

1072 

7 

T 

13 

15 

5 

401 

1215 

8 

8 

13 

17 

4 

42 

1260 

9 

8 

13 

14 

1 i 

111 

1245 

10 

9 

13 

12 

'1 

! i 

37i 

1132 

11 

5 

10 

8 

1 1 

26. 

780 

12 

6 

11 

11 

! 3 

1 

1 

\M 

930 

13 

1 8 

12 

18 

1 4 

42' 

1260 

14 

i 9 

13 

16 

1 4 

11 

vm) 

15 

1 10 

12 

11 

4 

40 

1200 

Id 

I 6 

8 

6 

5 

25 

1 750 

17 

1 

1 

1 

1 

18 

1 

! 

i 

19 

! 

20 

1 

21 

- r- 

22 

i 

23 

1 

i 

1 

24 

1 

i 

25 

J 

1 

1 

26 

4 

8 

12 

10 

34 

1020 

27 

5 

9 

10 

8 

32 

960 

28 

6 

10 

11 

6 

1 1 

33 

990 

29 

1 

1 

3,0 

4| 

1 

6 

5 

23 

690 

31 

4 

12 

12 

5 

.33 

990 

32 

5 

10 

U 

4 

30i 

900 

33 

5 

11 

11 

6 

36| 

1080 

34 

4 

12 

13 

4 

. 

990 

35 

5 

H| 

♦ 12 

4 

32 

960 

36 

5 

11 

10 

5 

31 

930 

37 

5 

10 

10 

5 

30 

900 

38 

5 

11 

10 

7 

3.3 

990 

39 

4 

8 

10 

4 

26 

780 

"^Theso  experiments  were  partially  destroyed  by  rains  in  June,  and  hence 
not  recorded. 


A part  of  the  above  plat  was  seriously  damaged  by  the  heavy  and  con- 
tinnons  rains  of  June,  and  results  for  complete  comparison  are  vitiated. 
However  the  soluble  forms  of  phosphoric  acid  have  given  increased  yields 
over  the  insoluble  forms  in  bone  dust  and  floats. 


POTASSIC  MANUKES. 


Each  Experiment  One- Thirtieth  of  Acre. 
PLAT  NO.  7— COTTON. 


No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 

No.  5 
No.  6 


No. 


No.  8 

No. 
No. 


No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 


1 —  Nothin  joj. 

2 —  12  lbs  kaiiiite. 

3 —  3 lbs  Muriate  Pota«?h. 

4 —  6 lbs  Sulphate  Potash. 

10  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal.  } nr  i r)T  i + 
10  lbs  Acid  I'liospbate,  \ Pliospbate, 

12  lbs  Kainite=^  ration. 

Meal  Phosphate. 

\ 24  li'-s  Kaiiiite=|^  ration. 

) Meal  Phosphate. 

ration. 


30  lbs  Kaii)ite=l 
Jleal  Phosphate. 

9 — Meal  Phosphate. 

10 — Nothiiig’. 

pi  lbs  Muriate  rotash=4  ration. 

( Meal  Phosphate. 
woS  0 lbs  Muriaie  Potash=|  ration. 

) ileal  Phosphate. 

9 lbs  ilnriafe  Pofash=|^  ration, 
ilea!  Plio.sphate. 

14 — M(  ai  riios{)ha1e. 

> 0 lbs  Sulphate  Potash=4  ration, 
ileal  Phosphate. 

1..  5 12  lbs  Sulphate  rotash=J  ration. 
) Meal  Pliospliate. 

..y  ^ 18  lits  Sulphate  Potasli=l  ration. 
* 'l  ileal  Phosphate. 

18 —  Meal  Phosphate. 

19 —  Nothin^'. 


13 


Treatment  of  No.  7 same  as  No  5 


[15] 


YIELD  OF  PLAT  NO.  7. 


No.  of  Experment. 

tJC 

(C 

j Second  Picking. 

to 

a 

% 

o 

H 

Fourth  Picking. 

Fifth  Picking. 

Total  Yield. 

Yield  per  acre. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

i lbs. 

lbs 

lbs. 

1 

3 

8 

3 

4 

18 

,540 

2 

4 

8 

4 

o 

18 

540 

3 

5 

9 

3 

3 

20 

600 

4 

4 

8 

4 

3 

19 

570 

5 

8 

16 

9 

4 

37 

1110 

6 

6 

18 

It 

5 

40 

1200 

7 

6 

16 

13  : 

2 

37 

1110 

8 

5 

17 

1-1  1 

3 

1 

40 

1200 

9 

7 

21 

5 

H 

m 

1275 

10 

4 

10 

4 

5 

2 

25 

750 

11 

4 

13 

24 

8 

m 

1485 

12 

5 

12 

25 

8 

i 

m 

1507 

13 

6 

12 

26 

6 

50 

1500 

14 

8 

14 

25 

2 

49 

1470 

35 

9 

13 

25 

o 

51 

1530 

16 

8 

14 

26 

i 

50 

1,500 

17 

7 

13 

25 

2 

47 

1410 

18 

8 

12 

24 

3 

47 

1410 

19 

4 

9 1 

1 S 

2 

23 

690 

No  form  of  Potash  has  given  decided  gains. 


PLAT  NO.  8— COTTON. 

No.  3— -25  l\)s  Slodniezlia's  Gnano. 

No.  2 — 50  lbs  Slndniczka’s  Guano. 

No.  3—25  lbs  Planters  Fertilizer. 

No.  4—50  lbs  Planters  Fertilizer. 

No.  5—24  lbs  Raw  cotton  seed. 

No.  (>—36  lbs  Kaw  cotton  seed. 

No.  7 — 48  lbs  Raw  cotton  Seed,  and  5 lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

No.  8 — 72  lbs  Raw  cotton  seed. 

No.  9—48  lbs  Raw  cotton  seed,  5 lbs  Acid  Phosphate,  and  5 lbs  kainite. 
No.  10 — Nothing. 

No.  11—36  lbs  (Jompost.* 

No.  12 — 36  Ibe  Compost.*  and  5 lbs.  Kainite. 

No.  13 — 72  lbs  Compost  * 

No.  14 — 72  lbs  Compost.*  and  5 lbs.  Kainite. 

No.  15 — 96  lbs  Compost.* 

No.  16 — 120  lbs  Compost.* 

*Couipo8t  prepared  as  directed  in  Bulletin  No.  2,  and  this  Bulletin 

page  8. 

Treatment  of  Plat  8 same  as  No.  5. 


[16] 


POPULAR  MANURES. 


Each  Experiments  1-30  Acres. 
YIELD  OF  PLAT  NO.  «. 


No.  of  Experiment. 

First  Picking. 

Second  Picking. 

be 

3 

a 

H 

to 

Hi 

u 

i 

'ci 

O 

H 

a> 

o 

<v 

11)S. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

1 lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

lbs. 

1 

8 

10 

4 

i 1 

23 

690 

2 

10 

16 

5 

1 1 

32 

900 

3 

7 

15 

.5 

! 1 

1 

28 

840 

4 

9 

18 

9 

1 

4:0 

1200 

5 

8 

12 

4 

1 2 

1 

1 27 

810 

6 

8 

15 

5 

i 1 

I 29 

870 

7 

9 

15 

8 

1 2 

1 

j 34 

1020 

s 

8 

14 

6 1 

2 

I It 

30i 

937 

9 

8 

15 

! 

o 

1 1 

35 

10.50 

10 

4 

8 

6 

! 2 

20 

600 

11 

10 

16 

9 

2 

37 

IIP) 

12 

9 

17 

B 1 

37 

1110 

13 

10 

18 

10 

2 1 

40 

1200 

14 

jO 

17 

12  1 

O 

42 

1260 

15 

12 

18 

11  1 

3 

44 

1320 

16 

13 

20 

12  1 

4 

49 

1470 

In  the  above,  Acid  Phosphate  increased  the  yield  of  Raw  cotton 
seed,  -wViile  Kainite  has  ^iveii  no  decided  gHins. 

Besides  the  above  tlie  fodowiny-  expcriineiits  wore  made  in  difFereut 
inodes  of  cultivation.  The  manures  tised  were  the  same,  and  they  varied 
only  in  the  methods  of  cultivation. 

OU LTI VATION  EXPERI M ENTS. 


PLAT  NO.  9-COTTON. 

No.  1 — May  20th,  plowc<l  with  hull  tonjjue  ; June  24th,  plowed  with  hull 
tongue;  July  10th,  laid  by  with  scooter  and  scraper. 

No  2 — May  25th,  plowed  with  hull  tongue;  June  24tli,  plowed  with  scooter 
and  scraper ; July  lOth,  laid  by  with  scooter  and  scraper. 

No.  3— May  20th,  plowtd  with  scootei  »nd  scraper;  June  24th,  plowed  with 
scooter  and  scraper;  July  10th,  laid  by  with  scooter  and  scraper. 

No.  4 — May  20th  , plowed  with  scooter  and  scraper  ; June  24th,  plowed  with 
hull  tongue;  July  lOlh,  laid  by  with  scooter  and  scraper. 

No.  5 — Jiay^  20th,  ]dowed  with  turn  shovel;  June  24tii,  ]3iowed  with  turn 
shovel  ; July  10th,  laid  by  with  scooter  and  scraper. 

No.  0 — May  2Cth,  plowed  with  turn  shovel ; June  24th,  plowed  with  bull 
tongue  ; July  lOtb,  hud  by  with  scooter  and  scraper. 

No.  7 — May  20th,  pdowced  with  turn  plow;  June  24th,  jdowed  with  turn 
plow  ; July  10th,  laid  by  with  scooter  and  scraper. 

No.  8 — May  20th,  plowed  with  turn  plow;  June  24tb,  plowed  with  bull 
tongue  : July  lOtb,  laid  by  with  scooter  and  scraper. 


117] 


YIELD  OF  PLAT  NO.  6. 


No.  1 

39  lbs 

1170  lbs  per  acre. 

“ 2 

42  “ 

1260  “ “ 

3 

41  “ 

1230 

“ 4 

46  ‘‘ 

1380  “ “ 

“ 5 

45 

1350  “ “ “ 

“ 6 

42  “ 

1260  “ “ 

U 7 

36  “ 

1080  ‘ 

“ 8 

43  - 

1290  “ 

The  following  Varieties  of  Cotton  were  xilJiuted  : 

PLAT  NO.  10— COTTON. 

No.  1 — JowePs  Improved. 

No.  2 — Cherry’s  Long  Staple. 

No.  3 — S.  B.  Maxey’s  Cotton 

No.  4 — Shine’s  Early  Prolific. 

No.  5 — Griffin’s  Improved. 

No.  6 — Taylor’s  Improved. 

No.  7 — Bancroft’s  Extra  Prolific  Herlong. 

No.  8 — Peterkin’s  Imjnoved. 

No.  9 — Jones’  Improved. 

CULTIVATION  LIKE  PLAT  NO.  5. 

Small  quantities  of  above  seed  were  used,  and  it  is  very  difficult  to  de- 
cide upon  the  relative  merits  of  the  varieties  of  cotton  on  small  areas.  They 
will  be  tested  on  a larger  scale  next  year. 

CONCLUSION. 

The  results  of  the  experiments  above  given  but  confirm  the  hitherto  en- 
tertained opinion  that  cotton  seed  meal  was  our  cheapest  best  form  of 
nitrogen  for  cotton,  and  combined  with  soluble  phosphate  and  kainite, 
give  a manure  fully  the  equal  of  any  to  be  obtained.  On  lands 
badly  worn  and  deficient  in  vegetable  matter,  the  cotton  seed  meal  may  be 
advantageously  increased  even  to  an  equal  quantity  with  acid  phosphate. 
On  lands  having  already  a tendency  to  excessive  weed,  it  may  be  decreased, 
therwisie  the  formula  given  in  Bulletin  No.  2 and  repeated  in  this  Bulletin 
page  6,  will  be  found  best  adapted  to  the  requirements  of  cotton. 


STATE  BUREAU  OF  A(HiICULTURE,  j 
Office  of  Commission eu',  [> 
Baton  Eougo,  La.,  March  22(1,  1887.  ) 

The  following'  partial  list  of  Oommiircial  Fertilizers,  sold  in 
this  State,  is  published  in  this  Bulletin,  in  order  to  give  the 
public  the  benefit  of  the  quarantees.  Later  a (ioinplete  list  with 
guranteed  analyses,  selling  prices  atid  coininercial  values  per 
ton  will  be  juiblished. 

T.  J.  BIRD, 

Coniinissioner  of  Agriculture. 


GUAEANTEED  ANALYSES  OF  COMMERCIAL  FERTILIZERS,  AS  RENDERED  TO  COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE  BY  DEALERS  AND  MANUFACTURERS  TO  WHOM 

LICENSES  HAVE  BEEN  ISSUED  FOR  SEASON  1886-87. 


KAMR  OF  FERTILIZER  OR  CHEMICAL. 


Sterns  Ammoniated 

Sterns  Pure  Ground  R w Bone 

Acid  Phosphate 

Kainite 

Acid  Phosphate 

Soluble  Pacific  Guano 

Soluble  Pacific  Guano 

Studniczkas  Standard  Sugar  Cane  Fert 
Studniczkas  Standard  Sugar  Cane  Fei  t 

Gossoypium  Phopho 

Scott’s  Best  Acid  Phosphate 

Scott’s  High  Grade  Acid  Phosphate... 

Standard  Home  Mixture  Guano 

Bone  and  Potash 

Challmette  Mills  Fertilizer 

Sugar  Fertilizer 

Cotton  Fertilizer 

Atlantic  Fertilizer 

Armour  Bone  Meal » 

Standard  Cotton  and  Sugar  Guano 

Armour  Hog  Tankage 

Acid  Phosphate 

Kainite 


BY  WHOM  BEPOK'TED. 


Name. 


Stern’s  Fert.  & Chem.  Mfg  Co 


Wm.  Garig  & Co 

W.  P.  Richardson 

Rep.  Glidden  & Curti  s,  Boston 

Henry  Studiiiczka 

Henry  Studniczka 

Geo.  W.  Scott  M’fg  Co, 

Meridian  Fertiliz  ng  Factory . . 

W.  A.  Ober,  Agent 

Planters  Fertilizers  M’fg  Co. . . 

Pelzer  Rodyers  & Co 

H.  Studniczka 

Haynes  & Rodyers 

H.  Studniczka  S.  Sole  Agent.. 
Planters  Fertilizing  Co 


Address. 


14  Union  St.,  New  Orleans 


Baton  Rouge 

I 33  Caroiideh  t St.,  N.  O 
41  North  Peters  St.,  N.  O 

.Atlanta,  Georgia 

Meridian,  Mississippi 

197  Gr  .vier  St.,  N O 

111  Ma^oziue  St.,  N.  O .. 

Charleston,  S C 

41  North  Peters  St.  N.  O 
101  P ydras  St.,  N.  ().... 
41  North  Peters  St.,  N O 
111  Mae azine  St. , N . 0. . . 


By  whom  Manfactured. 


Stern’s  Fort.  & Chem.  Ai’fg  Co. 


Imported 

Imported 

Pacific  Guano  Co.,  Boston 
Wahl  Bi  os 


Geo.  W.  Scott  M’fg  Co 


Meridian  Fertilizing  Factory 


G.  ■ her  & Sons  Co 

Planters  Fertilizing  M’fg  Co 


Atlantic  Phosphate  Co  . 

Armour  & Co 

Fanueis  Fertilizing  Co 

Armour  & Co 

Imp'uted 


Where  Manufactured. 


. ew  Orleans . 


Imported 

Engl  nd 

Charleston,  S.  C , and 
Woods  Hall.  Mass  , 
Chicago,  111 


Atlanta,  Gi  orgia 


Meridian.  Mississippi. 


Cor  Adams  &.  S Peter  St.  .N. 
New  Ui leans 


wharlesion,  S.  C 

Chicago,  111 

Syracuse,  New  York 

■ hicago  

England 

G*  rinany 


‘2  to  3 
4|  to  43- 


•215  to  255 
240  to  3 
2|  to  3 
2i  to  3 • 
240  to  2^ 


2i  to  2^ 


•2  to 

3 5 to  4 
3 

2.05 
4 to  5 
1 to  2 
8 to  9 


PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 


Soluble. 


14  to  18 


15 

7 to  8.75 
to  8 
9 to 
9 to 
6 to  6i 
7i-  to  8J 
8 to  9 
7^  to  9 
8 to  10 
4 to  5 
7 5 to  9 
10 

6.50 


8 to  9 


15.16 


Reverted. 


1 to  3 


5 

3 to  3.75 
2.^  to  4 

11 

11 

3.80  to  4 
4J1  to  5^ 

5 to  6 
9 to  11 
10  to  13 
31  to  4i 


Insoluble 


.2 

2 to  2.50 
2 to  3 
1 to  2 

1 to  2 

4 to  2| 

1^  to  2i 

2 to  2J 
1 to  2 
1 to  2 

U to  li 


1.50 
25  to  28 
3 to  4 
12  to  15 

.2 


Potash. 


1 to  1.50 
3A  to  4i 


IJ  to  2i 
2 to  2J 


2i  to  3 
2i  to  3 
2 to  3 
2 to  3 
2 
2 


4 to  6 


$ 30.00 
35.00 
16  to  25 
12  to  14 


cot.  grade 
sug  grade 
30.00 


22.50 

22.50 


28.00 

26.00 


REPORT 


FOR  THE  MOKTH  OF  APRIL,  1887. 


SHOWING 

AEEAS  PLANTED,  CONDITION  OF  CEOPS  ON  THE 
EIEST  OF  MAY,  AND  OTHEE  MATTEES  EELAT- 
ING  TO  AGEICULTUEE  IN  THE  STATE. 


AND 

BULLETIN  No.  9, 

OF  THE 

Experiment  Stations 

GIVING  ANALYSES  AND  VALUATION  OF  FERTILIZERS, 


COMMISSIONER. 


BATON  ROUGE : 

PRINTED  BY  LEON  JASTREMSKI,  STATE  PRINTER. 
1887. 


■ '."I  :;•. 


/' } j'  ^ 

/ iV 


. . . ,Mr‘, 


■ r-M  - rvr'  V.  : : ■ - ,■  r rr 

A 16  I /6A  ^ 


'-lo  h,. - t.'  i^-^a 


h 

'-•'  f ' 


A.  V:0>^AII^0II  i 


•-;Afti  ^‘MM- 
;'1 


j \ yr'i 


r:y--::-m 


1.  A A’ 


i :r '-aTiTKrni 


v'j 


Circular  Xo.  1. 


CROP  REPORT 

For  April  1887,  Returned  to  the  Department  May  i,  i887 

a 


STATE  DEPAKTMENT  OF  AGEICULTUKE,  \ 

Baton  Rouge,  La.,  May  4, 1887.  i 

COTTON. 

The  reports  from  all  i)arts  of  the  State  indicate  that  the 
months  of  January,  February,  March  and  April,  has  been  fa- 
vorable for  preparing  the  ground.  The  acreage  planted  coni- 
liared  with  this  date  last  year  is  several  points  in  excess,  but 
on  account  of  the  drouth  commencing  in  March  and  extending 
mostly  throughout  April  combined  with  cold  nights, has  pre^ 
vented  the  germination  of  the  seed  last  x>lanted  and  in  some 
instances  delayed  planting,  consequently  the  reports  of  the  condi- 
tion from  some  portions  of  the  State  are  not  favorable,  giving 
some  apprehension  of  the  stand. 

CORN. 

The  comparative  acreage  has  increased  in  the  State,  and 
the  condition  is  excellent  in  the  South  and  Southwestern  por- 
tions of  the  State,  and  in  some  instances  the  crop  is  laid  by  in 
good  condition.  While  in  some  localities  in  the  northern  par- 
ishes there  is  some  complaint  of  stand,  attributed  mostly  to 
drouth  and  in  some  localities  to  birds. 

RICE. 

The  acreage  is  about  the  same,  but  the  condition  will  not 
compare  favorable  with  last  year,  attributted  mostly  to  the 
causes  that  atfected  cotton. 


SUGAR  CANE. 

Ou  accoilut  of  the  very  favorable  season  prevailing  during 
the  past  winter,  both  the  acreage  and  condition  is  reported  far 
in  excess  of  last  year. 

SORGHUM. 

About  the  same  as  last  year. 

IRISH  POTATOES. 

Both  acreage  and  condition  about  the  same.  While  the 
season  for  planting  was  very  favorable,  and  the  stand  excellent. 
The  condition  was  very  considerably  injured  by  the  drouth  in 
March  and  April,  retarding  growth  and  in  some  instances  caus- 
ing blight  on  exhausted  lauds  in  the  southern  parishes. 

OATS. 

The  acreage  about  the  same  as  last  year,  but  the  condition 
is  reported  far  below.  Those  planted  in  the  fall  was  never 
more  promising  up  to  the  commencement  of  the  drouth.  Now 
the  testimony  received  from  all  parts  of  the  State  indicate  an 
unusually  short  crop,  in  many  instances  taking  rust  and  prema- 
turely ripening. 

ONIONS. 

^ , The  acreage  and  condition  of  this  crop  is  considerably 
increased  comparatively,  and  is  now  considered  an  important 
crop  in  Louisiana. 

ORANGES. 

The  reports  indicate,  as  compared  with  last  year,  several 
points  increase  in  acreage,  and  a very  considerable  increase  in 
condition.  But  in  both  instances  they  are  still  far  behind  the 
average  crop. 

CLIPPIISG  OF  WOOL. 

. About  the  same  as  last  year. 

LIVE  STOCK. 

Their  condition,  considering  the  very  indifferent  attention 
given  them  in  the  State  in  many  instances,  receiving  no  food 
or  shelter  during  the  winter  is  remarkably  good.  No  unusual 
prevalence  of  contageous  diseases  except  with  swine.  Horses, 
mules,  cattle  and  sheep,  are  comparatively  in  excellent  con  :l 


[5] 


tiou.  Some  complaint  in  isolated  localities  of  cliarbon  and  biif . 
falo  gnats,  and  of  dogs  with  sheep.  By  far  the  greatest  loss  in 
live  stock  is  in  hogs,  with  cholera  or  some  similar  disease.  The 
past  winter  has  been  favorable,  being  both  mild  and  dry.  The 
information  received  indicate  an  increased  interest  in  stock 
raising  throughout  the  State,  with  a disposition  to  improve  the 
breed  of  ail  kinds.  This  we  are  rejoiced  to  hear,  as  it  will  result 
in  more  care,  and  the  providing  of  better  shelter  by  the  farmer, 
as  he  will  naturally  prize  the  improved  stock  more  than  the  un- 
improved, and  will  almost  unconsciously  bestow  more  care  upon 
them,  and  an  animal  representing  one  hundred  dollarr  Avill  not 
be  as  apt  to  suffer  from  neglect  as  one  worth  twenty-ffve  dollars, 
and  will  have  the  effect  of  greatly  augmenting  the  value  of  all, 
and  the  adoption  of  this  policy  will  most  certainly  make  farm- 
ing more  profitable.  It  is  certainly  worthy  of  note  that  in  the 
j^orth  and  West  the  value  of  farm  lands  is  far  in  excess  in  those 
States  where  greater  attention  is  given  to  the  raising  of  im- 
proved stock.  And  in  consideration  of  the  methods  of  advance- 
ment open  to  the  farmer  of  Louisiana,  one  of  the  first  means 
which  must  suggest  itself  to  one  of  ordinary  thinking  capacity, 
is  the  improvement  and  increase  of  his  live  stock.  This  will 
bring  about  one  of  the  diversifications  that  the  writer  has  so 
often  recommended,  and  will  in  his  opinion  be  the  means  of 
greatly  improving  the  tanning  methods,  besides  largely  increas- 
ing the  value  of  the  farm  lauds  throughout  the  State. 

THE  EXPERIMENT  STATIONS 

Are  progressing  satisfactory.  The  one  at  Kenner  has  over 
300  experiments  in  cane — GO  in  corn,  32  in  oats,  10  in  Sorghum, 
10  in  grasses  and  clovers  and  10  in  rice.  The  drouth  has  se- 
riously injured  the  exi)erimeuts  in  oats,  which  one  month  ago 
promised  larger  yields  than  last  year. 

At  Baton  Rouge  there  are  51  experiments  in  grasses  and 
clovers,  75  in  corn,  110  in  cotton,  10  in  tobacco,  13  in  oats  and 
8 in  forage  crops — the  latter  to  be  ensilaged  for  the  puri)ose  of 
testing  i)ractically  the  value  of  silos  in  Louisiana — 27  experi- 
ments in  Irish  potatoes  have  just  been  gathered.  The  pro- 
tracted drouth,  now  happily  broken,  has  seriously  interferred 
with  the  complete  development  of  the  grasses,  etc. 


TABLE 

Sliowing  Area  Planted,  Condition  of  Gi^nying  Crops,  Live  Stock,  &c.,  May  1st,  1887. 


•JIOO^S  9-^11 


'loOAV  JO  dilO 

1 

:§  :|| 

100 

100 

100 

100 

illlPl 

O • 

1 

ORANGES. 

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O 

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[8] 


Extracts  From  Remarks  of  Parish  Correspondents. 

Acadia — Tliis  parish  is  siifiering  very  much  from  drouth, 
prev6utiug  late  corn  aud  cotton  from  coming  up,  and  retarding 
the  growth  of  such  crops  as  are  upj  gardens  very  backward. 

Ascension — Season  has  been  very  favorable  j no  disease 
among  stock. 

Assumption — The  season  for  the  cultivation  of  corn  and 
cane  has  been  remarkably  good  ; fields  are  clean  and  plants  look 
well;  the  parish  is  well  supplied  with  labor,  and  the  Sunday  law 
acts  like  a charm  here.  Vie  had  a fine  rain  on  the  23d  inst. 

Avoyelles — disease  has  afiected  stock  this  year;  on  the 
contrary  they  are  unusually  healthy  and  in  good  condition  ; the 
winter  was  the  mildest  I have  ever  seen  ; the  recent  cold  spell 
has  retarded  the  planting  of  cotton,  otherwise  the  season  has 
been  very  favorable  for  planting. 

East  Baton  Rouge — April  has  been  favorable  for  working, 
but  very  unfavorable  for  growth  ; dry  weather  throughout  with 
very  cool  nights  and  even  cool  days  ; everything  considered  the 
prospect  is  encouraging,  and  so  far  as  the  cane  crop  is  concern- 
ed, much  more  promising  than  last  year. 

Bienville — Dry  weather  accompanied  with  winds  have  been 
unfavorable,  efiecting  the  stand  of  cotton  and  corn,  and  jire- 
venting  the  corn  growing  as  rapidly  as  it  should  ; how^ever,  it 
is  looking  well ; the  oat  crop  did  badly  owing  to  the  drouth  ; 
there  will  be  about  crox)  of  fruit ; stock  healthy  and  in  fine  con- 
dition. . 

Bossier — January  and  February  very  pleasant;  season 
throughout  rather  dry ; considerable  trouble  to  secure  a good 
stand  of  corn  or  cotton  ; April  also  dry  oats  a failure,  that  is 
late  planting ; stock  doing  well  however ; grass  is  failing  for 
want  of  rain ; fruit  injured  by  last  frost ; insects  very  numerous, 
]nore  so  than  usual. 

Caddo — Crops  suifered  from  drouth,  resulting  in  very  x>oor 
stand  of  cotton  and  corn,  too  dry  for  it  to  come  uxi  and  oats  are 
a comxfiete  failure. 

Calcasieu — The  X300r  condition  of  the  crops  are  due  to  the 
continued  drouth ; however,  it  was  broken  by  a fine  rain  the 
night  of  Axnfil  22d ; stock  on  the  range  are  doing  as  well  as 
could  be  expected,  and  in  fine  condition. 

Caldwell — Very  little  cotton  planted  ; the  weather  has  been 
so  exceedingly  dry  that  there  would  be  but  little  chance  of  get- 
ting a stand  if  it  w^as  planted ; stock  have  sufiered  considerable 
for  want  of  water.  Considerable  fresh  land  is  being  cultivated 
and  a greater  disposition  to  fertilize  the  old. 

East  Carroll — The  seasons  have  been  unusually  good ; the 
laud  better  prepared  than  for  years  ; cotton  about  all  planted, 
but  not  UX3  to  a stand  yet ; the  black  birds  have  done  more  in- 
jury to  corn  than  ever  known  before ; the  stand  would  have 
been  good  had  they  not  dug  it  nx3  as  fast  as  it  api^eared,  necessi- 


[9] 

tating  iu  many  cases  the  plowing  np  and  planting  over;  slight 
i:aiu  on  April  17. 

West  Carroll — Seasons  have  been  very  favorable  with  the 
exception  of  being  a little  too  cold  for  cotton;  we  have  had 
(piite  a dry  spring  but  sufficient  rain  fall  to  bring  up  cotton  aad 
keep  vegetation  growing  slowly  ; crops  clean  and  promise  well ; 
no  disease  with  stock  ; rain  on  the  night  of  the  17th  of  April. 

Catahoula — April  has  been  very  dry,  and  a great  many  had 
to  plant  their  corn  over  on  account  of  the  birds  pulling  it  up  ; 
they  have  been  more  bother  this  spring  than  ever  before ; corn 
and  cotton  about  two  weeks  ahead  of  188(3 ; water  here  was  two 
inches  higher  than  last  year,  but  has  already  gone  otf,  and 
planting  can  be  done  at  once  on  the  low  lands;  last  year  the 
water  came  on  in  May.  The  gnats  have  been  very  bad,  but  they 
remained  only  about  live  or  six  days,  the  large  ones  ; every  one 
stopped  working  their  stock  and  l^ept  up  large  smokes  around 
which  the  animals  stood  the  entire  day ; quite  a number  of 
horses  and  mules  were  killed  by  them  ; otherwise  stock  iu  good 
condition. 

Claiborne — We  have  liad  a remarkably  dry  winter  and 
spring  but  not  very  cold  ; consequently  our  lands  are  better  pre- 
])ared  than  usual;  cotton  has  been  somewhat  retarded  by  drouth 
and  the  planters  were  becoming  uneas^q  but  the  raiu  in  the  last 
live  days  has  dispelled  all  gloom,  and  they  ;ire  now  bitoyant ; 
some  little  disease  among  stock  but  nothing  very  serious. 

Concordia — Too  much  dry  weather ; fine  rain  on  the  21st 
inst.,  the  first  for  five  weeks ; the  ground  is  well  pulverized  and 
some  cotton  up  ; all  planted  and  the  prospecds  for  a good  stand 
was  never  better ; we  have  escaped  damage  from  water,  and  the 
farmer  seems  cheerful;  so  much  for  good  levees. 

DeSoto — The  drouth  unprecedented  for  the  season  of  March 
and  April ; not  half  the  cotton  planted  has  germinated  and  a 
great  deal  yet  to  plant ; it  is  very  doubtful  if  that  planted  three 
weeks  since  will  comeup  even  with  rain  during  the  coming  week ; 
if  not  that  will  necessitate  the  replanting  of  over  half  the  crop 
at  this  late  date  ; about  two-thirds  stand  of  corn,  which  is  look- 
ing well ; where  it  has  been  worked  ; almost  an  entire  failure  of 
the  oat  crop  ; stock  an  unusually  good  condition  for  this  season; 
coal  and  iron  companies  organized  capital  stock,  $250,000. 

East  Feliciana — The  season  has  been  rather  dry,  but  the 
laud  broke  better  than  usual,  and  as  there  has  been  no  time  lost 
from  bad  weather,  farmers  are  better  up  with  their  work ; corn 
small  but  looki#g  weil  and  growing  very  fast ; good  rain  on  the 
20th ; oats  also  a failure ; we  have  had  no  sickness,  people, 
stock  and  poultry  have  been  remarkably  healthy. 

West  Feliciana — The  planting  season  has  been  dry,  and 
with  cold  northerly  winds  vegetation  has  been  slow;  the  sea- 
son has  been  favorable  for  putting  land  in  fine  condition,  but 
too  dry  iu  the  hill  lands  for  quick  germination  or  growth ; hence 
poor  stands  of  corn  and  crop  small ; three-quarters  of  the  cotton 


[10] 


crop  planted,  and  land  for  the  entire  crop  broken  ; dry  weather 
prevented  some  from  planting ; oats  headed  up  with  at  least  25 
per  cent  less  results  than  last  year. 

Franklin — The  spring  so  far  has  been  dry  and  too  cool  for 
corn  and  cotton  ; planters  well  up  with  planting  ; oats  not  do- 
ing well,  has  been  too  dry ; however,  the  general  outlook  is 
more  favorable  than  last  year. 

Iberia — We  need  rain,  but  as  yet  nothing  suffering  5 condi- 
tion of  fields  never  better  ; cane  doing  remarkably  well. 

Iberville — Cane  had  a fine  start  in  February  but  a cold 
March  and  April  delayed  the  growth  ; the  drouth  now  existing 
is  causing  some  alarm,  but  so  far  has  done  no  harm  ; land  is  in 
better  order  than  it  has  been  for  years,  and  crops  more  prom- 
ising. 

Jackson — The  unusual  dry  cold  weather  has  retarded  the 
piantiug  and  growth  of  the  crops  ; light  rain  on  the  17th  inst. 

Jefferson — The  weather  from  January  1st  to  March  10th 
Avas  A^ery  ffiAmrable  to  all  groAving  crops  ; since  tliat  time,  cool 
nights,  high  winds  and  a protracted  drouth  liaA^e  conspired  to 
retard  groAAffh  of  all  kinds ; oats  have  succumbed  to  scA^ere 
drouth  taking  the  rust  and  prematurely  ripening  Avith  low  pros- 
pects 5 stand  of  cane  and  corn  are  A^ery  fine  ; rice  and  sorghum 
just  planted  ; potatoes  and  onions  largely  cultivated  ; the  former 
haA^e  S'Uffered  from  blight  doubtless  superinduced  by  improper 
cultiAaition,  want  of  fertilization  and  long  drouth. 

Lafourche — The  groAvth  of  corn  and  cane  has  been  some- 
Avhat  retarded  by  the  dry  AA^eather,  but  the  drouth  Avas  broken 
on  the  night  of  the  22d  inst.,  by  a fine  rain  that  has  thoroughly 
saturated  the  soil ; on  many  iffantations  peas  liaA^e  been  soavu 
and  corn  laid  by,  and  noAv  that  we  haAm  had  rain,  the  corn  will 
be  rapidly  disposed  of;  the  cane  has  been  better  cultiAmted 
than  it  has  for  years,  and  at  less  expense  ; so  far  i)otato  crop 
seriously  affected  ; no  disease  has  affected  stock. 

Lincoln — Dry  Aveather  has  seriousl^^  affected  corn  and  cot- 
ton, being  too  dry  for  seed  to  germinate,  therefore  A’-ery  bad 
stands  ; oats  did  very  badly ; sugar  cane  only  i)lanted  in  small 
patches,  conditiou  fine. 

Livingston — Condition  of  crops  not  as  good  as  had  been  an- 
ticipated ; the  season  has  been  good  for  working  etc.,  but  too 
dry;  result,  bad  stand  and  slow  groAvth  ; the  cloudy  weather 
however  has  been  of  considerable  benefit,  causing  the  seed  to 
come  up  A-ery  fast  for  the  last  feAv  days. 

Madison — This  has  been  an  unusually  spring ; the 
ground  has  been  better  prepared  than  for  years;  A^ery  little 
cotton  up,  and  unless  avc  haA^e  rain  soon  the  general  stand  will 
be  seriously  injured ; corn  is  small  but  good  color  and  AA^ell 
worked ; stock  doing  well  and  in  fine  condition  ; some  trouble 
Avith  gnats. 

Morehouse — The  spring  opened  A^ery  early  and  unusually 
dry;  we  had  a fine  rain  on  the  17th  inst.,  and  all  crops  are  in 


[11] 


fine  condition  ; farmers  ^yeli  up  with  their  work  ; stock  in  bet- 
ter condition  than  last  year  ; however  quite  a number  have  died 
from  the  effects  of  the  gnats,  causing  the  animals  to  act  as  if  they 
Lad  the  colic  ; the  remedy  which  has  been  used  successfully 
is  1 pint  of  whiskey  and  two  tablespoonfuls  of  Bi-carb.  soda  at  a 
dose  and  repeated  every  hour  until  the  animal  is  intoxicated  ; 
it  has  relieved  all  cases  taken  in  time,  but  when  they  could  not 
be  intoxicated  no  good  result  5 nothing  will  do  any  good  unless 
taken  in  time. 

Natchitoches — The  bright  prospects  promised  by  the  open- 
ing of  an  early  spring  has  been  cut  short  by  a drouth  of  over 
five  weeks  duration ; the  rains  of  the  17th  and  22d  inst.,  may 
bring  up  the  i>lant  in  some  sections,  but  have  not  been  heavy 
enough  in  most  parts  of  the  ])arish  to  insure  a good  stand,  be- 
sides the  dry  north  winds  and  cool  nights  will  not  Iielp  the  case  ; 
prospects  look  blue  for  corn  and  will  for  all  crops  if  we  do  not 
Lave  rain  soon  5 the  corn  as  a general  thing  is  small,  the  stand 
not  very  good,  has  sutfered  in  the  low  lands  from  the  wire  worm  ; 
stock  in  good  condition. 

Ouachita — Too  dry  for  crops,  cannot  get  a stand  5 fine  season 
for  work  5 not  enough  rain  to  l)ring  the  seed  iij)  and  nights  too 
cool;  there  has  been  an  increase  in  iertilizers  this  year,  both 
commercial  and  home  made,  principally  cotton  seed  and  cotton 
seed  meal  used ; the  gnats  have  played  havoc  Avith  stock ; smiles, 
horses  and  cattle  have  died  in  great  numbers ; they  are  Avorse 
than  any  year  since,  and  equal  to  1881. 

Pointe  Couijee — The  season  has  been  too  dry  and  has  re- 
tarded the  crops  considerably;  since  tlie  rain  of  the  23d  they  haAm 
materially  improA^ed ; stock  in  fine  condition  and  no  serious 
disease  has  affected  them. 

Kapides — The  fuAmrable  ])rospects  of  the  early  spring  has 
been  somewhat  blasted  hy  six  Aveeks  drouth,  preventing  the 
germination  of  seed,  thereby  rendering  an  imperfect  stand  of 
cotton  and  late  corn  ; farm  Avork  Avell  up  ; cane  and  early  corn 
doing  well ; liOAveAmr  the  cool  nights  prevent  as  rapid  a groAvth 
as  desired ; condition  of  stock  good. 

Ked  EiA^er — A continued  drouth  has  prevented  farmers  from 
ploAving  and  planting ; hence  the  small  per  cent  of  acreage  and 
condition  of  crops  reported  ; poor  stand  of  corn  throughout  the 
piarish. 

Bichland — Soil  in  fine  condition  ; season  too  dry  and  cool 
for  cotton ; corn  not  as  good  as  desired. 

Sabine — The  spring  so  far  has  been  too  cold  and  dry ; crop 
prospects  not  as  good  as  should  be  ; no  disease  among  stock. 

St.  Bernard — Irish  i^otatoes  liaA^e  been  attacked  by  a dis- 
ease supposed  to  haA'O  been  caused  by  an  insect,  damaging  the 
crop  about  25  per  cent  or  more  ; Ave  had  rain  on  the  15th  and 
17th  inst.,  which  was  much  needed. 

St.  Charles — Season  favorable  for  planting  cane  and  a fine 


[121 


staud  but  growth  retarded  by  cool  nights  and  drouth  ; rain  on 
the  22d,  first  for  five  weeks  ; stock  in  good  fix. 

St.  Heleua — The  season  throughout  may  be  considered  fa- 
vorable ; however,  the  cool  nights  and  drouth  caused  an  infe- 
rior stand  of  cotton  and  corn,  the  former  died  out  in  many  in- 
stances after  it  came  up,  necessitating  replanting  5 the  ground 
was  so  dry  and  hard  some  had  to  stop  their  plows  5 corn  small 
but  generally  good ; pastures  are  not  as  good  as  usual ; there- 
fore stock  not  looking  as  well  as  they  should,  but  no  disease 
w'ith  cattle  or  hogs. 

St.  Landry — The  season  has  been  favorable  through  the 
winter  and  up  to  the  present  for  iireparing  the  soil  and  farm 
work,  but  the  drouth,  north  w'inds  and  cool  nights  has  retarded 
the  growth  5 corn  small  but  healthy  ; stock  looking  well  owing 
to  the  mild  winter. 

St.  Martin — Appearance  of  crops  generally  good ; will  need 
rain  before  two  weeks  ; no  damage  as  yet  caused  from  drouth  5 
cotton,  corn,  rice  and  potatoe  crops  much  larger  than  last 
year. 

St.  Mary — The  cane  crop  is  someAvhat  increased,  condition 
remarkable  ; season  very  favorable  } corn  also  good  j rice  crop 
just  planted  ; no  increase  in  acreage. 

St.  Tammanj’ — Xo  rain  for  some  time ; very  little  cotton 
l)lanted ; some  are  covering  with  plows,  others  waiting  for  rain. 

Tensas — The  drouth  at  this  date,  April  18th,  unbroken  and 
very  little  cotton  up  j corn  looks  bad ; cotton  seed  in  the  ground 
over  two  w^eeks  and  no  signs  of  sprouting ; gnats  are  very  bad 
on  stock. 

Terrebonne — The  seed  cane  kept  remarkably  well,  and 
planted  under  favorable  circumstances,  now  presents  a batter- 
ing prospect ; the  stubble  both  first  and  second  year  are  very 
fine  ; fine  rain  on  the  22dinst.  at  night  thus  terminating  a drouth 
of  several  w^eeks  duration  ; planters  are  well  advanced  with  their 
work  and  have  their  crops  in  a condition  to  withstand  anj'  ex- 
cess of  rain  which  may  succeed  the  unusually  dry  spring  we  are 
having,  and  with  an  average  good  season  we  can  safely  calcu- 
late on  a much  larger  crop  of  sugar  than  last  year. 

Union — Poor  stands  of  cotton  and  corn  owing  to  cool  and 
dry  weather ; very  little  cotton  up  and  not  more  than  half 
planted  5 corn  very  small  and  damaged  by  cut  worm  and  birds  ; 
larmers  are  well  up  with  their  work  as  there  has  not  been  a day 
since  the  15th  of  February,  to  prevent  farm  work ; yet  it  has 
been  too  dry  to  break  ground  Avell  unless  it  was  done  early  in 
the  spring  5 oats  will  be  almost  a failure  unless  we  have  rain 
soon. 

Yermilion — Have  had  but  one  heavy  rain  since  January 
20th,  and  that  was  on  March  9th,  and  not  a sprinkle  siuce  : Very 
heavy  deAvs  and  fogs  have  kept  land,  Avhere  in  good  order,  moistj 
caue,  both  stubble  and  plant  much  better  staud  than  ever 
known ; is  about  three  weeks  earlier  than  an  ordinary  season 


[13] 


autl  about  five  weeks  earlier  tliau  last  year ; cotton  planting  has 
been  very  much  retarded  by  the  drouth,  which  lasted  about  five 
weeks  ending  on  the  22d  with  a fine  rain,  since  which  the 
bulk  of  the  crop  has  been  planted. 

Washington — There  has  been  a drouth  which  retarded  the 
crops  very  much,  oats  especially  5 had  a fine  rain  on  .the  23d 
inst;  stock  in  good  condition. 

Webster — The  cause  of  decrease  in  condition  is  owing  to 
the  protracted  drouth  5 in  many  localities  cotton  will  not  come 
uj)  • the  stand  of  corn  is  not  good ; oats  cut  short  from  the 
drouth  and  will  be  very  short , Irish  potatoes  also  considerably 
damaged  by  the  potato  bug. 

Winn — The  area  of  cotton  about  the  same  as  last  year  but 
owing  to  the  absence  of  rain  last  month  the  seed  have  not  yet 
germinated,  and  now  that  the  weather  is  too  cool  to  hasten  ger- 
mination since  the  moisture  has  been  supplied  by  rain,  a bad 
stand  will  result,  and  I think  will  necessitate  a general  replant- 
ing f the  stand  of  the  early  corn  is  perfect  and  the  i)lant  healthy  ; 
however,  the  stand  of  the  late  planting  is  bad  ; no  disease  among 
stock,  and  condition  good;  there  has  been  a rice  mill  established 
among  us,  and  will  probably  increase  the  crop  in  the  future. 


[U] 


EECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 
FOR  JANUARY  -1887. 


* January.  Date. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Compar- 
ison of 

Total  Rainfall. 

state 

of 

Weath’r 

REMARKS. 

9 A.  M. 

» 

§ 

Ch* 

CO 

O 

3 

3 

■>4 

a 

Minimum. 

Wet  Bulb. 

Dry  Bulb. 

1 

34° 

40° 

35° 

40° 

33° 

33° 

34° 

.00 

Clear 

2 

36 

45 

35 

45 

34 

34 

36 

.00 

Clear  & Cool. 

3 

25 

32 

30 

32 

22 

24 

25 

.00 

Clear  

4 

32 

50 

47 

50 

23 

31 

32 

.00 

Cloudy 

5 

39 

54 

40 

55 

34 

38 

39 

.75 

Cloudy 

6 

39 

43 

40 

45 

39 

38 

39 

.03 

Cloudy 

7 

39 

43 

40 

45 

38 

39 

39 

.80 

Fair 

8 

49 

48 

43 

50 

40 

48 

49 

.00 

Fair 

9 

49 

58 

49 

60 

45 

48 

49 

.00 

Fair, 

10 

31 

45 

40 

48 

28 

29 

31 

.10 

Clear  

11 

34 

47 

48 

50 

27 

32 

34 

.20 

Fair 

12 

50 

59 

55 

64 

45 

48 

50 

.00 

Fair 

13 

65 

70 

59 

73 

52 

65 

65 

.00 

Fair 

14 

55 

65 

60 

69 

39 

50 

55 

.00 

Fair 

15 

49 

63 

50 

65 

37 

47 

49 

.00 

Fair ! . . 

16 

60 

68 

63 

69 

45 

47 

60 

.00 

Fair 

17 

48 

65 

63 

65 

40 

45 

48 

.00 

Clear 

18 

41 

54 

53 

55 

30 

37 

41 

.00 

Clear 

19 

49 

68 

60 

70 

45 

45 

49 

.00 

Clear  

20 

54 

76 

54 

77 

48 

53 

54 

.00 

Cloudy 

21 

55 

77 

54 

77 

51 

54 

55 

.00 

Cloudv 

22 

66 

74 

70 

74 

51 

66 

66 

.29 

Cloudy 

23 

65 

79 

63 

79 

62 

65 

65 

1.00 

Cloudy 

24 

70 

76 

70 

79 

61 

70 

70 

.02 

Fair 

25 

70 

79 

69 

79 

62 

68 

70 

.00 

Fair 

26 

70 

78 

68 

78 

63 

70 

70 

.12 

Fair 

27 

70 

80 

75 

82 

61 

68 

70 

.00 

Fair 

28 

71 

79 

75 

80 

62 

68 

71 

.00 

Fair 

29 

69 

75 

73 

79 

63 

65 

69 

.00 

Fair 

30 

68 

77 

74 

78 

60 

65 

68 

.00 

Clear  

31 

69 

78 

73 

79 

62 

65 

69 

.00 

Clear 

Highest  temperature  diiriug  mouth  82° 
Lowest  temperature  during  mouth  22° 
Total  rainfall  for  month  3.31  inches. 
Average  daily  rainfall  .16. 


6 

c3 

O 

rO 

Pm 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 


RECORD  OF  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 


FOR  FEBRUARY,  1887. 


TEMPERATURE. 

Compar- 
ison of 

Tot  al  Daily  Rain- 

fall, in  inches. 

state 

of 

WeatlPr 

REMARKS. 

9 A.  M. 

3 P.  M. 

o 

Maximum 

Minimum. 

Wet  Bulb. 

Dry  Bulb. 

64° 

78° 

70° 

79° 

61° 

62° 

64° 

.00 

Clear ... 

67 

80 

72 

80 

63 

64 

67 

.00 

Clear .. . 

64 

80 

70* 

80 

61 

61 

64 

.00 

Clear  . . 

65 

70 

68 

71 

61 

64 

65 

.00 

Cloudy. 

58 

55 

57 

69 

55 

57 

58 

.00 

Clear  . . 

59 

69 

60 

70 

56 

57 

59 

.00 

Clear  . . 

61 

68 

65 

72 

60 

56 

61 

.00 

Cloar  . . 

63 

69 

67 

74 

61 

60 

63 

.00 

Clear  . . 

71 

74 

70 

76 

65 

70 

71 

.00 

Clear  . . 

72 

76 

73 

78 

69 

68 

72 

.00 

Clear  . . 

71 

75 

71 

77 

68 

69 

71 

.00 

Clear  . . 

66 

75 

72 

76 

67 

67 

69 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

67 

73 

70 

75 

64 

65 

67 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

68 

70 

68 

72 

63 

. 67 

68 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

65 

69 

65 

70 

62 

64 

65 

.00 

Clear  . . 

65 

68 

60 

70 

60 

65 

65 

.00 

Cloudy. 

63 

70 

69 

72 

61 

63 

63 

.27 

Rainy. . 

64 

68 

65 

70 

60 

64 

64 

.23 

Rainy. . 

64 

65 

60 

70 

61 

64 

64 

.10 

Cloudy. 

65 

65 

60 

70 

62 

65 

65 

.75 

Rainy. . 

67 

69 

60 

72 

63 

67 

67 

2.63 

Rainy. . 

70 

76 

73 

74 

63 

69 

70 

1.25 

Cloudy. 

62 

69 

68 

64 

59 

61 

62 

.00 

Cloudy. 

61 

65 

64 

60 

55 

60 

61 

.00 

Clear  . . 

57 

60 

59 

55 

4(‘. 

55 

57 

.00 

Clear  . . 

56 

59 

61 

60 

50 

54 

56 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

43 

55 

53 

50 

35 

42 

43 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

41 

50 

48 

44 

30 

38 

41 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

Highest  temtieratuie  aurmg  month  80*^ 
Lowest  temperature  during  month  30° 
Total  rainfall  during  month  5.23. 
Average  daily  rainfall  .19  of  an  inch. 


[16] 


KECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

March  1887. 


Date. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Gonipar- 
ison  of 

Total  Daily  Rain- 
fall, in  inches. 

state 

of 

Weath’r 

REMARKS. 

March. 

9 A.  M. 

CO 

9 P.  M. 

Maximum 

Miuimum. 

Wet  Bulb.i 

1 

« 

p 

1 

59° 

65° 

58° 

68^' 

40° 

540 

590 

.00 

Clear  . . 

2 

60 

65 

59 

70 

45 

58 

60 

.00 

Clear  .. 

3 

65 

70 

70 

73 

60 

62 

65 

.00 

Clear  . . 

4 

68 

78 

75 

79 

61 

65 

68 

.00 

Clear  . . 

5 

63 

72 

60 

76 

58 

60 

63 

.00 

Clear  . . 

6 

68 

79 

65 

81 

63 

65 

68 

.00 

Clear  .. 

7 

68 

75 

70 

77 

55 

68 

68 

.45 

Cloudy. 

8 

69 

78 

70 

80 

59 

69 

69 

1.00 

Rainy  . . 

9 

65 

75 

70 

78 

54 

65 

65 

.14 

C loudy . 

10 

68 

67 

65 

75 

58 

68 

68 

.00 

Clear  . . 

11 

58 

55 

53 

76 

55 

58 

58 

.00 

Clear  . . 

12 

59 

57 

54 

80 

56 

59 

59 

.00 

Clear  . . 

13 

56 

54 

51 

78 

55 

56 

56 

.00 

Clear  . . 

14 

51 

50 

48 

65 

50 

51 

51 

.00 

Clear  . . 

15 

48 

45 

43 

67 

45 

48 

48 

.00 

Clear  . . 

16 

55 

52 

48 

80 

54 

55 

55 

.21 

Clear  . . 

17 

51 

64 

54 

65 

44 

51 

51 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

18 

54 

63 

48 

66 

48 

54 

54 

.00 

Fair  ... 

19 

54 

59 

54 

60 

54 

54 

54 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

20 

54 

59 

48 

60 

53 

54 

54 

1.47 

Fair  . . . 

21 

54 

58 

50 

.'9 

52 

54 

54 

.00 

Rainy. . 

22 

52 

64 

50 

65 

50 

52 

52 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

23 

46 

63 

51 

64 

44 

44 

46 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

24 

49 

63 

57 

65 

55 

57 

59 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

25 

55 

59 

56 

60 

53 

53 

55 

.00 

Fair.  .. 

26 

45 

57 

55 

58 

43 

42 

45 

.00 

Clear  . . 

27 

51 

56 

57 

59 

50 

50 

51 

.00 

Clear  . . 

28 

45 

48 

46 

50 

43 

44 

45 

.00 

Clear  . . 

29 

49 

63 

47 

65 

48 

47 

49 

.00 

Clear  .. 

30 

47 

58 

43 

60 

52 

46 

47 

.00 

Clear  .. 

31 

55 

65 

60 

79 

63 

53 

55 

.00 

Clear  . . 

Highest  temperature  cluriug  month  81'^. 
Lowest  temperature  during  month  40^. 
Total  rainfall  during  month  3.27. 
Average  clail^"  rainfall  .15 


117] 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

APRIL  1887. 


Date. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Compar- 
ison of 

1 

State 

April. 

9 A.  M. 

3 P.  M. 

9 P.  M. 

Maximum 

g 

’S 

% 

Wet  Bulb. 

Dry  Bulb. 

Q 

of 

Weath’r 

REMARKS. 

1 

65° 

700 

64° 

78° 

48° 

63° 

65° 

.00 

Clear. . . 

2 

63 

69 

60 

70 

43 

60 

63 

.00 

Clear. . . 

3 

66 

72 

65 

74 

46 

64 

66 

.00 

Clear. . . 

4 

69 

77 

70 

79 

53 

68 

69 

.00 

Fair 

5 

65 

68 

60 

69 

55 

60 

65 

.00 

Clear. . . 

6 

59 

74 

65 

76 

47 

57 

59 

.00 

Clear. . . 

7 

70 

80 

69 

81 

52 

69 

70 

.00 

Fair 

8 

68 

73 

63 

75 

60 

65 

68 

.00 

Fair 

9 

70 

74 

60 

74 

58 

67 

70 

.00 

Clear. . . 

10 

60 

70 

65 

72 

50 

58 

60 

.00 

Clear. . . 

11 

65 

73 

65 

75 

55 

62 

65 

.00 

Clear. . . 

12 

70 

78 

74 

80 

58 

68 

70 

.00 

Fair. . . . 

13 

70 

80 

69 

82 

59 

66 

70 

.00 

Fair 

14 

70 

73 

68 

82 

58 

70 

70 

.00 

Cloudy. 

15 

76 

79 

69 

84 

60 

75 

76 

.00, 

Cloudy. 

16 

75 

76 

71 

84 

61 

74 

75 

.00 

Cloudy. 

17 

75 

80 

72 

83 

60 

74 

75 

.00 

Clear. . . 

13 

75 

80 

73 

84 

61 

72 

75 

.00 

Cloudy. 

19 

76 

79 

70 

84 

63 

73 

76 

.00 

Cloudy. 

20 

74 

80 

71 

84 

60 

71 

74 

.00 

Cloudy. 

21 

71 

78 

72 

82 

58 

68 

71 

.00 

Fair 

22 

70 

79 

73 

81 

57 

69 

70 

.00 

Fair. . . . 

23 

69 

74 

70 

80 

61 

68 

69 

1.85 

Rain  . . . 

24 

65 

74 

69 

78 

59 

64 

65 

.00 

Fair 

25 

65 

79 

70 

80 

57 

63 

65 

.36 

Cloudy. 

26 

64 

80 

75 

83 

59 

63 

64 

.00 

Clear, . . 

27 

69 

82 

73 

84 

66 

67 

69 

.00 

Clear. . . 

28 

68 

79 

71 

82 

64 

65 

68 

.00 

Fair 

29 

75 

84 

79 

85 

70 

74 

75 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

30 

78 

87 

80 

89 

70 

77 

78 

.00 

.00 

2.21 

Cloudy. 

Cloudy. 

Highest  temperature  during  month 
Lowest  temperature  during  month  57'”'. 
Total  rainfall  during  month  2.21. 
Average  daily  rainfall  .073. 


LOUISIANA  STATE  UNIVERSITY  & A.  & M.  COLLEGE,  t 
Baton  Rouge,  La.,  May  1,  1887.  > 

Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — I hand  you  herewith  analyses  of  fertilizers  made  up  to  date. 
I believe  they  cover  all  sold  in  the  Southern  part  of  the  State.  There  are  one 
or  two  brands  sold  in  North  Louisiana  which  have  not  been  analyzed, 
being  unable  to  obtain  as  yet  samples. 

Respectfully, 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  State  Chemist. 


LOUISIANA  FEKTILIZER  LAW. 

The  last  Legislature  passed  a fertilizer  law  whicli  went  into 
effect  September  1,  1886.  Since  a full  understanding  of  the 
provisions  and  penalties  of  this  law  is  important  to  all  buyers- 
and  sellers  of  commercial  fertilizers,  a copy  of  the  law  is  hereby 
. inserted. 

Sec.  2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  it  shall  be  the- 
drtty  of  any  manufacturer  or  dealer  in  commercial  fertilizers, 
before  the  same  are  offered  for  sale  in  this  State,  to  submit  to 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture  a written  or  printed  statement 
setting  forth  : First — the  name  and  brand  under  which  said  fer- 
tilizer is  to  be  sold,  the  number  of  pounds  contained  or  to  be 
contained  in  the  package  in  which  it  is  to  be  put  ui)on  the  mar- 
ket for  sale,  and  the  name  or  names  of  the  manufacturers,  and 
the  place  of  manufacture ; Second — A statement  setting  forth 
the  amount  of  the  named  ingredients*  which  they  are  willing  to 
guarantee  said  fertilizer  to  contain  : (1)  nitrogen,  (2)  soluble 
phosphoric  acid,  (3)  reverted  phosphoric  acid,  (4)  insoluble  phos- 
phoric acid,  (5)  potash.  Said  statement,  so  to  be  furnished, 
shall  be  considered  as  constituting  a guarantee  to  the  purchaser 
that  every  package  of  such  fertilizer  contains  not  less  than  the 
amount  of  each  ingredient  set  forth  in  the  statement.  This  shall, 
however,  not  preclude  the  party  making  the  statement  from 
setting  forth  any  other  ingredient  which  his  fertilizer  may  con- 
tain, which  additional  ingredient  shall  be  considered  as  em- 
braced in  the  guarantee  above  stated. 

Sec.  3.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  every  person  pro- 
posing to  deal  in  commercial  fertilizers  shall,  after  filing  the 
statement  above  provided  for,  with  the  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture, receive  from  the  said  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  a 
certificate  stating  that  he  has  complied  with  the  foregoing  sec- 
tion, which  certificate  shall  be  furnished  by  the  Commissioner 
without  any  charge  therefor. 


[19J 


That  the  said  certificate,  when  furnished,  shall  authorfze^ 
the  party  receiving  the  same  to  manufacture  for  sale,  in  this* 
State,  or  to  deal  in  this  State  in  commercial  fertilizers.  That, 
no  person  who  has  failed  to  file  the  statement  aforesaid  and. to 
receive  the  certificate  of  authority  aforesaid,  shall  be  authorized 
to  manufacture  for  sale  in  this  State  in  commercial  fertilizers^ 
And  any  person  so  manufacturing  for  sale,  in  this  State,  or  so 
dealing,  without  having  filed  the  aforesaid  statement,  and  re- 
ceived the  certificate  aforesaid,  shall  be  liable  for  each  violation 
to  a fine  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars,  which  fine  shall  be 
recoverable  before  any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  at  the 
suit  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  or  of  any  citizen,  and 
shall  be  disposed  of  as  hereafter  i)rovided. 

Sec.  4.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture  or  its  Commissioners,  at  the 
opening  of  each  season,  to  issue  and  distribute  circulars,  setting 
forth  the  brands  of  fertilizers  sold  in  this  State,  their  analy^s 
as  claimed  by  their  manufacturers  or  dealers,  and  .their  relative, 
and,  if  known,  their  commercial  value. 

Sec.  5.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  under  the  regulations  of 
the  said  Bureau,  to  cause  to  be  prepared  tags  of  suitable  mate- 
rial with  proper  fastenings  for  attaching  the  same  to  packages 
of  fertilizers,  and  to  have  printed  thereon  the  word  ‘^guaran- 
teed,*’ with  the  year  or  season  in  which  they  are  to  be  used  and 
a fac-simile  of  the  signature  of  said  Commissioner.  The  said 
tags  shall  be  furnished  by  said  Commissioner  to  any  dealer  in 
or  manufacturer  of  commercial  fertilizers,  who  shall  have  com- 
plied with  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  act,  upon  the  pay- 
ment by  said  dealer  or  manufacturer,  to  the  said.  Commissioner, 
of  fifty  cents  for  a sufficient  number  of  said  tags  to  tag  a ton  of 
such  commercial  fertilizer. 

Sec.  6.'  Beit  further  enacted,  ete.,  That  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  every  person,  befoie  offering  for  sale  any  commercial 
fertilizers  in  this  State,  to  attach  or  canse  to  be  attached,  to 
each  bag,  barrel  or  package  thereof,  one  of  the  tags  herein  be- 
fore described,  designating  the  quantity  of  the  fertilizer  in  the 
bag,  barrel  or  package  to  which  it  is  attached.  Any  person  wlie 
shall  sell  or  offer  for  sale,  any  package  of  commercial  fertilizer 
which  has  not  been  tagged  as  herein  provided,,  shall  be  deemed 
guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and  on  conviction  thereof,  shall  be 
fined  in  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  each  of- 
fense, and  the  said  person  shall  be,  besides,  liable  to  a penalty 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  each  omission,  which  pen- 
alty may  be  sued  for  either  by  the  Commissioner  of  AgTiculture 
or  by  any  other  person  for  the  uses  hereinafter  declared.  Any 
person  who  shall  counterfeit  or  use  a counterfeit  of  the  tag, 
prescribed  by  this  act,  knowing  the  same  to  be  counterfeited,  or 
who  shall  use  them  a second  timej  shall  be  guilty  of  a misde- 
meanor, and  on  conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined  in  a sum  not 


[20] 


^xceediDg  five  liunclrecl  dollars,  oue-lialf  of  which  fine  shall  be 
paid  to  the  informer,  which  fine  may  be  doubled  or  trebled  at 
each  second  or  third  conviction,  and  so  on  progressively,  for 
subsequent  convictions. 

Sec.  7.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  all  fertilizers  or 
chemicals  for  manufacturing  or  composting  the  same,  offered  for 
sale  or  distribution  in  this  State,  shall  have  printed  upon,  or  at- 
tached to  each  bag,  barrel  or  package,  in  such  a manner  as  the 
Commissioner  of  Agrieulture  may,  by  regulation,  establish,  the 
true  analysis  of  such  fertilizer  or  chemical  as  claimed  by  the’ 
manufacturer,  showing  the  per  cent  of  valuable  ingredients  such 
fertilizers  or  chemicals  contain. 

Sec.  8.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  Commisponer 
of  Agriculture  may  obtain,  or  cause  to  be  obtained,  at  his  dis- 
cretion, fair  samples  of  all  fertilizers  sold,  or  offered  for  sale  :n 
this  State,  from  manufacturers  or  dealers,  and  shall  have  them 
analyzed  by  the  official  chemist,  and  shall  publish  the  analysis 
for  the  information  of  the  public.  , , . 

Sec.  9.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  every  person  who  sells  a lot  or  jiackage  of  commercial  fertil- 
izer, upon  the  request  of  the  purchaser,  to  draw  from  same,  and 
in  the  presence  of  the  purchaser  or  his  agent,  a fair  and  cor- 
rect sample,  in  such  a manner  as  the  Commissioner  of  Agricul- 
ture may,  by  regulation,  establish. 

Sec.  10.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  copy  of  the 
official  chemist’s  analysis  of  auy  fertilizer  or  chemical,  certified 
to  by  him,  shall  be  admissible  as  evidence  in  any  court  of  tnis 
State,  on  the  trial  of  any  issue  involving  the  merits  of  said  fer- 
tilizer 

Sec.  11.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  Bureau  of 
Agriculture  shall  adopt  needful  rules  and  regulations  providing 
for  the  collection  of  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  tags,  or 
from  fines  imposed  under  this  act,  and  shall  require  the  same  to 
be  deposited  with  the  Treasurer  of  the  State,  and  only  to  be 
drawn  therefrom  upon  the  warrants  issued  by  the  Auditor  of 
the  State  upon  the  requisition  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agricul- 
ture, made  in  pursuance  of  such  rules  and  regulations  ; and  the 
said  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  no 
fees  for  collecting  or  disbursing  said  money,  except  his  salary  as 
provided  for  by  law  ; but  he  shall  be  allowed  a clerk  at  the  sab 
ary  to  be  fixed  by  the  said  bureau  and  be  payable  out  of  the 
fertilizer  funds,  and  all  sums  of  money  arising  from  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  shall  be  known  as  the  “Fertilizer  Fund,”  and 
shall  be  kept  by  the  Treasurer  separate  from  other  public  funds, 
and  shall  be  exclusively  used,  as  far  as  they  may  go,  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  developing  agriculture  by  making  practical  and 
scientific  experiments  in  relation  thereto. 

Sec.  12.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  for  the  purpose 
of  making  practical  and  scientific  tests  or  experiments,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  said  Commissioner,  subject  to  the  approval  ot 


GUARANTEED  ANALYSES  OF  COMMERCIAL  FERTILIZERS,  AS  RENDERED  TO  COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE  BY  DEALERS  AND  MANUFACTURERS  TO  WHOM 

LICENSES  HAVE  BEEN  ISSUED  FOR  SEASON  1886-87. 


Name  of  Fertilizer  or  Chemical. 


Stem’s  Ammoniated 

Stern's  Pure  Ground  Raw  Rone. 

Acid  Phosphate 

Kainite 

Aeid  Phosphate 

Soluble  Pacific  Guano 

Soluble  Pacific  Guano 


Studniczkas’  Standard  Sugar  Cane  Fert 
Studniczkas’  Standard  Sugar  Cane  Fert 

Gossypium  Phospho 

Scott'fe  Rest  Acid  Phosphate 

Scott’s  High  Grade  Acid  Phosphate 
Standard  Home  Mixture  Guauo  .. .. 

Bone  and  Potash 

Chalmette  Mills  Fertilizer 

Sugar  Fertilizer 

Cotton  Fertilizer 

Atlantic  Fertilizer 

Armour  Bone  Meal 

Standard  Cotton  and  Sugar  Guauo  . 

Armour  Hog  Tankage 

Arid  Phosphate 

Kainite 


BY  WHOM  REPO-RTED. 


Name. 


Stern’s  Fer.  & Ch  M’fg  Co 


Wm.  Garig  & Co 

W.  P.  Ricliardson 

Rep. « } lidden  & CnrtisBos 

Henry  Studniezka 

Henry  Studniezka 

Geo.  W.  Scott  M’fg  Co.. 


Meridian  Fert.  Factory.. 


W.  A.  Ober,  Agent 

Planters  Fert.  M’lg  Co.. 

Pelzer  Rodyers  & Co 

H.  Studniezka 

Haynes  Sc  h’odgers 

H.  Studniezka  Sole  Agt. 
Planters  Fertilizing  Co.. 


Address. 


14Union St.,  NewOrleaus 


Baton  Rouge 

1 33  Carondelet  St.  N.  0, 
41  North  Peters  St.,  N.  0 

Atlanta,  Georgia  . - 


Meridian,  Mississippi 

197  Gravier  St.,  N.  O. 

Ill  Magazine  St , N.  O. 


Charleston,  S.  C 

41  Forth  Peters  St.,  N.  O 
101  Poydras  St.,  N.  O. .. 
41  North  Peters  St.,  N.  0 
111  Magazine  St.,  N.  O. .. 


By  Whom  Manufactured. 


Stern’s  Pert.  & Chem.  M’fg  C.o 


Imported 

Imported 

Pacific  Guano  Co.,  Boston.... 
Wahl  Bros 


Geo.  W.  Scott  il’fg  Co 


Meri  iian  Fertilizing  Factory. 


G Ober  Sc  Sons  C > 

PI  liters  Fertilizing  M’fg  Co. 


Atlantic  Phosphate  Co  .. 

Ai'inour  & Co 

Fanneis  Fertilizing  Co.  . 

Armour  & Co. 

Iniiiorted 

Imported  


Where  Manufactured. 


New  Orleans. 


Imported 

England 

Charleston,  S C.  and  ? 
Woods  Hole.  Mass.,  3 
Chicago,  111 


Atlanta,  Georgia 


MeriiCan,  Mississippi 


Cor  Adams  &S  Peters  St  N.  O 
N ew  Orleans 


Charleston,  S.  C*  • 

Ctiicago,  111 

Syracuse,  New  York 

Chicago 

ngland 

Germany 


200 
200 
200 
200 
150 
200 
200 
100 
100 
200 
2'  0 
200 
200 
200 
125 
100 
1(0 
200 
100 
200 
100 
150 


2 to  3 
4|  to  4| 


2 15  to  2.55 
2.40  to  .3 
2|  to  3 
2^  to  3 
2.40  to  2.50 


2i  to  2i 


>2  to  3| 
3.5  to  4. 
3 

2.05 
4 to  5 
1 to  2 
8 t.>  9 


PH©SPHORIC  ACID. 


Soluble. 


6 to  8 


14  to  18 


15 

7 to  8.75 
6^  to  8 
9 to 
9 to 
€ to  Ci 
7^  to 
8 to  9 
7i  to  9 
8 to  10 
4 to  5 
7 5 to  9 
10 
6.50 


8 to  9 


Reverted 


3 to  4 


1 to  3 


3 to  3.75 
2i  to  4 
11 
11 

3.80  to  4 
4^  to  51 
5 to  0 
9 to  11 
10  to  13 
3i  to  41 


1.50 


15-16 


Insoluble 


20  to  25 


2 to  2.50 
2 to  3 
1 to  2 
1 to  2 
11  to  21 
11  to  21 
2 to  2i 
1 to  2 
1 to  2 
li  to  li 


Potash. 


3 to  3|$ 


30.  (X) 
35.00 


1.50 
25  to  28 
3 to  4 
12  to  15 

.2 


13  to  14 

i 12  to  14 

1 to  1.50 
3i  10  41 

j<  ot.  L’l-nde 
jsug  giade 

1 30.00 

21 

1^  to  21 

t’/i  0*3  1 

: 

2i  TO  3, 
2i  to  3i 
2 to  3i 
2 to  31 
0 

0 

22.50 

22.50 

28.00 

4 to  61 

12  to  14! 

26.  tH) 
18.00 
10.00 

I 


[21J 


said  Bureau,  to  enter  into  contracts  specifying  the  duration  and 
conditions  thereof  with  a competent  chemist  and  expert  in  ex- 
perimental agriculture,  to  perform  the  duties  of  official  chemist 
and  to  carry  on  and  to  conduct  the  experiment  station  estab- 
lished by  said  Bureau  at  Baton  Eouge ; and  with  the  Louisiana 
Scientific  Agricultural  Association,  having  an  experiment  sta- 
tion in  the  Parish  of  Jefferson,  and  in  making  such  contracts, 
the  said  Commissioner  shall  provide  that  experiments  be  made^ 
for  the  development  and  benefit  of  agriculture,  especially  in  re- 
lation to  the  standard  crops  of  the  State,  such  as  cotton,  sugar, 
rice,  corn,  the  cereals  and  grasses,  and  the  like. 

Sec.  13.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  as  compensation 
for  the  conduct  of  such  experiments  the  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  to  apply  the  net  result 
from  the  sale  of  tags,  and  from  fines  or  penalties  imposed  for 
violations  of  the  terms  of  this  act,  to  the  two  said  stations,  and, 
if  necessary,  parts  of  other  sums  that  may  be  appropriated  by 
law,  and  subject  to  the  control  of  himself  or  said  Bureau  ; pro- 
vided, That  said  contract  shall  not  give  more  than  one-haif  of 
the  of  the  result  of  the  sale  of  tags,  and  fines,  to  any  one  said 
stations ; and  provided  further.  That  the  said  stations  under- 
take to  perform  for  and  on  behalf  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture, under  such  regulations  as  may  be  agreed  on,  all  analy- 
ses required  under  this  act  free  of  any  charge  whatsoever. 

Sec.  14.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  Director  of 
the  State  Experiment  Station  shall  be  considered  as  the  official 
chemist  of  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture.  He  shall  also  attend  such 
chemical  and  agricultural  conventions  as  may  be  necessary  ; the 
traveling  expenses  incident  to  such  attendance  shall  be  charge- 
able and  collectable  from  the  revenues  derived  from  the  sale  of 
tags. 

Sec.  15.  Be  it  lurther  enacted,  etc..  That  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture  shall  keep  a correct  and  faithful  account  of 
all  tags  received  and  sold  by  him,  showing  the  number  sold,  to 
whom  sold,  and,  as  far  as  practicable,  for  what  fertilizers  they 
were  intended  to  be  used,  and  the  amount  of  money  collected 
therefor,  and  all  money  arising  from  fines,  under  this  act. 

Sec.  16.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  terms  “com- 
mercial fertilizers,”  or  “fertilizers,”  where  the  same  are  used 
in  this  act  shall  not  be  held  to  include  lime  or  land  plaster,  cot- 
ton seed  meal,  ashes  or  common  salt,  or  raw  bone,  not  specially 
treated. 

Only  cotton  seed  meal,  land  plaster,  salt  ashes,  lime  and 
bones,  not  specially  treated,  are  exempt  from  the  provisions  of 
this  law. 

The  following  manufacturers  and  dealers  having  complied 
with  the  law,  have  been  licensed  to  deal  in  commercial  fertili" 
zers  in  this  State. 


C22J 


EXPLANATION  OF  ANALYSES. 

Nitrogen,  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash,  are  the  three  ingre- 
'<dients  which  give  value  to  commercial  fertilizers,  and  are  the 
only  ones  determined  in  official  anal^^ses. 

Nitrogen  is  the  most  costly  as  well  as  the  most  valuable  fer- 
tilizing ingredient.  It  occurs  as  Organic  Nitrogen  in  animal 
.and  vegetable  matters — easily  decomposed  and  quickly  availa- 
ble in  blood  and  meat,  slowly  disintegrated  and  of  doubtful 
value  in  leather  or  peat  unless  specially  treated. 

All  Organic  Nitrogen  is  first  converted  into  Nitric  Acid  or 
Ammonia  in  the  soil  or  compost  heap,  before  it  can  be  used  by 
plants.  Nitric  Acid  and  Ammonia  are  furnished  in  commerce, 
the  one  in  the  forms  of  Nitrates  of  Soda  and  Potash,  the  other 
,-as  Sulphate  of  Ammonia. 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  refers  only  to  such  phosphates 
that  are  soluble  in  pure  water  and  is  made  by  treating  bones  ^ 
bone  ash,  bone  black,  or  mineral  phosphate  with  sulphuric  acid. 
It  is  the  chief  ingredieut  of  Acid  Phosphates,  Superphosphates 
or  Dissolved  Bones. 

By  Eeverted  Phosphoric  Acid,  reference  is  made  to  that 
farm  of  Acid,  which,  though  insoluble  in  water  is  freely  soluble 
.in  certain  salts,  particularly  Citrate  of  Ammonia. 

Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid  refers  to  that  form  that  is  solu- 
Lble  only  in  Acids. 

Potash  is  the  ingredient  usually  found  in  ashes,  and  should 
’be  soluble  in  water. 

VALUATION  OF  FERTILIZERS. 

The  commercial  value  of  a Fertilizer  is  regulated  by  the 
prices  demanded  in  commerce  for  the  different  forms  of  the  three 
ingredients,  Nitrogen  (Ammonia)  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash. 
'These  prices  fluctuate  according  to  the  demand  and  supply.  In 
the  North,  Nitrogen  is  assigned  a separate  valuation  for  each  of 
the  forms — that  in  Nitrates  and  Ammonia  Salts  receiving  the 
liighest  figure,  and  that  in  leather  and  peat,  the  lowest. 

In  Connecticut  or  Massachusetts,  a determination  of  the 
forms  in  which  this  ingredient  occurs  must  be  made  before  its 
■^commercial  value  can  be  calculated.  All  the  forms  of  Nitrogen 


[23] 


have  heretofore  been  considered  of  equal  money  value  in  the 
South  and  but  one  price  assigned.  This  of  course  precludes  the 
existence  of  Nitrogen  in  the  form  of  leather  dust,  or  powdered 
horn,  forms  regarded  as  unavailable  and  of  little  money  or  ag- 
ricultural value. 

The  soluble  and  reverted  forms  of  Phosphoric  Acid  have  to- 
gether been  styled  as  “available”  and  assigned  one  value.  The 
insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid  has  received  no  valuation.  All  forms 
of  Potash  soluble  in  water  have  been  regarded  as  of  equal  value. 

At  a convention  of  Southern  State  Chemists,  held  at  Ath- 
ens, Ga.,  in  1886,  the  following  tariff  of  prices  was  adopted  : 

Ammonia,  16  cents  per  pound. 

Nitrogen,  19J  cents  per  pound. 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid.  7 J cents  per  pound. 

Ee verted  Phosphoric  Acid,  7 J cents  per  pound. 

Potash,  (Soluble  in  water)  5 cents  per  pound. 

The  writer  though  not  present  at  the  convention,  deems  it 
best,  for  the  sake  of  harmony  in  State  valuations,  to  adopt  this 
tariff  for  the  present  year,  though  he  wishes  to  dissent  from 
the  opinion  that  reverted  Phosphoric  Acid  is  of  equal  v^lue  as 
the  soluble  form,  or  that  Nitrogen  is  of  same  money  value  in  all 
its  forms. 

The  above  are  commercial  values,  that  is  what  these  ingre- 
dients, properly  mixed  and  sacked  can  be  purchased  for  in  the 
markets  of  the  South.  The  above  tariff  when  appplied  to  fer- 
tilizers bought  in  New  Orleans,  will  be  found  to  give 
values  beyond  their  actual  selling  prices.  For  example,  good 
cotton  seed  meal  contains  7 per  cent.  Nitrogen,  3 i^er  cent. 
Phosphoric  Acid,  end  2 per  cent.  Potash,  neglecting  the  Phos- 
phoric Acid  and  Potash,  and  estimating  its  value  only  on  its 
content  of  Nitrogen,  there  will  be  obtained  for  one  ton  140  lbs 
of  Nitrogen'S)  19 J cents — $27.30.  It  is  well  known  that  this  Fer- 
tilizer could  be  bought  at  any  time  in  the  year  in  New  Orleans 
for  less  than  $20  per  ton. 

This  form  of  Nitrogen  comes  entirely  from  the  South,  while 
all  others  are  products  of  Northern  or  foreign  climes.  Home 
consumption  takes  only  a small  portion  of  the  output  of  our 
mills,  the  greater  part  finding  its  way  to  the  North  and  Europe. 


[24]' 


This  export  demand  regulates  the  price,  and  hence  we  have  the 
cheapest  form  of  Mtrogen  presented  to  us  in  our  own  home  pro- 
duct, viz. : Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

By  applying  the  above  to  a Fertilizer  of  known  composition 
and  comparing  the  result  with  the  actual  selling  price,  the  con- 
sumer can  easily  tell  whether  he  is  getting  value  received. 

HOW  TO  COMPUTE  THE  VALUE  OF  A FERTILIZER. 

A fertilizer  is  purchased  whose  guaranteed  analysis  re- 
corded on  the  sack  is  as  follows : 

Kitrogen,  3 per  cent. 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid,  6 per  cent. 

Ee verted  Phosphoric  Acid,  4 per  cent. 

Pota‘sh,  2 ]3er  cent. 

What  is  its  commercial  value  ? 

IN  ONE  TON  WE  HAVE 

3 per  cent  Nitrogen CO  lbs  © 19J 

G per  cent  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid..  120  lbs  ^ 7^ 

4 per  cent  Eeverted  Phos.  Acid 80  lbs  <a) 

2 per  cent  Potash 40  lbs  ® 5 


Commercial  value  per  ton $28.70 

Fy  comparing  the  above  with  the  amount  paid,  the  con- 
sumer ean  easily  calculate  whether  he  has  paid  too  much. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  FERTILIZERS. 

The  following  have  been  analyzed  at  the  Station  since  its  inauguration  : 


Acid  Phosphates 21 

Ammoniated  Superjihospliaies  and  Guanos 37 

Special  Manures & 

Cotton  Seed  Meal 9 

Kainite 4 

Tankage  5 

South  Carolina  Floats 1 

Bone  Black 1 

Ground  Bone 1 

Phosphate  Meal . 1 

Cotton  Hull  Ashes ’. . . . 1 

Nitrate  of  Soda 1 

Rice  Hull  Ashes 1 

Tobacco  Stems 2 

Rotten  Bagasse 1 

Rice  Bran  as  Fertilizer 1 

Rice  Bran  as  Mule  Feed 2. 

Rice  Polish  as  Mule  Feeed 2 

Bat  Manure ' 1 

Total  Analyses 98 


cts 

$11.70 

cts 

9.00 

cts 

6.00 

cts 

2.00 

[25] 


Besides  above  16  analyses  have  beeeu  made  for  private 
parties  and  are  not  published  herein. 

ACID  PHOSPHATES. 

(Phosphoric  Acid  the  only  valuable  ingredient.) 

Station  No.  3 — Etiwan  Acid  Phosphate,  presented  to  Station  by  Ethvan 
Co.,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

Station  No.  4 — Stono  Dissolved  Bones,  presented  to  Station  by  Jno.  T. 
Moore  & Co.,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  5 — Stono  Acid  Phosphate,  iiresented  to  Station  by  Jno.  T.  Moore 
& Co.,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  6 — Acid  Phosphate, bought  of  Chalmette  Mills,  New  Orleans,  for 
use  of  Station. 

Station  No.  10 — Dissolved  Bone,  manufacturod  for  Station  by  Stern’s  Fer- 
tilizing Co.  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  26 — English  Acid  Phosphate,  from  Planters’  Fertilizer  Co.,  sam- 
pled by  Station. 

Station  No.  48— English  Acid  Phosphate,  from  Planters’  Fertilizer  Co.,  sam- 
pled by  D.  R.  Calder. 

Station  No.  59 — Acid  Phosphate,  sent  by  Leonce  Soniat,  Iberville  Parish. 

Station  No.  60 — Acid  Phosphate,  sent  by  McCall  Bros.,  Donaldsonville,  La. 

Station  No.  62 — German  Acid  Phosphate,  sent  by  A.  A.  Maginnis,  New  Or- 
leans. 

Station  No.  64 — Wando  Acid  Phosphate,  sent  by  T.  P.  Hutchinson. 

Station  No.  65 — Atlanta  Soluble  Bone  sent  by  T.  P.  Hutchinson. 

Station  No.  70 — Superphosphate,  sent  by  A.  A.  Maginnis,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  71 — Acid  Phosphate,  sent  by  A.  A Maginnis,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  72 — Acid  Phosphate,  sent  by  A.  A.  Maginnis,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  76 — Acid  Phosphate,  sent  by  D.  R.  Calder,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  77 — Superphosphate  sent  by  D.  R Calder,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  78 — Superphosphate  sent  by  D.  R.  Calder,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No  100 — Acid  Phosphate,  sent  by  McCall  Bros.,  Donaldsonville,  La. 

Station  No  103 — Acid  Phosphate,  sent  by  Leon  Godchaux,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  113 — Kainite  sampled  by  Department  of  Agriculture  from  a lot 
imported  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Company,  New  Orlfians,  La. 


ACID  PHOSPHATES. 


Analyses. 


Station  Number. 

Soluble  Phosphoric 
Acid. 

Eeverted  Phos- 
phoric Acid. 

Insoluble  Phos- 

phoric Acid. 

Total  Phosphoric 

Acid. 

Eelative  Commer- 
cial value  x)er  ton 
of  2000  lbs. 

3 

8.06  p.  c. 

5.92  p c 

.32  pc 

14.30  p c 

$ 20.97 

4 

10.75 

1.82 

1.63 

14.20 

18.85 

5 

7.20 

2.09 

1.85 

11.14 

13.93 

6 

9.02 

5.28 

2.02 

16.32 

21.45 

10 

14.15 

.34 

.10 

14.59 

21.73 

26 

11.14 

4.38 

.03 

15.55 

23.28 

48 

14.02 

1.15 

.19 

15.36 

22.75 

59 

12.29 

.86 

.29 

13.44 

19.72 

60 

14.21 

134 

.19 

15.74 

23.32 

62 

8.96 

9.28 

18.24 

13.44 

64 

9.79 

4.42 

2.11 

16.32 

21.31 

65 

9.02 

2.94 

3.21 

15.17 

17.94 

70 

13.44 

•27 

.48 

14.19 

20.56 

71 

1.92 

4.77 

.99 

7.68 

10.03 

72 

8.48 

1.31 

9.79 

12.72 

76 

13.06 

1.92 

.38 

15.36 

22.47 

77- 

16.88 

1.40 

.26 

18.54 

27.42 

78 

14.21 

.98 

.51 

15.70 

22.78 

100 

13.06 

2.23 

'.45 

15.74 

22.93 

104 

12.86 

1.89 

.03 

14.78 

22.12 

113 

13.44 

1.35 

.19 

14.98 

22.18 

AMMONIATED  SUPERPHOSPHATES  AND  GUANOS. 

These  are  Acid  Phosphates  mixed  with*  some  form  of  Am- 
monia, with  or  wihout  Potash  j when  the  latter  is  present  they 
are  usually  styled  complete  mauures.^^ 

Station  No.  12 — Guano,  sent  by  Hon.  Duncan  F.  Kenner,  New  Orleans,  La. 
Station  No.  18— Guano,  sent  by  McCall  Bros.,  Donaldsonville,  La. 

Station  No.  19 — Cane  Fertilizer,  sent  by  J.  C.  Morris,  New  Orleans,  La. 
Station  No.  22 — Sugar  Cane  Fertilizer,  sent  by  H.  Studniczka,  New  Osleans, 
La. 

Station  No.  27 — Guano,  sent  by  J.  C.  Morris,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  28 — Guano,  sent  by  D.  F.  Kenner,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  29  —Guano,  sent  by  D.  F.  Kenner,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  30 — Planters’  Fertilizer,  sent  by  A.  A.  MaginniSj  New’  Orleans, 
La. 


[271 


■Station  No.  35 — Soluble  Pacific  Guano,  sent  by  Leon  Godchaux,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Station  No.  36 — Planters’  Fertilizer,  sent  by  Leon  Godchaux,  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  37 — Planters’  Fertilizer  sent  by  A.  A.  Maginnis,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Station  No.  38 — Guano,  sent  by  D.  R.  Calder,  New  Orlean,  La. 

Station  No.  39 — Planters’  Fertilizer,  sampled  by  Station. 

Station  No.  46 — Planters’  Fertilizer,  sampled  by  Station. 

Station  No.  52 — Guano  sent  by  J.  C Murphy,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  55 — Studniczka’s  Sugar  Cane  Special,  sent  by  Leon  Godchaux, 
New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  58 — Studniczka’s  Sugar  Cane,  sent  by  H.  Studnczka,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Station  No.  63 — Stern’s  Sugar  Goods,  sent  by  Hon.  Ed.  J.  Gay,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Station  No.  67 — Chalmette  Guano  sent  by  Ed.  Scanel,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  68 — Chalmette  Guano,  sent  by  Ed.  Scanuel,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  74 — Guano,  sent  by  J.  Peters,  St.  Martinsville,  La. 

Station  No.  75 — Guano,  sent  by  J.  Peters,  St.  Martinsville,  La. 

Station  No.  80 — Eureka  Guano,  sent  by  T.  D.  Miller  & Co.,  New  Orleans, 
La. 

Station  No.  82 — Guano,  sent  by  T.  D.  Miller  & Co.,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  84 — Guano,  sent  by  J.  C.  Morris,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  91 — Guano,  sent  by  McCall  Bros.,  Donaldsonville,  La. 

Station  No.  92 — Guano,  sent  by  T.  D.  Miller  & Co.,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  98 — Guano,  sent  by  Emile  Legendre,  Terre  Haute,  La. 

Station  No.  101 — Soluble  Pacific  Guano,  sent  by  McCall  Bros.,  Donaldson- 
ville.  La. 

Station  No.  102 — Stern’s  Fertilizer,  sent  by  McCallBros.,  Donaldsonville,  La. 

Station  No.  105 — Fertilizer  sent  by  T.  D.  Miller  & Co.,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  106—  “ “ “ “ ‘‘  ‘‘  ‘‘  “ 

Station  No.  107—  “ “ “ '' 

Station  No.  Ill — Sugar  cane  fertilizer,  sampled  by  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture from  50  tons  made  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Company, 
New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  112 — Cotton  fertilizer,  sampled  by  Department  of  Agriculture 
from  7 tons  made  by  Plan7ers’  Fertilizer  Comjiany,  New 
Orleans. 

Station  No.  115 — Soluble  Paci6c  Guano,  cotton  ^oods,  sampled  by  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  from  300  tons  in  hands  of  W.  P. 
Richardson,  Agent,  New  Orleans,  made  by  Pacific  Guano 
Company,  Woods  Hole,  Mass. 

Station  No.  116 — Solulile  Pacific  Guano,  cane  goods,  sampled  by  Department 
of  Agriculture,  from  60  tons  in  hands  of  W.  P.  Richardson, 
Agent,  New  Orleans,  made  by  Pacific  Guano  Company, 
Woods  Hole,  Mass. 


[28] 


AMMONIATED  SUPERPHOSPHATES  AND  GUANOS. 

Analyses. 


1 station  Number. 

1 

Nitrogen. 

Eqnivolcnt  to 
Ammonia. 

Soluble  Pbospbor- 
ic  Acid. 

Reverted  Phos- 
phoric Acid. 

Insolnble  Phos- 

phate Acid. 

o 

oo 

o 

C5 

"o 

Potash. 

Relative  Commer- 
cial value  per  ton 

12 

1.19 

1.44 

8.45 

3.36 

2.20 

14.01 

1.27 

$23.10 

18 

2.66 

3.23 

4.03 

1.10 

.05 

5.18 

1.41 

19.44 

19 

2.52 

3.06 

5.95 

4.61 

1.92 

12.48 

2b.  63 

22 

2.59 

3.15 

4.99 

5.89 

2.17 

13.05 

26.40 

27 

3.22 

3.91 

5.38 

2.27 

.03 

7.68 

3.22 

27.20 

28 

3.22 

3.91 

5.18 

4.87 

1.47 

11.52 

27.58 

29 

3.15 

3.83 

5.18 

5.19 

1.15 

11.52 

27.81 

30 

3.64 

4.42 

5.95 

1.99 

.51 

8.45 

i.m 

27.94 

35 

3.15 

3.83 

8.06 

1.51 

2.72 

12.29 

2.64 

29.24 

36 

3.43 

4.17 

5.76 

2.95 

.51 

9.22 

1.95 

28.35 

37 

3.57 

4.34 

6.72 

2.40 

.29 

9 41 

1.97 

29.54 

38 

3.50 

4.25 

1.34 

2.46 

.23 

4.03 

2.05 

21.35 

39 

3.43 

4.17 

6.14 

2.34 

.35 

8.83 

1.75 

27.81 

46 

3.50 

4.25 

5.95 

2.63 

.44 

9. ('2 

2.02 

28.49 

52 

2.94 

3.57 

4.42 

3.19 

1.41 

9.02 

2.66 

25.49 

55 

3.33 

4.04 

5.57 

5.19 

2.68 

13.44 

29.07 

58 

2.52 

3.06 

4.99 

5.66 

1.05 

11.70 

25.76 

63 

2.73 

3.32 

7.49 

2.18 

2.62 

12.29 

2.26 

27.38 

67 

3.22 

3.91 

2.69 

3.84 

.58 

7.11 

2.62 

24.92 

68 

3.36 

4.08 

3.64 

2.40 

.67 

6.91 

2.70 

25.12 

74 

3.36 

4.08 

4.80 

3.84 

.38 

9.02 

2.51 

28.53 

75 

3.22 

3.91 

4.80 

1.86 

1.79 

8.45 

2.80 

25.30 

80 

1.96 

2.38 

9.22 

.44 

3.17 

12.83 

1.40 

23.51 

82 

4.20 

5.10 

5.00 

2.10 

7.10 

.90 

24.72 

84 

3.43 

4.17 

7.10 

1.60 

.32 

9.02 

1.70 

28.09 

91 

2.94 

3.57 

4.03 

1.47 

.45 

5.95 

.79 

20.46 

92 

3.36 

4.08 

5.95 

2.31 

.59 

8.84 

1.67 

27.12 

98 

2.10 

2.55 

3-84 

6.17 

1.90 

11.91 

23.17 

101 

2.45 

2.98 

7.68 

2.12 

3.26 

13.06 

’’•i.oi” 

26.85 

102 

2.52 

3.06 

6.52 

5.15 

.62 

12.29 

2.02 

29.31 

105 

3.36 

4.08 

4.42 

3.32 

2.24 

9.98 

3.03 

27.69 

106 

2.59 

3.14 

5.18 

.58 

.77 

6.53 

.96 

19.64 

107 

2.17 

2.63 

5.57 

2.43 

2.75 

10.75 

2.08 

22.49 

111 

3.62 

4.40 

6.95 

1.05 

.26 

8 26 

2.29 

28.37 

112 

3-22 

3-91 

7.30 

2.17 

.13 

9.60 

1.93 

28.64 

115 

2.28 

2.77 

7.49 

3.20 

2.56 

13.25 

1.83 

26.72 

116 

3.22 

3.91 

7.68 

1.35 

3.07 

12.10 

3.38 

29.44 

SPECIAL  MANURES. 

These  are  manures  prepared  for  some  special  croj)  by  for- 
mulas furnished  the  manufacturer. 

Station  No.  25 — Fruit  and  Vegetable,  Special,  sent  by  H.  Studnczka,  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Station  No,  53 — Stern’s  Vegetable  Manure,  sent  by  J.  C.  Morris,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 


[29] 


Station  No.  93— Cane,  Special;  prepared  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Co.,  accord- 
ing to  following  formula:  800  lbs  Acid  Phosphate,  600  lbs 
Cotton  Seed  Meal,  600  lbs  Land  Plaster. 

Stations  Nos.  96  and  97 — Cane,  special,  j^repared  by  Stern’s  Fertilizer  Co.,  for 
Gov.  H.  C.  Warmoth, ‘Lawrence,  La.,  according  to  formula:  3 
parts  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  1 j^art  Acid  Phosphate. 

Station  No.  109 — Cane,  special,  preiiared  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Company, 
New  Orleans,  for  Gen.  J.  L.  Brent,  New  River,  La.,  accord 
ing  to  formula,  3 parts  cotton  seed  meal  and  one  jiart  of 
Acid  Phosphate. 

SPECIAL  MANURES. 


Analfjses. 


Station  Number.  | 

Nitrogen. 

Ammonia. 

Soluble  Phosphor- 
ic Acid. 

Reverted  Phos- 
phoric Acid. 

Insoluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid. 

Total  Phosphoric 
Acid. 

4 

a 

o 

Oh 

Relative  Commer- 
cial Value  per  ton 

25  . 
53 

6.37 

3.22 

7.74 

3.91 

3.26 

8.99 

6.09 

5.03 

1.21 

14.02 

10.56 

7.03 

$:18.20 

33.56 

93 

2.35 

2.85 

5.76 

.45 

.13 

6.34 

.()0 

19.03 

96 

5-25 

6.38 

3.84 

.22 

.54 

4.60 

1.50 

28.01 

97 

5.18 

6.29 

3.65 

.89 

.26 

4.80 

1.48 

28.42 

109 

4.62 

5.61 

3.26 

2.79 

.38 

6.53 

1.50 

28.52 

COTTON  SEED  MEAL 

Is  largely  used  in  Louisiana  as  a manure.  Being  a feed 
stuffj  it  is  excluded  from  the  provisions  of  the  Fertilizer  Law, 
Hence,  in  its  purchase  care  should  be  exercised  to  see  that  it  is 
free  from  hulls,  which  are  sometimes  found  in  it  to  the  extent  of 
30  per  cent  or  more,  of  its  weight,  thus  greatly  lowering  its 
value.  This  mixture  is  sometimes  intentional  and  sometimes 
accidental  j in  the  latter  case  arising  from  defective  machinery. 
Occasionally  a dark  colored  meal  is  found  on  the  market,  made 
from  injured  seed.  This  meal  though  perhaps  objectionable  as 
cattle  food,  is  fully  the  equal  of  the  bright  kind  as  a manure 
The  price  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal  in  New  Orleans  during  the  past 
year  has  been  from  $17  to  $20  per  ton.  Its  commercial  value 
reckoned  by  our  tariff  is  far  ahead  of  its  actual  value,  showing 
it  to  be  the  cheapest  form  of  Nitrogen  offered  to  the  Southern 
planter. 


[30] 


Station  No. 

2— 

Cotton  Seed  Meal,  sent  by  J.  C.  Morris,  New  Orleans. 

a 

4 4 

Il- 

<( 

il 

il  ll 

ll  ll  ll  ll 

a 

44 

ls— 

n 

it 

U i( 

ll  It  ll  ll 

a 

44 

23— 

1 . 

ll 

ll  il 

“ D.  F.  Kenner,  “ 

(C 

44 

57— 

(. 

ll 

ll  ll 

“ J.  C.  Morris,  “ “ 

u 

44 

61— 

(t 

ii 

ll  ll 

“ L.  S.  Clarke,  Pattersonville. 

ii 

4 4 

81— 

<< 

iC 

ll  ll 

“ D.  F.  Kenner,  New  Orleans. 

< ( 

44 

83— 

ii 

ll 

ll  ll 

“ J.  C.  Morris,  “ “ 

a 

44 

99— 

il 

» 

il 

ll  ll 

“ D.  Thompson,  Calumet  Plantation, 

COTTON  SEED  MEAL. 

Analyses. 


Station 

Number. 

tJD 

o 

s 

Ammonia. 

Phosphoric 

Acid. 

Potash. 

2 

6.16 

7.48 

3.32 

1.98 

11 

7.28 

8.84 

3.32 

1.70 

13 

7.42 

9.01 

3.25 

1.55 

23 

6.51 

7.91 

3.16 

1.84 

57 

6.51 

7.91 

3.16 

1.84 

61 

6.44 

7.82 

# 

* 

81 

7.15 

8.68 

3.20 

1.74 

83 

6.16 

7.48 

3.45 

1.45 

99 

7.14 

8.67 

3.29 

1.22 

*Not  deterrniued. 


KAINITE 

Is  a crude  form  of  German  Potash  Salts,  taken  from  the 
mines  of  Stassfurth  or  Leopolshall,  and  contains  usually  about 
12  per  cent  Potash.  It  has  besides  a goodly  amount  of  Magne. 
sic  and  Sodic  Chlorides. 

Station  No.  21 — Kainite  sent  by  A.  A.  Maginnis,  New  Orleans. 

“ “ 54 — D.  R.  Calder,  New  Orleans. 

“ ‘‘  87 — “ “ J.  C.  Morris,  New  Orleans. 

“ 114 — Kainite,  sampled  bv  Department  of  Agriculture  from  a lot 
imported  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Company,  New  Orleans,  La. 

KAINITE. 


Analyses. 


Station  Number. 

Potash. 

Commercial  Value  Per  Ton 

21 

11.92 

$11.92 

54 

13.12 

■ 13.12 

87 

11.90 

11.90 

114 

12.55 

12.55 

[31] 


TANKAGE 

Is  the  refuse  of  slaughter  houses,  including  blood,  spoiled 
meat,  bones,  etc.,  all  dried  and  finely  pulverized.  Its  composi- 
tion is  very  variable,  and  it  should  be  purchased  only  on 
guaranteed  analysis. 

Station  No.  33.— Tankage  sent  by  Jno.  T.  Moore  & Co.,  New  Orleans,  La. 
“ “ 34. — Blood  and  Bone,  sent  by  Leon  Godchanx,  New  Orleans,  La 

49.  — Tankage,  sent  by  L.  S.  Clarke  & Bro.,  Pattersonville,  La. 

50. _  “ “ “ 

“ “ 51— Blood  and  Bone,  sent  by  Leon  Godchanx,  New  Orleans,  La. 


TANKAGE. 

Analyses. 


Station  Number. 

Nitrogen. 

Ammonia. 

Total  Phosphoric 
Acid. 

33 

6.16 

7.48 

11.90 

34 

6.37 

7.74 

14.59 

40 

3.64 

4.42 

24.58 

50 

5.74 

6.97 

14.78 

51 

3.78 

4.59 

15.74 

The  tariff  of  prices  prescribed  by  the  Southern  convention 
gives  no  valuation  to  the  insoluble  form  of  Phosporic  Acid, 
hence  no  commercial  value  can  be  assigned  the  above.  Phos- 
phoric Acid  in  Bone  is  however,  worth  about  five  cents  per 
pound. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA  FLOATS. 

Station  No.  7 — Etiwau  Floats  donated  to  Station  by  Etiwan  Phosphate 
Co.,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

ANALYSIS. 

Phosphoric  Acid. 26.69  per  cent 

This  goods  is  made  from  the  Charleston  rock  by  grinding 
with  rollers  into  such  an  impalpable  powder  that  it  floats  in 
the  air,  hence  its  name.  Having  never  been  treated  with  acid, 
its  Phosphoric  acid  is,  of  course,  insoluble. 


[32] 


BONE  BLACK. 

After  use  in  the  sugar  refinery,  is  often  treated  with  acid 

to  render  it  soluble.  Without  this  treatment  it  is  very  slow  in 

its  action  as  a manure,  the  charcoal  particles  enveloping  the 

phosphate  of  lime,  prevent  the  decomposition  of  the  latter. 

station  No.  20 — Sent  by  Wm.  B.  Schmidt,  New  Orleans,  contained — 
Phosphoric  Acid 33. per  cent 


GBOUND  BONE 

Is  highly  prized  in  the  North  as  a fertilizer,  especially  for 
grass  crops.  In  the  South,  unless  on  soils,  rich  in  humus,  it  is 
very  slow  of  action. 

Station  No.  24 — Sent  by  H.  Studniczka,  New  Orleans,  contained 

Nitrogen 4.62  per  cent 

Phosphoric  Acid 22.88  “ ‘‘ 


PHOSPHATE  MARL. 

A ton  of  Phosphate  Marl  was  sent  to  the  Station  by  the 
Meridian  Fertilizing  Company,  Miss.,  for  field  tests.  This 
marl  is  made  from  the  phosphatic  green  sands  of  Alabama,  and 
contained  2.50  jier  cent  of  Phosphoric  Acid. 

COTTON  HULL  ASHES. 

Are  in  large  demand  in  Connecticut  for  growing  tobacco, 

and  command  high  prices.  In  the  South  they  are  not  held  in 

high  esteem.  They  are  not  uniform  in  composition  ; the  light 

colored  being  always  richer  in  Potash  than  the  dark  colored. 

They  are  chiefly  valuable  for  their  large  content  of  Potash. 

They  contain  also  a goodly  i)er  centage  of  Phosphoric  Acid. 

station  No.  31 — Sent  by  J.  C.  Morris,  New  Orleans,  La.,  contained — 

Phosphoric  Acid 10.18  per  cent 

Potash 20.69  per  cent 

NITRATE  OF  SODA. 

Station  No.  104 — Sent  by  Gen.  J.  L.  Brent,  New  River,  La.,  contained  Ni- 
trogen, 16.4  per  cent,  equal  to  Nitrate  Soda  99.6  per  cent 

RICE  HULL  ASHES, 
upon  the  moisture  freed  sample. 

Station  No.  73 — Sent  by  Adam  Thompson,  New  Orleans,  La.,  contained — 

Silica 94.45  per  cent 

Phosphoric  Acid 1.14  per  cent 

Potash ' 1.82  per  cent 

Showing  its  low  value  as  a fertilizer. 


[33] 


% 

TOBACCO  STEMS. 

Station  No.  85 — Pure  Stmis. 

“ “ 86 — Stems  clipped  in  lye. 

Were  both  sent  by  Mr.  Adam  Thompson,  New  Orleans. 

Nitrogen  Phosphoric  Acid  Potash.  Ash 

No.  85  189  75  4.05  19.21 

No.  86  ....  96  4.05  23.67 

The  commercial  value  of  above  is  about  |10  per  ton. 


ROTTEN  BAGASSE. 

Station  No.  56 — Sent  by  Henry  Studniczka,  New  Orleans,  contained 

Water 25.95  per  cent 

Nitrogen 1.51  “ “ 

Phosphoric  Acid  46  “ “ 

Potash  19  “ 

This  would  indidate  a value  of  over  $5.00  per  ton. 


RICE  BRAN. 


Has  been  considered  by  some  planters  as  having  a high 
fertilizing  value. 

Station  No.  95 — Sent  by  Lncien  Soiiiat,  Jefferson  Parish,  La.,  gave 

Nitrogen 1.40  per  cent 

Phosphoric  Acid 1.76  “ “ 

Applying  the  tariff  of  prices  its  commercial  value  as  a 
fertilizer  would  be  about  $8  per  ton.  It  is  worth  far  more  as 
as  a feed  stuff,  as  the  proximate  analyses  given  further  on  will 
show. 

Two  samples  each  of  Eice  Bran  and  Eice  Polish  w ere  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  W.  B.  Bloomfield  of  ISTew  Orleans,  with  request 
that  they  be  analysed  and  an  opinion  given  of  their  adaptibility 
as  a mule  feed.  Accompanying  the  analyses  were  the  following 
remarks. 

In  the  analysis  of  all  ^deeding  stuffs,’’  certain  proximate 
principles  are  determined,  viz.:  Albuminoids,  Carbohydrates, 
Fat,  Cellulose  and  Ash.  These  differ  both  in  their  chemical 
composition  and  in  their  physiological  action. 

Albumunoids  rank  highest  in  importance  in  animal  nutri- 
tion and  are  useful  in  animal  economy  for  making  muscles,  tis- 
sues, tendons,  nerves,  etc.,  and  in  the  absence  of  other  ingredi- 
ents may  serve  as  fuel  and  fat.  True  Carbohydrates,  consisting 
of  Starch,  Sugars,  Gum,  etc.,  perform  their  chief  function  in 
giving  heat  to  the  animal  system.  Fats  may  produce  fat,  or  be 
consumed  like  true  carbohydrates  in  generating  heat.  Cellulose 


[34] 


is  for  tlie  most  part  iDdigestible,  and  takes  but  little  part  in  an- 
imal nutrition.  When  any  part  of  it  is  digestible  its  action  is 
similar  to  carbohydrates.  The  Albuminoids  are  to  the  animal 
system,  what  brass  and  iron  are  to  the  machine,  the  materials 
of  construction  and  repair.  The  Carbohydrates  represent  in  an- 
imals, what  fuel  does  to  the  engine.  The  oxidation  of  the  Car- 
bohydrates in  the  blood  maintains  life  and  runs  the  animal  ma- 
chine, while  the  steam  engine  derives  its  power  from  the  con- 
sumption of  coal  or  wood.  There  is,  however,  one  characteristic 
difference  between  a steam  engine  and  animal.  The  former 
stops  for  repairs  when  needed,  the  latter  is  stopped  only  by 
death,  and  its  repairs  must  go  on  simultaneously  with  its 
Avastes.  Therefore  it  must  be  fed  upon  two  kinds  of  food,  one 
to  furnish  heat  and  to  run  life,  the  other  to  repair  the  wastes  of 
muscle  and  tissue,  and  both  must  go  on  at  same  time.  Could  a 
steam  engine  be  fed  Avith  coal,  AAmter,  brass  and  iron,  and  be 
made  to  run  and  make  rej)airs,  at  same  time  consuming  its 
Avorn  out  parts  and  voiding  them  as  smoke  and  ashes,  we  would 
have  similar  action  to  that  constantly  going  on  in  every  living 
being.  The  Albuminoids  are  thus  consumed  along  Avith  carbo- 
hydrates. The  former  may,  hoAvcA^er,  in  the  absence  or  deficien- 
cy of  the  latter,  act  as  fuel  and  even  make  fat.  HoAA’^ever,  econ- 
omy would  alAvays  suggest  an  abundance  of  Carbohydrates  in 
eA^ery  ration,  rather  than  consume  needlessly  the  more  costly 
Albuminoids.  They  ought  to  perform  distinct  offices  in  animal 
nutrition,  and  science  has  decided  that  they  should  exist  in  a 
ration  in  certain  proportions.  This  ratio  of  digestible  Albumi- 
noids to  digestible  Carbohydrates  is  styled  the  “iiutritiA^e  ratio,” 
and  has  been  determined  Avith  great  care  by  Experiment  Sta- 
tions for  most  of  our  domestic  animals.  The  digestibility  of  cer- 
tain ^ffeed  stuffs”  has  also  been  carefully  determined  by  expe- 
riments. Ao  experiments  have  been  made  upon  the  digestibili- 
ty of  rice  bran  or  polish,  but  we  can  assume  without  much  error 
that  they  are  similar  to  wheat  bran  and  shorts,  Avhich  are  A^ery 
digestible.  The  nutritive  ratio  of  these  feed  stuffs  Avould  then 
be — 


[35] 


For  Rice  Bran  No.  1 1 — 5.6 

For  Rice  Bran  No.  2 1 — 6.3 

For  Rice  Poli.^liNo.  1 1 — 6.7 

For  Rice  P(»li8li  No.  2 1 — 5.8 

For  Wheat  Bran 1 — 4.4 


Below  are  analyses  of  tke  Eice  Bran  and  Polislij  and  also 
of  Wheat  Bran,  which  is  given  for  comparison. 

Rice  Bran  Rice  Bran  Rice  Polish  Rice  Polish  Wheat  Bran 


No.  1 

No.  2 

No.  1 

No.  2 

Water 

9.96 

9.56 

9.00 

9.33 

13.1 

Ort^anic  Matter 

80.78 

81.62 

83.63 

79.37 

81.5 

Ash 

9.26 

8.82 

7.37 

11.3 

5.4 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

Albuminoids 

13.56 

11.81 

11.37 

11.38 

14. 

Carbohydrates 

49.32 

50.46 

59.91 

45 . 55 

.50. 

Cellulose 

7.00 

9.85 

5.86 

14.45 

17.8 

Fat 

10.90 

9.50 

6.50 

8.00 

3.8 

Nutritive  Ratio 

1-5.6 

1-6.3 

1-6.7 

1-5.8 

1-4.4 

The  high  ash  percentages,  almost  equalling  those  of  hulls 
of  wheat,  and  rye,  and  equal  to  those  of  peas  and  beans,  are 
striking. 

The  fat  too  is  very  high.  As  a mule  feed  it  will  not  do 
alone.  Its  value  in  combination  with  other  food  will  depend 
largely  upon  its  digestibility  and  palatability.  A horse  or 
mule  moderately  worked  will  require  every  twenty-four  hours 
for  every  1,000  lbs  weight,  22.5  lbs  of  organic  substances — 1.8 
lbs  albuminoids,  11.2  lbs  carbohydrates,  .0  lb  fat,  with  a nutri- 
tive ratio  of  1 to  7.  ' By  combining  with  crab  grass  hay  or  pea 
vine  hay,  we  can  get  a ration  supplying  the  demands.  Crab 
grass  hay  has  the  following  composition: 

Albuminoids,  7 per  cent 5 Carbohydrates,  40  per  cent;  Fat,  2 
per  cent,  and  80  j)er  cent  Organic  Matter.  Of  this,  about  56  per 
cent  of  tlie  Albuminoids,  63  per  cent  of  the  Carbohydrates,  and 
48  i^er  cent  of  the  Fat  are  digestible. 

Fea  vine  hay  has  approximately  the  followTiig  composition  : 

Albuminoids,  14-15  per  cent ; Carbohydrates,  45  i)er  cent ; 
Fat,  3.5  j)er  cent,  and  about  90  per  cent  of  organic  matter.  Of 
this,  60  per  cent  of  the  Albuminoids,  69  j)er  cent  of  the  Carbo- 
hydrates, and  59  per  cent  of  the  Fat  are  digestible. 

Combining  first  with  crab  grass  hay,  we  have — 


[36] 


Total 

Amount  required 

Or  with  Pea  Yiue 

10  lbs  Rice  Bran  No. 
14  lbs  Pea  Vine  Hay 


Organic  Matter 

Albuminoids 

Carbohydrates 

Fat 

1—  8.07 

1.3 

5. 

.6;  / 

y—  14-50 

.7 

7.4 

.17  . 

— 

— 

— 

— 

22.57 

2.0 

12.4 

.77' 

22.50 

Hay, 

1.8 

11.5 

.6 

1—  8.07 

1.3 

5. 

.6 

12.60 

1.96 

3.30 

.49 

20.67 

3.26 

8.30 

1.09 

22.20 

1.8 

11.50 

.6 

Fats,  and  de- 
which  could 


Total 

Amount  required 

Here  we  have  an  excess  of  Albuminoids  and 
ficiencies  in  Organic  matter  and  Carboh^^drates^ 
easily  be  supplied  by  straw  of  any  kind.  But  in  these  we  have 
made  no  allowance  for  digestibility.  But  should  the  average 
mule  be  fed  ten  to  twelve  lbs  of  good  unfermented  rice  bran  or 
liolish,  wdth  eighteen  itounds  of  crab  grass  hay  or  14  of  pea  vine 
hay,  good  work  may  be  expected.  A reduction  of  one-half  of 
the  bran  and  the  substitution  of  an  equal  weight  of  corn,  will, 
however,  be  better  adapted  to  to  the  taste  and  requirements  of 
a working  mule.  Pice  bran  or  polish  can  be  successfully  used 
in  farm  economy,  if  used  with  prudence  and  precaution. 


BAT  MANURE. 

The  U.  S.  Barracks  recently  donated  to  the  Louisiana 
State  University  and  A.  and  M.  College,  has  long  been  the  un- 
disturbed abode  of  quantities  of  bats.  ‘ In  making  the  necessary 
repairs,  there  was  found  a large  amount  of  the  manure  of  this 
bird,  from  one  building  alone  as  much  as  10  tons  (estimated). 

This  manure  was  analyzed  by  B.  B.  Boss,  Professor  of  Chem- 
istry in  the  A.  & M.  College,  who  reports  the  following  results : 

ANALYSIS  OF  BAT  MANURE  FOUND  IN  THE  TEXAS  BUILDIN&  OF  THE  GARRISON 
GROUNDS,  NOW  THE  PROPERTY  OF  LOUISIANA  STATE 
UNIVERSITY  AND  A.  & M.  COLLEGE. 


Soluble  Phosxiboric  Acid 2.37  per  cent 

Reverted  “ 1.24  x)er  ce«at 

Insoluble  “ “ 0.45  per  cent 

Nitrogen 8.75  per  cent 

Ammonia 10.62  per  cent 

Potash 1.39  xmr  cent 

Commercial  value  xierton $40.78 


The  excellent  results  accruing  from  an  application  of  this 
manure,  to  vegetables,  grasses,  clovers,  etc.,  fully  corroborate 
the  chemical  analysis  above. 


SUGAR  CANE. 

■ Sugar  House  and  Laboratory  Experiments— 1886 

BULLETIN  No,  10 

OF  THE 


Wm.  C.  Stubbs,  Ph.  D., 

OIRECXOH 


KENNER,  LA, 


E ISSUED  BY 

COMMISSIOXER  OF  AGRICULTURE,  BATON  ROUGE,^LA. 


BATON  ROUGE : 

PRINTED  BY  LEON  JA«TREMSKI,  STATE  PRINTBB, 
1887. 


si:gar  experiment  station,  > 

Kenner,  La.  ^ 

Major  T.  J.  Wrd,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — I lieretvitb  band  you  Bulletin  No.  10,  covering  experiments  in 
tbe  Sugar  House  and  Laborator^^  on  Sugar  Cane  and  its  products  made  in 
4be  do, sing  months  of  1886,  The  immense  amount  of  labor  required  in  tbe 
])reparalion  of  this  Bulletin  from  Laboratory  and  Sugar  House  notes  made 
during  grindiiy.*',  together  with  tbe  pressure  of  current  duties  have  prevented 
its  eaiTK',!  a p pea  Vance. 

Respectfully, 


AYM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


[3] 


The  sugar  planter  of  Louisiana  is  both  an  agriculturist  and 
a manufacturer.  He  grows  the  cane  and  then  manufactures 
it  into  sugar  and  molasses.  Therefore  to  attain  the  most  bene- 
ficial results,  a Sugar  Experiment  Station  should  conduct 
experiments  in  the  field,  laboratory  and  sugar  house.  Agricul- 
ture, chemistry  and  mechanics  are  the  sciences  which  must 
contribute  to  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  sugar  industry. 

Realizing  this  fact,  this  Station,  after  a careful  inauguration 
01  a series  of  field  experiments,  and  the  establishment  of  a well 
appointed  laboratory,  proceeded  to  the  equipment  of  a sugar  ♦ 
house.  There  was  found  on  the  station,  a small  sugar  house, 
with  a three  roller  mill  24x14  inches,  fed  by  hand,  a boiler,  an 
engine,  a series  of  open  kettles,  wooden  coolers,  &c.  The  open 
ketties  were  rejected,  together  with  the  unnecessary  coolers,  &c. 
The  engine,  boiler  and  mill  were  overhauled,  repaired  and  used. 
A suli^hur  machine  was  erected  ; juice  boxes,  each  large  enough 
for  a single  experiment,  were  placed  in  proper  positions,  into 
which  a juice  luimp  (monte  jus) , conveyed  the  juice  from  the 
sulphur  box;  an  improved  clarifier,  capacity  70  gallons,  with  a 
settling  tank  of  three  compartments  of  150  gallons  each ; two 
small  brushing  pans,  with  another  settling  tank  of  same  size  and 
form  as  one  just  meiil'  . d,  were  the  vessels  used  for  clarifica- 
tion and  preparing  the  juice  for  concentration.  A Yaryan’s 
%ucuum  distilling  apparatus  was  used  to  concentrate  the  juices 
for  the  strike  pan.  This  apparatus  had  the  capacity  of  concen- 
trating in  vacuo  150  gallons  per  hour,  from  7^  B.  to  30°  B.,  and 
as  far  as  we  can  judge  from  experiineiits  made  (nearly  100  in 
number)  worked  very  successfully. 

The  concentrated  syrup  was  then  grained  in  a small  vac- 
uum strike  pan,  emptied  into  a mixer  aiM  purged  in  a small 
centrifugal.  The  Yaryan  distilliug  apparatus  was  erected  by 
and  at  the  expense  of  the  Yaryan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Toledo, 
Ohio.  Mr.  Day,  the  courteous  agent  of  this  company,  sent  to 
erect  and  instruct  in  the  use  of  the  machine,  spent  several  weeks 
at  the  Station  and  rendered  valuable  assistance  in  the  sugar 
house. 

The  mixer  and  the  settling  tanka  were  generously  donated 
by  IMessrs.  Edwards  & Haubtman,  of  New  Orleans.  The  Whit- 


[1] 


ney  Iron  Works  contributed  the  shafting  and  pulleys  required 
to  run  the  mixer  and  the  centrifugal. 

The  conversion  of  an  open  kettle  sugar  house  'into  the  one 
just  described  was  both  expensive  and  tedious,  demanding  more 
than  an  ordinary  knowledge  of  machinery  and  the  requisites 
of  a sugar  house.  Fortunately  the  Station  had  a volunteer 
assistant,  whose  rare  mechanical  genius,  love  of  machinery, 
experience  in  a sugar  house,  and  persistent  industry  was  fully 
^ equal  to  the  occasion,  and  the  subsequent  working  of  the  sugar 
house  gave  indisputable  evidence  of  his  fitness  to  adapt  pieces 
of  machinery,  gathered  from  many  quarters,  to,  each  other  and 
all  to  the  sugar  house  and  the  requirements  of  the  Station. 
To  Mr.  Jno.  P.  Baldwin,  Jr.,  Baldwin,  La.,  this  Station  is  in- 
debted not  only  for  the  above  mentioned  work,  but  for  other 
valuable  assistance  in  the  field  and  sugar  house. 

The  sugar  house  was  completed  and  work  begun  in  it,  on 
October  21st,  1886. 

ELEMENTARY  CHEMISTRY  OF  THE  SUGAR  CANE. 

Before  proceeding  with  a description  of  the  experiments  in 
the  sugar  house,  a short  presentation  of  the  chemistry  of  the 
sugar  cane  may  not  be  inappropriate. 

The  composition  of  the  sugar  cane  varies.  1st,  with  varieties. 
2d,  with  soils  upon  which  they  are  grown.  3d,  with  different 
manures.  4th,  with  different  climates  and  seasons.  5th,  with 
different  degrees  of  maturity.  6th,  with  different  parts  of  the 
stalk  of  the  same  cane,  and  7th,  with  plant,  and  rattoons  of  dif- 
terent  years. 

1st.  It  is  well  kn#wn  to  every  planter  that  different  varieties 
give  very  different  amounts  of  sugar.  The  analyses  of  13  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  cane  grown  upon  “ le  champ  d’experiences  of 
the  Agronomic  Station  of  Reunion  and  harvested  at  the  end 
of  20  mouths,  sliow  that  cane  su^ar  varied  between  13  and  21  per 
cent  and  glucose  between  .07  and  L48.  Our  own  analyses  of  16 
kinds  grown  last  year  on  this  Station  (see  Bulletin  Ho.  7,  page 
10)  show  similar  results. 

2d.  TOe  soils  nj)on  which  cane  is^xo wn  have  decided  effects 
upon  the  content  of  sugar.  To  a Louisiana  planter,  it  is  well 


[51 


known^  that  the  black  lands  produce  sweeter  cane  than  sandy. 

3d.  Different  manures  effect  materially  the  growth  and 
maturity  of  canes  and  therefore  their  sugar  content.  Large 
quantities  of  iN^itrogenous  manures  are  always  detrimental  to 
large  sugar  yields. 

4th.  Different  climates  and  in  the  same  climate,  different 
seasons,  produce  canes  varying  greatly  in  sugar  content.  In 
dry  localities,  and  in  dry  seasons,  canes  are  small,  with  much 
fibre  and  sugar.  In  damp  climates  aad  in  wet  seasons,  the  canes 
are  gorged  with  humidity,  low  in  sugar  and  rich  in  glucose. 

5th.  At  different  degrees  of  maturity,  the  cane  varies 
greatly  in  analyses. 

The  results  determined  at  the  Agronomic  Station  of  Ee- 
union  upon  the  same  variety  of  cane  show  this  conclusively.  ‘ 


ANALYSES  OF  CANE  AT  DIFFERENT  AGES. 


Age. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

10  months. 

11.21  per  cent 

3.01  per  cent 

13  “ 

12.44 

2.55 

15  ‘‘ 

15!i5 

1.05 

16  << 

16.25 

0.36  “ 

18 

20.65 

0.22 

20 

21.03 

0.07  “ 

It  is  well  known  in  Louisiana  that  cane  ground  in  Decern 
ber  is  richer  In  sugar  than  that  ground  in  October. 


6th.  Sugar  and  the  other  elements  in  cane  are  very  differently 
represented  in  the  different  parts  of  the  same  stalk.  The  middle 
and  lower  parts  are  the  richest  in  sugar.  The  following  analy- 
ses show  this : 


[6] 


ANALYSES  OF  DIFFERENT  PARTS  OF  THE  CANE. 


White 
upper  end. 

Upj)er 
red  part. 

Middle. 

Lower. 

Sucrose 

3.80 

13.37 

18.09 

18.59 

Gluose 

1.33 

0.81 

0.16 

0.14 

Water 

84.05 

76.89 

70.42 

68.92 

Fibre  

9.96 

9.51 

10.71 

11.55 

Organic  Matter. . . . 

0.38 

0.35 

.32 

0.30 

Salts 

0.48 

0.47 

.30 

0.50 

Degree  Baume  .... 

100.00 

3.70 

100.00 

9.30 

100.00 

11.60 

100.00 

2.00 

This  is  convincing  proof  of  the  expediency  in  cutting  cane 
for  the  millj  to  “ lower  the  knife  ” so  as  to  avoid  the  upper  im- 
mature joints,  which  cannot  increase,  but  may  seriously  decrease 
the  sugar  yield.  To  the  above  may  be  added  the  fact  that  the 
bark  or  rind  of  the  cane,  the  nodes  and  the  central  pith,  do  not 
contain  the  same  amount  of  sugar,  hence  the  juice  from  the  first 
mill,  coming  mainly  from  the  pulp  of  the  cane  is  richer  in  sugar 
than  that  from  ihe  second  mill,  which  is  presumed  to  come  by 
increased  pressure  from  the  outer  rind.* 

7th.  Plant  cane  varies  from  stubble  cane  in  its  content  ot 
fibre  and  sugar,  as  is  well  known  to  all  sugar  planters. 

With  these  announcements,  it  is  not  surprising  to  find  so 
great  a discrepancy  in  the  many  analyses  of  sugar  cane  given 
to  the  public  by  distinguished  chemists.  Again  few  realize  how 
difficult  it  is  to  make  a complete  analysis  of  cane,  especially 
of  the  numerous  elements  present  in  very  small  quantities,  both 
on  account  of  the  absence  of  exact  methods  of  analyses  and  of 
the  rapid  transformation  which  takes  place  as  soon  as  the  juices 
of  the  cane  are  removed  from  the  influences  of  vitality. 

ANALYSES  OF  CANE. 

The  following  is  the  classical  analysis  of  Payen,  made  upon 
stalks  of  Otaheite  cane  sent  from  Martinique  and  chosen  specially 
for  the  researches,  which  they  eubsequently  received.  It  is  to 
be  observed  that  this  distinguished  chemist  with  others,  found 

^Maumene  Fabiication  de  Sucre  Vol  II  page,  64. 

^Bulletin  No.  5,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  page  48, 


[7] 


uo  uncrystallizable  sugar  present.  But  these  are  exceptions.  All 
canes  worked  in  the  mill  i^robably  contain  more  or  less  of  tliis 
substance.  In  Louisiana  the  percentage  of  glucose  is  between  .5 


and  2 per  cent. 

AVater Tl.OI 

Sucrose 18.02 

Cellulose 9.50 

Albumen  and  other  Nitrogenous  matter 55 

Eesinous,  Fatty  and  Coloring  matter 35 

Alineral  Salts  (ash) 48 


100.00 

Many  other  standard  analyses  might  be  given,  but  the  fol- 
lowing will  probably  cover  all  that  has  been  made  and  will  give 
an  idea  as  to  the  general  composition  of  all  canes. 

The  cane  contains — 


Water 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Starch 

Cellulose  and  Lignose 

Gum  

Cerosin 

Fatty  and  Aromatic  matter 

Albuminoids  

Coloring  matter 

Free  Acids  

Silica 


Organic  Salts 


Mineral  Salts 


f Malates 
I Oxalates 
Acetates 
I Citrates 
I &c. 
r Sulphates 
J Phosphates 
I Chlorides 
[ Silicates 


from  73.38 

to 

00.54 

u 

10.00 

to 

20.00 

u 

8.00 

to 

.00 

to 

7.03 

to 

0.50 

• • • • 

to 

• • • • 

to 

• • • • 

to 

• • • • « 

1.17 

to 

0.55 

• • • • 

to 

1 

Potash 
Soda 
,,  Lime 
Magnesia 
Alumina 
Iron 

^ 0.42  to  0.35 


100.00  to  100.00 


This  table  is  not  comxdete  and  yet  it  represents  what  is 
known  of  the  composition  of  sugar  cane. 

The  juice  obtained  by  pressure  usually  contains  nearly  al]^ 
the  substances  found  in  the  cane,  showing  that  the  sucrose 
found  in  the  cells  of  the  cane  is  accompanied  by  a large  number 


[8] 


of  soluble  siibstauces,  of  a more  or  less  variable  nature,  some 
useful,  some  indifferent,  and  others  positively  noxious  to  the 
product  we  wish  to  extract,  by  conversion  into  glucose,  or  by 
preventing  its  crystalization. 

In  the  sugar  house  these  foreign  bodies  are  far  from  being 
without  influence  upon  our  operations,  and  if  we  wish  to  succeed 
under  all  circumstances,  we  should  study  the  action  of  each  in 
detail,  as  well  as  the  inflnence  of  air,  water,  light  and  heat,  ui»- 
on  our  juices  and  syrups.  A short  examination  of  each  may  be 
beneficial. 

HYDROCARBONS. 

Starch,  has  not  been  found  in  the  canes  of  Louisiana 
though  reported  in  very  small  quantities  in  unripe  canes  of 
other  countries.  The  chemical  property  of  being  transformed 
by  acids  at  all  temperature  into  dextrine,  and  then  into 
glucose,  makes  it  an  undesirable  element  of  cane  juice.  Lime 
combines  with  it  and  partially  precipitates  it.  Tannin  complete- 
ly precipitates  it.  It  is  insoluble  in  alcohol  and  cold  water,  and 
is  not  to  be  feared  in  the  sugar  houses  of  this  State. 

Dextrine^  produced  easily  from  starch,  is  soluble  in  water 
and  in  dilute  alcohol.  Is  not  precipitated  by  any  of  the  reagents 
used  in  the  sugar-house.  It  can  be  removed  by  an  ammoniacal 
solution  of  acetate  of  lead.  In  the  presence  of  albuminoids,  fer- 
ments, fatty  matter,  etc.,  this  substance  causes  a marked  decom- 
position of  the  sugar,  producing  fermentation  of  the  lactic 
butyric  and  viscous  order. 

Besides  being  the  cause  of  this  active  fermentation,  which  is 
prevented  by  a careful  removal  of  the  other  foreign  substances, 
it  is  a source  of  constant  annoyance  to  the  sugar  boiler.  It  is 
not  crystalizable,  and  is  not  precipitated  by  lime,  therefore  we 
find  it  accompanying  the  sugar  to  the  strike  pan,  augmenting 
the  masse  cuite  and  restraining  a portion  of  the  sugar  from 
crystalization.  The  Station  has  not  found  dextrine  in  freshly  cut 
cane.  In  cane  fermented  either  from  exposure  or  in  the  windrow 
it  was  invariably  found ; in  the  latter  case  only  in  small  quanti- 
ties. Dextrine,  like  sucrose,  turns  the  polarized  ray  of  light  to 
the  right. 

Gum  is  analogous  in  its  action  to  dextrine.  It  is  insoluble 


[9] 

in  alcohol.  It  forms  a soluble  eombination'^with  lime,  and  like 
dextrine,  it  increases  the  molasses  both  by  its  weight  and  by  the 
prevention  of  sugar  from  crystalization.  The  proportion  of 
gummy  matter  in  cane  juice  is  very  small,  a fortunate  circum- 
stance since  there  is  no  known  w^ay  of  removing  it.  A solution 
of  gum  turns  the  polarized  ray  of  light  to  the  left. 

Glucose — This  name,  retained  throughout  this  bulletin,  is 
improperly  given  to  the  uncrystalizable  sugar  found  in  cane 
juice,  though  the  latter  is  known  to  be  a mixture  of  Dextrose  and 
Levulose.  It  is  found  in  the  largest  proportions  in  unripe  cane. 
It  is  probably  formed  by  the  dehydration  of  starch  or  cellulose, 
and  in  graminiferous  plants  is  reconverted  in  the  grain  into 
starch.  In  the  sugar  plants  it  is  converted  into  sucrose,  how, 
the  following  theories  have  been  offered  in  explanation  : 1st. 
By  simple  dehydration.  Glucose,  minus  water.  O 

==Sucrose,  This  theory  is  somewhat  sustained  by 

the  fact  that  the  leaves  and  tender  parts  of  the  cane  contain 
the  larger  proportions  of  glucose,  and  that  the  researches  of 
Ville  and  Deherain  show  it  to  be  quite  plausible.  2nd.  The  car- 
bonic acid  of  the  air  is  absorbed  by  the  leaves  of  the  cane,  and 
is  reduced  under  the  influence  of  sunlight,  the  oxygen  set  free, 
while  the  carbon  enters  into  combination  with  hydrogen  and  ox- 
ygen of  the  water  present,  forming  oxalic,  acetic,  citric,  tartaric, 
etc.,  acids  which  disappear  to  make  room  for  sucrose  and  other 
neutral  substances. 

An  examination  of  a young  stalk  of  cane  shows  always  the 
presence  of  both  sucrose  and  glucose.  As  the  stalk  grows  and 
approaches  maturity  the  sucrose  increases  and  the  glucose  de- 
creases even  to  the  point  sometimes  of  disappearing  completely. 
If  now,  the  cane  is  not  cut  at  maturity,  it  at  once  enters  again 
in  activity,  and  presents  the  opposite  phenomenon  of  converting 
sucrose  into  glucose.  Thus  one  may  speak  definitely  of  the 
causes  producing  glucose  in  the  cane,  viz. : A too  active  vege- 
tation, the  absence  of  sunlight,  an  abundance  of  rain,  and  a soil 
too  rich,  or  too  wet.  The  formation  of  sucrose,  on  the  contrary, 
is  “en  rapport^^  with  maturity  of  plant,  dryness  of  soil,  and  air, 
and  a great  excess  of  solar  light. 

Again  the  slightest  disturbance  of  the  plant  or  its  juice, 


[10] 


either  through  fermentation  from  a woundj  from  heat,  from  ac- 
tion of  acids,  from  immaturity,  and  a thousand  other  ways, 
causes  the  sucrose  to  be  converted  into  glucose.  There  is  no 
practical  way  of  eliminating  it,  and  it  passes  into  the  molasses,, 
restraining  therein  from  crystalization,  a quantity  of  sugar* 
This  substance  is  the  chief  ingredient  of  molasses,  and  together 
with  gum,  dextrine,  etc.,  oppose  themselves  by  their  viscosity  to 
the  separation  of  the  crystals  of  sugar.  The  quantity  of  sugar 
thus  restrained  but  not  transformed,  is  variously  estimated  from 
one-half  to  twice  the  weight  of  the  total  gummy  matters. 
Again  a solution  of  pure  sugar,  or  a solution  of  the  mixture  of 
glucose  and  sucrose  can  be  concentrated  without  much  colora- 
tion. But  if  glucose  alone,  or  with  sucrose,  be  heated  with  free 
or  carbonated  alkalies,  the  solution  quickly  assumes  a brownish 
tint  which  deepens  as  the  work  progresses.  This  coloration  is 
due  to  the  formation  from  the  glucose  of  melassic  acid,  and  in- 
creases in  proportion  to  the  quantity  formed.  This  coloration 
may  be  removed  by  bone  black,  but  unless  the  alkalies  be  neu- 
tralized, which  are  the  direct  cause  of  this  phenomenon,  it  will 
be  reproduced  after  each  decoloration,  as  soon  as  the  work  of 
concontration  is  renewed.  Glucose  is  therefore  the  ^^bete  noir^ 
of  the  sugar  maker.  It  is  formed  at  the  expense  of  sucrose,  it 
engages  in  the  masse  cuite,  unaltered  sucrose,  and  it  is  the 
most  powerful  cause  of  the  coloration  of  the  sugar  products. 
In  the  present  condition  of  sugar  manufacture  no  way  is  known 
of  eliminating  the  glucose  already  and  always  existing  in  the 
juice  in  Louisiana  canes,  and  therefore  the  most  judicious  care 
should  be  exercised  to  preserve  the  sucrose  present,  and  to 
avoid  the  causes  which  convert  it  into  glucose.  We  are  obliged 
to  submit  gracefully  to  the  disastrous  consequences  of  that 
is  already  in  the  juice. 

The  pectose  group — The  process  of  pressure  without  heat  as 
now  iDractised  in  all  of  our  mills,  is  believed  to  give  us  a juice 
free  from  pectic  principles,  especially  when  proper  wire  screens 
are  interposed  between  the  mill  and  the  juice  box  to  remove  the 
fragments  of  the  bagasse,  broken  off  by  the  rollers.  The  heat  of 
boiling  water  is  required  to  convert  pectose  into  a soluble  form,, 
pectine,^_and  if  the  fragments  of  bagasse  are  carefully  removed 


[llj 


before  boiling,  tbe  juice  should  be  entirely  devoid  of  it.  None 
has  been  found  in  any  of  the  juices  examined  at  this  Station. 
Both  tannin  and  lime  however,  remove  all  the  pectose  grouj) 
likely  to  be  found  in  juices  by  converting  them  into  insoluble 
combinations. 

Wax  and  resinous  matters — The  ‘‘'•eerosin^'^  first  named  and 
examined  by  Mr.  Avequiu,  of  New  Orleans,  the  whitish  wax 
found  adherent  to  the  bark  of  the  cane  and  to  the  part  sheathed 
by  the  leaves,  is  insoluble  in  water,  and  therefore  is  without 
action  in  the  juice.  The  violet  or  purple  canes  contain  the 
greatest  amount,  striped  next,  and  the  white  canes  very  little» 
On  the  violet  it  is  said  to  be  found  to  the  extent  of  75  to 
pounds  per  acre.  Dumas  gives  it  the  following  comijosition : 
C48  02 , while  Lewy,  later,  makes  it  O 2. 

Fatty  matters  ayid  essential  oils — The  former  exert  their  in- 
fiuence  most  only  wlien  degeneracy  of  any  kind  occurs  in  the 
juice,  as  then  it  determines  the  formation  of  lactic  butyric, 
mannitic  or  viscous  products,  forms  of  fermentation  more  de- 
structive and  objectionable  than  the  regular  and  normal  alco- 
holic kind.  All  fatty  matters  consist  of  fatty  acids  combined 
with  glycerine.  When  lime  is  added  it  combines  with  the  fatty 
acids  and  releases  the  glycerine  which  accompanies  the  sugar  in 
the  masse  cuite,  remains  in  the  molasses  and  restrains  from  crys- 
talization  a certain  proi^ortion  of  sugar.  It  is  customary  with 
some  sugar  boilers  to  stop  excessive  foaming  in  the  pan  by  the 
introduction  of  fat  of  some  kind.  This  reprehensibie  custom 
might  with  propriety  and  with  better  results  be  supplanted  by 
the  use  of  fatty  acids  alone,  deprived  of  glycerine. 

The  essential  oily  which  gives  that  delicate  perfume  to  the 
open  kettle  sugar  house,  and  the  agreeable  odor  of  ^^mel  de 
canne”  to  brown  sugar  should  rather  be  conserved  than  destroy- 
ed. Most  of  it  however  is  eliminated  by  the  different  treat- 
ments to  which  the  juice  is  subjected  in  concentration.  Glycer' 
ine  alone  of  these  bodies,  is  objectionabe,  because  of  its  increas* 
ing  the  quantity  of  molasses,  both  by  its  presence  and  its  re- 
straining power  over  sugar. 

Albuminoids  or  nitrogenous  bodies j such  as  albumen,  legu- 
mine,  fibrine  and  casein,  are  found  in  the  cane.  The  latter 


[12] 


wlien  grown  on  a soil,  strongly  manured  with  highly  nitroge- 
nous fertilizers,  contain  largely  increased  quantities  of  albumi- 
noids. All  planters  are  in  accord  on  this  point.  Albumen  and  its 
congeners  are  the  essential  support  of  the  ferment,  which  pro- 
duces alteration  of  the  sucrose.  The  ferment  alone  destroys  a 
certain  proportion  of  sucrose  and  dies,  but  in  the  presence  of 
albuminoids,  a rapid  multiplication  of  new  and  active  globules 
takes  place,  which  replace  the  effete  ones,  and  which  destroy  in 
a short  time  large  quantities  of  sugar.  The  planter  has  no  more 
redoubtable  enemy  than  these  albuminoids,  which,  if  not  re- 
moved, show  themselves  in  every  phase  of  concentration. 
Therefore  to  avoid  their  noxious  influence,  cane  should  be  work- 
ed as  soon  as  possible  after  being  cut  and  the  albuminoids  re- 
jnoved  from  the  juice  as  soon  as  practicable  after  coming 
from  the  mill.  But  their  removal  presents  some  difficulty.  Some 
of  them  are  soluble  but  coagulate  by  heat.  Others  soluble  and 
not  coagulable.  Others  insoluble  but  soluble  by  heat,  and 
transformable  after  awhile  by  the  prolonged  action  of  water 
and  heat  into  gelatine.  This  action  is  hastened  by  the  presence 
of  free  acids.  Lime  precipitates  only  a portion  of  the  albumi- 
noids, and  when  used  in  excess  causes  a re  solution  of  a part 
already  precipitated.  Therefore  in  the  ordinary  treatment,  we 
find  these  albuminoids  accompanying  the  juices  from  the  mill  to 
the  masse  cuite,  giving  rise  to  the  foaming  which  occurs  in  the 
concentration,  augmenting  the  proportion  of  molasses,  and  en- 
gaging a part  of  the  sugar  by  preventing  its  free  crystalization. 
The  employment  of- tannin,  which  unites  with  all  or  nearly  all  of 
them  to  form  insoluble  compounds,  provided  free  lactic  acid 
does  not  exist  in  the  juice,  followed  by  the  usual  treatment 
with  lime,  is  said  to  be  an  excellent  way  of  relieving  the 
juices  of  these,  the  most  powerful  obstacles  to  tne  obtaining  of 
large  rendments. 

Along  with  the  albuminoids  occur  a living  globular  ferment 
ready  to  perform  the. work  of  destruction,  of  breaking  up  com- 
plex compounds  into  simpler  ones,  or  even  into  elements,  as 
soon  as  the  plant  is  removed  from  the  influence  of  vitality. 
This  ferment  is  precipitable  by  lime  and  tannin,  destroyed  by 
acids  and  alkalies  and  its  activity  suspended  by  heat. 


[13] 


Vegetable  acids,  with  the  exception  of  tannic,  acetic  and  car- 
bonic, have  the  property  of  changing  sucrose  into  glucose. 
Acetic  acid,  while  exercising  no  direct  action  on  the  sugar,  often 
by  its  iiresence  favors  ropy  or  viscous  fermentation.  Therefore 
one  can  only  hope  to  obtain  a good  treatment  of  sugar  juice  by 
lierfect  neutralization  of  all  acids.  If  the  juice  be  left  acid  su- 
gar will  be  inverted,  albuminoids  will  be  dissolved,  etc.  If  al- 
kaline, a part  of  the  sugar  witl  go  in  the  molasses  as  sucrate  of 
lime.  The  presence  then  of  free  acid  in  the  clarified  juice  should 
not  be  tolerated. 

Vegetable  bases  may  be  considered  in  the  sugar  industry 
of  Louisiana  as  of  little  or  no  importance. 

Mineral  matter — The  influence  of  mineral  matter  upon  the 
crystalization  of  sugar  has  been  a subject  of  more  controversy 
than  any  other  connected  with  the  sugar  industry. 

Allialies,  potash,  and  soda,  and,  their  carbonates — Doctors 
isve  disagreed  in  the  past  as  to  the  efiect  of  these  substances 
upon  sugar  juices.  It  is  now  however  pretty  conclusively  de- 
termined that  they  blacken  the  juices,  by  converting  glucose 
into  melassic  acid  and  prevent  an  amount  of  sugar,  according  to 
best  authorities,  of  about  six  times  their  own  weight,  from  crys- 
talization. They  should  thereforo  be  neutralized  with  some  in- 
offensive acid. 

In  a well  defacated  juice,  potash  and  soda  should  be  the  only 
basic  mineral  elements  of  the  cane  present,  since  lime  should 
preciifitate  the  rest  together  with  most  of  the  acids,  and  any 
excess  of  lime  used  is  precii)itated  by  the  proper  reagent. 

Mineral  aoids — Most  of  these  are  removed  by  the  lime,  form- 
ing insoluble  combinations,  and  giving  no  very  serious  results  to 
the  sugar  maker.  The  chlorides^  j)articularly  of  potassium  and 
sodium,  not  removed  by  lime,  are  objectionable.  They  do  not  de- 
stroy the  sugar  but  they  form  double  salts  with  it,  and  thus  re- 
strain in  the  molasses  a goodly  quantity  of  sucrose,  the  former 
preventing  4,582  and  the  latter  5,852  times  th^  weight  from 
-crystalization.  According  todiest  authorities,  coloring  matters 
are  generally  removed  in  great  part  by  the  usual  methods  of  de- 
fecation. They  are  entirely  suspended  by  the  use  of  sulphur- 


[14] 


SUMMARY  OF  ABOVE. 

The  aim  of  every  manufacturer  of  sugar  is  to  extract  the 
largest  possible  quantity  of  sucrose,  and  leave  the  smallest  pos- 
sible uncrystalizable  residue.  Therefore  the  question  arises  how 
can  this  double  condition  be  methodically  accomplished.  We 
know  that  gum,  dextrine  and  glucose,  iirevent  the  free  crystali- 
zation  of  sugar.  We  have  seen  that  the  pectic  principles,  nitro- 
genized  bodies  and  certain  salts,  accomplished  the  same  end. 
It  is  evident  that  free  acids,  with  three  exceptions,  convert  su- 
crose into  glucose,  causing  a double  loss,  that  of  the  transform- 
ed sugar,  and  that  restrained  in  the  molasses  by  this  sugar. 
The  formation  of  glucose,  is  believed  to  be  the  great  cause  of  loss 
in  Louisiana.  The  unavoidable  causes  of  inversion  are  numer- 
ous. The  natural  acids  of  the  cane,  certain  bases,  the  ferment, 
action  of  air,  of  water,  and  of  heat,  together,  can  alter  so  much 
sugar  as  to  seriously  decrease  the  yields.  Add  to  that  the  free 
and  indiscriminate  use  of  sulphur,  and  the  usual  custom  of  leav- 
ing the  juices  quite  acid,  even  after  clarification,  and  the  sur- 
prise is  that  so  much  sugar  is  made. 

Work  of  the  sugar  house  may  be  divided  into 

1st.  Extraction  of  the  juice. 

2d.  Purification  of  the  juice  usually  termed  clarification  or 
defecation. 

3d.  Concentration. 

4th.  Cooking  to  grain. 

5th.  Purging  the  crystals. 

Since  all  of  this  work  is  of  a mechanical  nature  except  the 
purification  of  the  juice,  this  alone  will  be  noticed  here. 

How  long  will  a juice  untreated  remain  without  alteration, 
is  a question  often  asked.  It  is  best  to  answer  by  repeating  that 
as  soon  as  removed  from  the  stalk,  fermentation  begins;  the  ra. 
pidity  and  violence  depending  upon  temperature,  condition  of 
w eather,  etc.  The  natural  ferment  present  is  very  active,  and 
is  aided  more  or  less  by  the  natural  acidity  of  the  juice,  and  the 
temperature  of  the  sugar  house.  It  is  important  then  never  to 
delay  the  purification  of  the  juice.  The  fundamental  principle 
involved  in  the  clarification  of  juice,  is  either  to  remove  or  ren- 
der Inofiensive,  all  the  foreign  matters  in  the  juice,  and  is  prac- 


[15] 


tically  performed  in  two  ways  by  the  addition  of  reagents  1st. 
Which  will  produce  insoluble  compounds  which  are  removed. 
2nd.  Which  will  neutralize  all  causes  of  alteration  to  the  su- 
crose. These  are  chemicaJ  means,  and  are  aided  by  mechanical 
and  physical  processes  equally  as  essential. 

The  reagents  used  in  Louisiana  are  suliihur,  bi-sulphite  of 
lime,  lime,  superphosphate  of  lime,  superphosphate  of  alumina, 
tannin  and  bone  black. 

SULPHUR. 

Sulphur  is  burnt  and  converted  into  sulphur  dioxide,  one 
part  uniting  with  two  parts  of  the  oxygen  of  the  air  to  form  a 
gas  which  has  an  irritating  odor,  but  with  bleachiug  and  anti- 
septic powers.  Pure  water  dissolves  under  ordinary  pressure 
43.5  times  its  own  volume  of  this  gas.  Cane  juice  under  the 
same  conditions  absorbs  33.  A solution  of  th  is  gas^  exposed  to  the 
air  absorbs  oxygen^  and  is  gradually  converted  into  sulplmric  acid. 

In  Louisiana  this  gas  is  forced  by  machinery  into  the  cane 
juice  as  it  comes  from  the  mill.  Laboratory  exj)eriments  indi- 
cate that  1 ounce  of  sulphur  suffices  for  the  perfect  clarification 
of  300  gallons  of  juice.  Yet  in  daily  practice  this  is  greatly  ex- 
ceeded, Sulphured  juices  should  be  handled  with  great  care  and 
skill,  since  this  gas  is  an  acid,  which  in  itself  has  the  power  of 
inverting  sucrose,  and  further,  is  easily  converted  into  sulphuric 
acid,  a most  energetic  destroyer  of  sugar.  Sulphured  juices 
should  therefore  be  worked  as  early  as  possible,  and  never  heat- 
ed before  being  limed.  It  is  a good  practice  to  run  a small  quan- 
tity of  lime  water  into  the  juice  at  the  mill  before  sulphuring,  to 
unite  with  and  render  insoluble,  any  suli)huric  acid  formed  in  the 
combustion  of  sulphur,  and  which  has  escaped  the  wash  water. 
Sulphur  acts  upon  the  juice  in  three  ways  : 

1st.  It  temporarily  arrests  fermentation. 

2nd.  It  temporarily  decolorizes. 

3d.  It  assists  in  rendering  coagulable  a portion  of  the  aP 
buminoids. 

Against  these  good  offices  are  to  be  placed  the  constant  dan- 
ger of  inverting  sugar,  the  decreased  yields,  the  difficulty  of 
cooking  its  syrups  without  filtration,  the  difficulty  of  preserving 
sugar  made  by  its  use,  and  the  formation  of  sulphates  and  suL 


[16] 


pliites  in  the  juice,  which  interfere  with  the  crystalization  of  su- 
gar, and  the  deposition  of  scale  upon  the  apparatus  in  which  the 
juices  are  cooked,  due  to  the  formation  of  double  sulphates. 
The  last  objection  is  esi^ecially  troublesome,  where  neutral  juices 
are  worked.  Sulphur  has  been  used  in  sugar  manufacture,  from 
the  raw  juices  to  the  masse  cuite  in  the  pan,  and  in  all  forms 
from  the  pure  gas  and  its  solution  in  water,  to  every  one  of  its 
salts. 

BISULPHITE  OF  LIME 

What  has  been  said  of  sulphur  applies  to  this  chemical, 
since  it  is  the  sulphurous  acid  present,  which  gives  it  its  value. 

LIME. 

lame  is  of  universal  use  both  in  the  manufacturies  for  beet 
and  cane  sugar.  Kothing  can  be  found  to  supplant  it.  Lime 
performs  the  following  work  in  defecation  : 

1st.  It  partially  removes  the  albuminoids,  and  along  with 
them  the  ferment. 

2nd.  It  neutralizes  all  acids  and  forms  with  most  of  theui 
insoluble  compounds. 

* 3d.  It  precipitates  most  of  the  vegetable  bases. 

4th.  It  precipitates  most  of  the  mineral  bases  except  j)otash 
and  soda,  and  these  it  leaves  in  a caustic  state,  a coudition 
which  should  be  corrected  in  subsequent  operations  on  the 
juice. 

5th.  In  the  blanket  and  precipitate  formed  by  the  addition 
of  the  lime,  a considerable  quantity  of  the  coloring  matter,  to- 
gether with  matters  mechanically  suspended  in  the  juice,  are  re- 
strained and  removed. 

In  defecating  with  lime,  care  should  be  taken  to  see  that 
neither  too  much  nor  too  little  is  used.  Either  is  destructive  of 
good  results.  The  juices  should,  after  clarification,  be  neutral. 
This  point  is  determined  in  factory  practice  in  two  ways.  1st. 
By  test  papers,  blue  and  red.  j2nd.  By  the  eje,  examining  a 
sample  either  in  a test  tube  or  small  glass  jar,  by  the  aid  of 
transmitted  light.  If  a good  defecation  has  been  made,  there 
will  be  a rapid  separation  of  the  treated  juice  into  a clear  sm 
pernatant  liquid  with  a light  yellow  color,  and  a thicli,  heavy 


[17] 


aud  persistent  deposit.  By  a little  practice  the  eye  soon  learns 
nearly  the  exact  point  of  neutrality.  Again  each  clarifier  should 
be  tested,  since  in  this  country  it  is  almost  impossible  to  find 
two  successive  clarifiers  of  Juice  of  the  same  degree  of  maturity  and 
acidity.  It  is  a custom  in  some  parts  of  the  State  to  make  lime 
paste,  and  to  use  so  many  cubic  inches  of  this  to  each  clarifier. 
This  is  a very  uncertain  quantity  of  pure  lime.  Unless  the  lime 
and  water  each  be  weighed  and  provision  made  to  restore  to  the 
paste  the  water  evaporated,  very  varying  amounts  of  lime  will 
be  used  in  different  clarifiers.  It  would  be  better  to  make  a 
strong  milk  of  lime  in  a barrel  or  tank,  and  determine  the  lime 
present  by  a Baiime  spindle,  each  degree  representing  about  1.6 
ounces  pure  slaked  lime  per  gallon,  thus: 


.1  gallon  milk 

of 

lime 

at 

10 

B . 

equals  1*6  ounces 

1 

a 

a 

u 

u 

u 

OQ 

B 

3.2 

1 

u 

n 

n 

u 

it. 

3^ 

B 

c* 

1 

u 

u 

it 

ii 

a 

40 

B 

u 

6.4 

a 

1 

a 

iu 

i. 

U 

a 

50 

B 

a 

8.9 

a 

1 

u 

a 

U 

u 

60 

B 

u 

9*6 

u 

1 

u 

it. 

u 

U 

n 

70 

B 

i-i 

11.2 

a 

1 

u 

a 

n 

a 

SO 

B 

a 

12.8 

a 

1 

u 

u 

u 

a 

90 

B 

a 

14.4 

u 

1 

a 

u 

u 

iOO 

B 

16.0 

or  1 

In  this  way  exact  amounts  of  lime  to  each  clarifier  can  be 
calculated. 

Lime  unites  with  sucrose  and  glucose  to  form  sucrates  ami 
glucates,  the  latter  blackening  the  Juice.  Again  in  excess,  it  re- 
moves the  acids  from  the  potash  and  soda,  and  leaves  them  in  a 
caustic  state.  These  should  be  neutralized  with  some  acid  (best 
phosphoric),  before  the  defecated  Juices  are  concentrated  ; if  not 
they  will  convert  the  glucose  present  into  melassic  acid,  which 
will  blacken  the  s^Tup  as  the  concentration  proceeds,  Just  in 
proportion  to  the  amount  of  these  ingredients  present  aud  the 
duration  of  heating. 

SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME. 

Is  formed  by  treating  any  insoluble  phosphate  with  sulphu- 
ric acid.  In  sugar  use,  the  purest  bone  ash  should  be  preferreil 
and  this  should  be  treated  with  diluted  sulphuric  acid  in  quan- 
tities not  sufficient  to  dissolve  all  of  the  ash.  In  this  way  free 
sulphuric  acid  .will  be  nearly  avoided  in  the  compound.  After 


[IS] 


the  lapse  of  a sufficient  time  for  the  action  of  the  acid,  the  dried 
mass  (acid  phosphate)  is  dissolved  in  water  and  carefully  filtered, 
and  concentrated  if  necessary.  In  this  way  free  Sulphuric  Acid 
may  be  avoided  and  sulphate  of  lime,  which  is  very  slightly  sob 
uble  in  water  is  present  in  such  small  quantities  as  to  produce 
no  harm. 

Superphosphate  of  lime  prepared  in  this  way  is  a valuable 
reagent,  if  used  after  the  Juice  has  been  well  defecated  by  lime 
to  neutrality.  This  substance  is  an  acid  phosphate  of  lime, 
C/ontaining  one  part  of  phosphoric  acid  to  one  part  of  lime,  and 
is  soluble  in  water,  while  the  normal  phosphate  of  lime  contains 
one  part  of  phosphoric  acid  to  three  parts  of  lime  and  is  insol- 
uble in  water  and  sugar  juices.  If  the  Juices  have  been  made 
neutral  or  very  slightly  alkaline,  a small  addition  of  this  liquid 
will  seize  on  to  the^slight  excess  of  lime,  and  precipitate  it  at  once 
as  normal  phosphate  of  lime.  The  phosphoric  acid  of  another 
l)ortion  will  unite  with  the  potash  and  soda,  to  form  phosphates 
of  these  bases,  which  remain  in  solution  and  will  be  found  in  the 
molasses,  vvffiile  the  carbonic  or  any  other  acid  that  may  be  in 
combination  with  these  alkalies  in  neutral  juices,  will  unite  with 
the  lime  and  form  also  insoluble  compounds.  These  two  precip- 
itates soon  settle  and  carry  with  them  much  of  the  coloring 
matter.  By  this  treatment  the  alkalies  are  removed  from  their 
injurious  action  both  over  the  glucose  in  producing  melassic 
acid  and  of  their  restraining  infiuence  upon  the  sugar  in  the  mo- 
lasses. It  has  been  clearly  demonstrated  that  potash  and  soda 
are  rendered  almost  innocuous  by  transforming  them  into  phos- 
phates, and  that  no  other  acid  will  acconqfiish  such  good  results. 
However,  this  substance  should  be  used  with  care,  and  an  ex- 
oess  avoided,  since  its  acid  nature  vrill  render  inversion  highly 
])robable,  and  will  dissolve  the  precipitates  formed.  It  should 
be  added  in  just  such  quantities  as  to  slightly  redden  blue  lit- 
mus i^aper. 

In  the  use  of  this  substance,  care  should  be  further  taken 
to  see  that  it  was  devoid  of  free  acids  particularly  sulphuric. 

SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  ALUMINA. 

Made  in  a similar  manner  from  phosphate  of  alumina  by  the 
use  of  sulxffiuric  acid,  is  used  to  accomplish  the  -same  purposes 


[19] 

ns  siiperpliosplinte  of  lime.  Tu  tlie  decomposition  however^ 
sliglitly  different  cliemical  changes  take  x>lace,  one  ot  which  is 
the  voluminous  precipitation  of  aluminic  hydrate  in  a gelatinous 
state,  which,  uniting  with  all  the  coloring  matter  present  to  form 
insoluhle  lakes,  more  completely  decolorizes  the  juice.  This 
precipitate  takes  a long  time  to  settle,  and  on  the  whole  does  not 
do  as  effectual  work  as  superphosphate  of  lime. 

rJiosi)hate  of  ammonia  ac(iomi)\i^h.QB  t\\Q  same  purposes  in 
periiaps  a better  manner  than  either  of  above,  but  its  high  cost 
prohibits  an  extensive  use. 

TANNIN. 

Or  more  properly  speaking,  tannic  acid,  is  found  in  nuC 
(/alJSj  excrescences  on  oak  trees  ; in  the  bark  of  the  different 
kinds  of  oak,  chestnut^  etc.  The  union  of  this  substance  with 
the  gelatine  of  the  hide  forms  leather.  It  has  long  been  used  by 
chemists  to  form  insoluble  compounds  with  the  albuminoids,  and 
to  detect  the  presence  of  the  latter  even  in  very  dilute  solutions. 
Tannin  precipitates  all  or  nearly  all  of  the  albuminoids  of  the 
juice  together  with  the  ferment,  and  Juices  thus  treated  were 
kept  in  a warm  labaratory  for  ^i^'e  or  six  days  at  this  Station 
without  a sign  of  alteration.  It  precipitates  also  starch,  pectine, 
vegetable  bases,  most  of  the  fatty  and  coloring  matters.  Juices 
tirst  treated  with  tannin,  then  with  lime  and  superphosphate  of 
lime,  wmre  found  to  be  better  defecated,  and  cooked  better  and 
gave  larger  returns  than  any  other  experiments  made  in  the  Sta- 
tion’s sugar  house.  An  excess  of  taimiii  has  no  injurious  effects 
on  the  crystalization  of  sugar  and  imparts  no  astringent  prop- 
erties to  either  sugar  or  molasses,  so  far  as  our  taste  and  that  of 
many  others  could  determine.  Lime  however,  removes  any  ex- 
cess , and  therefore  any  astringency  that  might  adhere  to  its 
products,  could  easily  be  removed.  Again  the  use  of  tannin  de- 
creases the  amount  of  lime  necessary  in  subsequent  defecation. 
Its  only  objection,  found  in  many  trials  in  the  sugar  house, 
closely  followed  by  analyses  in  the  labaratory,  and  careful  scru- 
tiny of  all  working  details,  wms  the  large  quantity  of  settlings 
and  the  time  required  for  them  to  precipitate,  an  objection  which 
we  think  a filter  press  will  entirely  overcome. 


[20] 


The  albiimiiioids  precipitated  by  tauniu  are  redissdlved  by 
lactic  acid,  which,  however,  is  never  found  in  fresh  juices,  it 
being  a product  of  fermentation. 

BONE  BLACK. 

Is  the  result  of  the  calcination  of  bones  witliout  a free  ac- 
cess of  air.  B’or  filtration  purposes,  the  more  or  less  large  grains 
4\vQ  used.  The  properties  of  bone  black  have  been  known  for  a 
half  century.  Its  decolorizing  property  and  its  power  to  remove 
n jiortion  of  the  solid  matter  from  the  juices  are  utilized  in  sugar 
rerineiies.  This  substance  is  rarely  used  in  Louisiana,  its  high 
^irice  preventing,  we  suppose.  The  Station  has  made  no  use  of 
.this  agent  save  in  the  laboratory.  The  action  of  this  substance 
is  physical  rather  than  cliemical. 

Many  other  substances  have  from  time  to  time  been  pro- 
iiosed  for  the  purification  of  tlie  juice,  but  they  have  not  been 
ailopted. 

ACID  Sl'LPin’jU;  OF  ALIAIINA. 

Is  one  of  the  new  reageants  for  the  purification  of  juices 
proposed  by  Slibowitz,  and  is  intended  to  supplant  bone  black 
in  the  refineries.  It  has  been  extensively  applied  in  many  fa<!- 
toiies  in  Austria,  and  it  is  said  with  success.  It  is  used  on  dif- 
fused juices  with  the  process  of  carbonatation.  The  juices  are 
subjected  to  four  saturations,  the  first  two  with  the  usual  calco- 
carboiiic  treatment,  and  the  last  two  with  the  addition  of  acid 
sulphite  of  alumina.  The  advantages  are  not  in  the  precipita- 
tion of  the  non  sugar,  or  in  elevating  the  purity  coefficient,  but 
dll  its  decolorizing  power. 

The  juice  is  at  all  times  kept  faintly  alkaline  and  the  sul- 
phurous acid  can  therefore  do  no  inversion.  This  compound  is 
decomposed  in  the  juice  and  the  sulphurous  acid  and  the  alnminic 
hj’drate  in  their  nascent  states,  exercised  increased  decoloring 
power.  The  absence  of  sulphates  and  sulphites  of  lime  in  the 
products,  the  suppression  of  bone  black  and  the  attainment  of 
products  of  normal  composition  are  the  principal  claims  in  Aus- 
tria. In  the  National  Experiments  on  diffusion  of  cane  soon  to 
be  made  at  Magnolia,  this  process  will  doubtless  be  tried  and 
its  merits  tested. 

The  station  was  unable  to  obtain  this  chemical  in  the  New 


! ^1] 


York  market  last  fall,  aad  therefore  could  not  make  an  experi- 
ment with  it  in  the  sugar  house.  Several  ounces  were  however 
made  in  the  laboratory  and  these  were  used  in  an  experiment 
with  several  litres  of  juice  which  was  highly  satisfactory  from 
point  of  sight  alone.  Tlie  sugar  grained  well  and  was  of  a very 
bright  color.  In  this  experiment  only  lime  and  acid  sulphite  of 
alumina  were  used,  and  our  process  was  very  ditlerent  from, 
that  practised  in  A ustria. 

sroAP.  fiousi:  results. 

Experiments  were  begun  in  sugar  house,  October  29th,  be- 
ginning with  Plat  No.  2,  Field  Experiments,  results  of  which 
have  been  given  in  ilulletin  No.  7. 

Our  first  experiments  tv  ere  made  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
us  a ‘hlatum  line’^  to  which  we  could  refer  the  rest.  According- 
ly vvuth  the  exception  of  No.  I,  ouly  lime  was  used  in  defacating: 
until  we  reached  No.  23,  then  lime  and  comiuercial  superphos- 
phate of  lime,  were  used  up  to  30 ; then  sulphur  and  lime  through 
balance  of  Plat  2,  and  a part  of  Plat  7.  The  remainder  of  the 
experiments  were  with  tannin. 

As  the  work  [)rogressed  we  made  more  extensive  laboratory 
analyses,  determining  glucose  and  ash,  besides  total  solids  and 
sucrose.  We  also  made  fre<jiient  weighings  with  analyses  of  the 
Juices  in  different  stages  of  concentration  and  masse  cnites,  al! 
of  which  are  given  in  appropriate  places. 

PLAT  No.  2. 

Size  of  each  Experiment  one -twentieth  of  an  acre. 

EXPERIMENT  NO.  1, 

]\Icaiiures  used — 10  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  5 lbs.  Acid  Phosphate^ 

Weight  of  Cane — 1,630  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre,  16  30  tons. 

Weight  ef  Bagasse— 532  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice,  1098  lbs. 

Extraction— 67.36,  Bagasse,  32.64. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Very  slightly  sulphured;  limed  to  nearly  neutrality;  four 
* grammes  to  gallon  of  juice;  concentrated  in  open  pan ; grained 
in  vacuum;  centrifugalled  ; ouly  first  sugars  were  made  except 
in  a few  instances  and  they  are  given  under  a special  head. 


^One  gramme  equals  about  15  grains  or  28  grammes  equal  about  1 oz. 


[22J 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

6 

02  S 

e js 

O 

P 

Total 

Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Coeficient 

of  Purity. 

Raw  juice 

7.6° 

13.7 

10.9 

2.04 

79.5 

Limed  juice 

8.2.5° 

14.9 

12.3 

2.19 

82.6 

Concentr’d  juice 

24.15° 

44.2 

35.0 

79.2 

First  simar 

90.2 

Molasses 

43.8 

Skimminirs 

12.5 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

TO  11)S.  first  sugars,  iiolariziug  90.2 per  cent  sucrose  = 63.14  ll>s  pure  sugar 
90 lbs.  molasses,  polarizing  43.8  per  cent  sucrose  — 39.42  lbs  xmre  sugar 
.117  lbs  skimmings  and  settlings  polariz’gl2.5  p c sucrose=14.62  lbsx>ure  sugar 

Total  sugar  acconnted  for .117.18  lbs  pure  sugar 

Total  sugar  in  1098  lbs  juice  polarizing 10.97=119.63  lbs  pure  sugar 

Amount  lost  by  inversion,  waste,  etc.,  ditfercncc. . 2.50  lbs  pure  sugar 

EXPEKIMENT  Xo.  2. 

Manuies  used — IG|  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  and  8^  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 
Weight  of  Cane— 1752  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre,  17.52  tons. 

Weight  of  Bagassse— .576  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice,  1176  11)S. 

Extraction — 67.10,  Bagasse  32.90. 

EXPERIMEXT  XO.  5. 


Manures  used — 30  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  15  lbs.  Acid  Phosx>hale. 
Weight  of  Cane— 2246  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre,  22.46  tons. 

Weight  of  Bagasse— 686  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice,  1560  lbs. 

Extraction — 69.50,  Bagasse,  30.50. 

.Juices  of  Nos,  2 and  5 wero  worked  together. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICES. 

No  Sulphur  user! ; 4 grammes  Lime  to  gallon  of  juice  ; weather  warm  aud 
juice  slightly  fermented. 


[23] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

5 

c 

p 

7c 

p 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

7^ 

o 

.2 

'3 

6 

Raw  juice  No.  2 : 

7.2 

12.9 

10.6 

81.3 

Raw  juice  No.  5 

7.2 

13.0 

11.0 

84.0 

Limed  juice  No.  2 

7.4 

13.3 

10.4 

77.2 

Limed  juice  No.  5 

7.8 

14.0 

10.9 

77.8 

Concentratad  juice  No,  2 

26.0 

47.7 

35.3 

74.8 

Concentrated  juice  No,  5 • 

26., 5 

48.7 

37.8 

77 . 6 

89.. 5 

.... 

Molasses 

41. 

77.3 

43.0 

55 . 6 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

All  accident  occurred  by  which  an  unknown  quantity  of 
syrup  ready  for  the  pan  was  lost.  Eesults  obtained,  151  lbs  su- 
gar, and  1161  lbs  molasses,  were  far  too  low.  Without  use  of 
sulphur,  on  such  a warm  day,  maximum  temperature  70^ 
acetous  fermentation  set  in  before  the  raw  juice  could  be  treat- 
ed, hence  inversion,  which  was  arrested  in  cesrcentratioii. 

EXrERIMEOT  XO.  3. 

Manures  used — 7 lbs.  Sulphate  Ammouia,  ) 

6 lbs.  Dried  Blood,  10  lbs.  Cottou  Seed  Meal  [>  Put  out  May  24th. 

20  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate,  ) 

Weight  of  Cane— 2122  lbs..  Yield  per  acre  21.22  tons. 

Weight  of  Bagasse — 616  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice,  1506  tons. 

Extraction — 70.9  per  cent.,  Bagasse  29.1  percent. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICES. 

Limed  to  neutrality ; warm  weather,  without  sulphur,  caused 
slight  inversion  before  raw  juice  could  be  treated,  checked  by 
concentration. 


[24] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 


Idnv  Juice 

Linied  juice 

Coneentrated  juice. 

Sugar. 

Molasses 


i 

Z 

32 

'o 

$ 

x 

w 

g 

o 

= 

'p  i 

7.5 

24. 


10.6! 

4.66 

!84. 

13. 4| 

10.9' 

1.73: 

181- 

43.9 

35.8 

6.13 

^1. 

i 

91.5 

‘ 1 

— 

77.3! 

45.0 

: — i 

!58. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Sugars  i)o]nriziug  01.5  x)ei’ cent=97. 74  lbs  pure  sugar. 

07  lbs  Molasses  polarizing  ^5.05  per  cent=-43.69  lbs  pure  sugar. 

Total  sugar  in  sugar  and  molasses 141.43  lbs.  pure  sugar. 

Total  sugar  in  loOG  ll)s.  juice  ....10.61=159.64  lbs.  pure  sugar. 

Skimruings,  inversion  and  loss 18.21  lbs.  pure  sugar. 

The  skiiuuiiugs  and  .settlings  from  above  vere  not  vreighed,  and  hence 
loss  from  inversion  cannot  be  estimated. 


EXUEKIAIEXT  XO.  G. 


Manures  used — 30  lbs.  Cotton  seed,  15  lbs  Acid  }diosphate,  and  15  lbs. 
kaiuite. 

Weight  of  cane— 2229  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  22.29  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse  056  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice  1573  lbs. 

Extraction — 70.6  per  cent.,  Bagasse  29.4  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  .JL'ICE'^, 

Xo  siilplinrj  limed  and  left  slightly  acid^  using  3.8  grammes 
of  lime  per  gallon-;  fermentaticn  set  in  before  the  juice  could  he 
conceiitratetl. 


ICocliicicut  of  Purity 


[25] 


LA  BOKATOR Y ANAL Yi^^ES. 


Kind  of  Product, 

6 

a 

a 

V 

ZJ 

•=C 

o 

1 Total  Solids. 

1 1 

1 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

—4 

o 

y 

y 

o 

o 

o 

R;iw  juire 

7.2 

12.9 

, 10.4 

1.70 

Limed  juice 

7.4 

13-3 

1 11.0 

1.72 

82-7 

Concentrated  juice 

25. 

45.9 

35.2 

7.04 

76.6 

Molasses 

40. 

75.3 

43.3 

» « « » 

.57.5 

Sugar  

1 

i 96.0 

SULAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

107  ]li)s  aafiar  polarizing  96.  por  ceDt=103  lbs  pure  sugar. 
103  lbs  molasses  polarizing  13.3  x)er  cent— 1-1.6  lbs  pure  sugar 


Total  in  sugar  ami  molasses 147.6  lbs  pure  sugar 

1573  lbs  juice  polarizing  10.4  per  C0nt=163..5O  lbs  pure  sugar. 

Loss  in  skimmings,  inversion,  etc., 15.99  lbs  pure  sugar. 

Skiiiuuings  and  settlings  not  weighed. 

EXPEKIMENT  XO.  4. 

Alaiiiire.s  used — 2.3  lbs.  Cot.  seed  meal  and  11.]  lbs.  Acid  piiospliate 

This  Experimeut  was  divided  into  3 equal  parts.  Xo.  1, 

not  desuckered  at  all,  but  every  facility  afforded  for  suckeriug. 

Xo.  2,  not  a sucker  was  permitted  to  grow  during  the  season. 

X'o.  3,  the  suckers  were  removed  till  June  22d,  after  which  they 

were  permitted  to  grow.  See  Bulletin  Xo.  7,  for  detail. 

No.  1 yieldeU  at  rate  of  22.63  tons  to  acre  polarizing  10.6. 

No.  3 19.32  “ “ 10. 

No.  2 was  worthless  and  not  weighed  or  gathered.  The  above  was  con- 
verted into  molasses. 

EXPEBIMEXT  XO.  7. 

Manures  used — 30  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal. 

Weight  of  cane — 1864  Ihs.,  Yield  i>er  acre,  18.64  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse — 594  lbs.,  V/eight  of  juice  1270  lbs. 

Extraction — 63.17,  Bagasse  31.91. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 


Lime  used  (5.1  grammes  to  gallon)  to  neutrality — concentrated  in  open 
pan,  cooked  in  vacuum  and  ceutrifu galled. 


[26] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baunic 

Total  solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-eflit,  Purity 

Ivaw  juice 

6.9 

12.4 

9.6 

1.89 

77. 

Lnned  juice 

7.3 

13.1 

10.5 

1.84 

80. 

Of'ncentrated  juice 

16.6 

29.7 

23.2 

4.76 

78. 

Mol  .asses 

33. 

61.2 

32.6 

53. 

8ugar. 

87 . 6 

Ski  mm  ill  os 

6.H 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


lU)  lbs.  Sugar  polariziug 87,6=83.16  lbs.  pure  sugar. 

:U  lbs.  Molasses  32.6=26.56  “ 

85  lbs.  Skimmings  “ 6.8  5.77  “ “ 


Total  sugar  accounted  for 115.49  “ 

Total  in  1270  lbs.  juice  polariziug  9,6  pr.  ct.=121.J>2  “ 


Loss  by  inversion  and  otherwise  6.43  “ 

Here  the  skimmings  and  settlings  were  worked  three  times 
with  great  care  and  yet  they  finally  contained  o.77  ]bs.  sugar, 
which  was  thrown  away  and  were  doubtless  the  cause  of  a part 
of  the  inversion  found  above.  This  amount  5.77  lbs.  is  nearly 
5 per  cent  on  the  total  sugar  worked. 

EXPEKIxMElS^T  XO.  8. 

Manures  used — 13  lbs  Sulphate  ammonia,  23  lbs  Acid  phosphate,  and  4 
lbs.  Muriate  potash,  i)ut  out  May  24th,  1887. 

Weight  of  cane — 1902  lbs  ; Held  per  acre,  19.02  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse — 628  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice,  1278  lbs. 

Extraction — 66.9  per  cent,,  Bagasse  33.1  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

. Lime  used,  3.5  grammes  to  gallon,  and  left  slightly  acid.  Fermentation 
slightly  occurred  before  the  raw  juice  could  be  cooked. 


[27] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 


Rciw  juic0 

Limed  juice 

Concentrated  juice 

Molasses 

Sugar 

Skinnniugs 


2 

cc 

c 

c 

m 

© 

03 

6 

■r. 

c 

o 

O 

f-i 

U 

rt 

© 

o 

c 

c 

C 

m 

/ .o 
7.9 


13.6  p c 

10.8  p c 

1.46 

79 

14.2  p c 

10.9  p c 

1-58 

77 

45.8  p c 

34.70 

5.55 

76 

....  pc 

. . . pc 



.. ..  pc 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

An  amount  of  juice  estimated  to  be  about  10  gallons,  was  accidentally 
lost  ^yllich  vitiated  the  accuracy  of  results.  Hence  sugar  and  molasses  not 
analysed.  There  were  obtained  however,  80  lbs  sugar,  117  lbs  molasses,  and 
0.51  lbs  shimmings  out  of  a possible  sugar  content  of  1371  lbs. 

expekime:n^t  no.  o. 

Manares  used — 15  lbs.  Acid  phosphate  and  15  lbs.  Kainlte. 

Weight  of  cane — 1500  lbs..  Yield  per  acre  15  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse — 504  lbs.  Weight  of  juice  99G  Pos. 

Extraction— 66.4  per  cent.,  Bagasse  33.6  per  cent. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  neutrality — using  4.1  grammes  per  gallon.  Hovrever  a very 
■slight  fermentation  occurred  before  the  last  raw  juice  could  be  concentrated. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kinds  of  Product. 


Raw  juice 

Limed  juice 

Concentrated  juice 

Molasses  

Sugar 

Skiminiugs 


Degrees  Baumc 

Total  Solids. 

1 

1 Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-cllit  Purity 

7.2 

12.9 

10.1 

1.83 

78. 

7.5 

13.5 

11. 

1.85 

81. 

16. 

29. 

22.1 

4.11 

76. 

37. 

69.2 

38!4 

89.2 

55. 

79. 

14.2 

10  8 

76. 

SUGAR  HOUSH  RESULTS. 


61  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 69.2=  54.42  lbs.  i)ure  sugar. 

95  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 38.4=  36  28  “ “ ‘‘ 

86  lbs.  Shimmings,  polarizing 10.8=  9.29  “ 

Total  sugar  accounted  for 100.99  “ “ 

Total  Sugar  in  996  lbs.  juice  polarizing 10.1=  100.59  “ “ “ 


Gain 


.40 


[28J 


i:XI>liUlME>'T  XO.  10. 

3Iauures  used-  15  lbs  Kainite. 

Wei^’-ht  of  cane — 149*2  liis.  Yield  per  acre  14.92  tons. 
Weight  of  bagas'e— 494  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice  998  lbs. 
Kxtivie lion— (36.9  per  cent.,  Bagasse  33.1  iier  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICt:. 

l.imed  to  neutrality,  using  4.1  grammes  to  gallon. 


T.  ABOT?  ATOR Y AX AL Y.S ES . 


Kind  of  Product. 


I 

I 


I 


I 


6 


to 


O 

•a 


liaw  juice  . . . 
Errned  juice, 
Con  centrated 

Molas.ses 

^^’gar 

Bkiinmings. . 


juice. 


7.8|14.0  pc|10.7  pel. 72  pc|/G. 


8.0  14.4  p c 


26. 

31 


147.7  p e 
|57.3  p c 


11.5  p c l .83  p e!<S0- 


38.1  p cil.  io  p c: 
33 .8  p c ! 


90.8 

10:8 


P c 


80. 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

80  Ib.s,  Sugar  iiolarizing 90.8  per  cent=  72.64  lbs.  pure  sugar 

(Mlbs.  Molasses  polarizing 33.8  per  cent=  21.63  “ ‘*  “ 

85  lbs.  Skimmings  polarizing 10.8  per  cent=  9.18  “ ‘‘ 


Total  Sugar  accounted  for. 101.45  “ 

Total  sugar  in  993  lbs.  juice  ^d) 10.7  per  eent=106.78  “ 

Loss 2.33 


EXPERIMENT  NO.  11. 

Manures  u.sed — 10  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal  and  5 lbs.  Floats. 
Weight  of  cane  1254  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  12.54  tons. 

■Weight  of  bagasse  418  lbs..  Weight  of  juice  836  lbs. 
Extraction  66|-  per  cent.,  Bagasse  33iper  cent. 

treatment  of  juice. 

Limed  to  neutrality — using  4 3 grams  per  gallon^ 


Glucose. 


[29] 


LABOKATORY  AXALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 


Kaw  juice 

Limed  juice. 

Concentrated  juice 

Mola.seies. 



Skimiuins’s 


1 i 

! O 

( p 

: ^ i 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose.  1 

1 __..J 

Glucose. 

6 

‘ 8.0 

■ 14.4: 

: 11.8 

1.58 

81.9 

1 8.6 

15. .^1 

12.9 

1.61 

82  .r> 

' 24.0 

43. 9i 

3.5.2 

4.71 

80.1 

1 1 

: 59.31 

:i9.2 
9 4 



! 66.1 

: 9.6! 

16. 2i 

6.6 

40.74 

&i:gae  house 

RESULTS. 

51  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing.  .................. 

Vll  Ihs,  Molas^e^j  polarinng 

170  Ski  mini  iigs  jrolarizing 

U u ; 

((  a 

T'iji.tal  sugar  accouuted  for, 

Total  sugar  in  836  lbs.  juLpe  polarizing. . 

U.8---98.64 

(i  i( 

u u <{ 

Loss  from  inversion.  Ac 

15-17 

(1  it  < « 

Tiie  skiiumiugs  and  .settlings^  an  iiiuisiially  large  aniouiit 
(170  ibs.)  ou  aecoiint  of  condition  of  weather  (warm,  damp  and 
ijultry)  fermented  rapidly  and  prevented  working  as  contem- 
idated.  The  loss  of  cane  sugar  by  it  was  very  heavy.  Tlie 
jskimmings  should  have  had  a co-elficieut  of  purity  nearly  as 
great  as  the  raw  juice.  With  1G.2  i)er  cent  of  total  solids  this 
would  have  given,  with  80  purity  co-eflicieut  12.0  percent  sugar 
•cvr  a total  iu  the  skimmings  of  21  lbs.  We  hud  by  analyses oidy 
1>.G  per  cent  sugar  or  a total  of  11.22  lbs.,  showing  10. G8  lbs. 
as  having  been  inverted  in  the  skimmings ; subtracting  this 
:amount  from  the  total  lo€S  above  and  we  have  4.74  lbs.,  due 
probably  to  losses  iu  the  manipulation  of  the  sugar. 

This  experiment  clearly  demonstrated  the  necessity  of 
working  up  rapidly  tho  juice  as  fast  as  it  comes  from  the  mill, 
especially  if  the  weather  is  warm  aud  sultry  aud  uo  sulphur 
used.  It  also  shows  that  the  albuminoid  matter  in  scums,  under 
such  favorable  conditions  rapidly  invert  the  sugar  present. 
Farther  on  we  will  illustrate  the  advantages  of  a filter  press  in 
preventing  such  losses. 


[30] 


expeeime:^t  xo.  12. 

Manures  used — 16|  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal,  and  8^  lbs.  Floats. 

Weight  of  cane — 1574  lbs.;  Yield  per  acre,  15.74  tos. 

Weight  of  bagasse — 490  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice  1034  lbs. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  nearly  neutrality,  using  4.2  gram  mss  per  gallon.  The  juice 
Avas  worked  slightly  acid. 


Lx\B01lATORY  ANALYSES. 


70  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 

lbs. 

pure 

sngai.. 

70  lbs.  ilolasses  polarizing 

a 

a 

68  lbs.  Skimiiiings  polarizing 

u 

.< 

i i 

Total  sugar  accounted  for 

111.34 

It 

0 

. t 

Total  sugar  in  1084  lbs  juice 

11.2  121.40 

0 

n 

Loss  by  insverion 

O' 

< ( 

( i 

The  weather  Avas  quite  warm  and  sultry,  with  a lainfall  of  one  inch 
during  the  day,  and  therefore  fermentation  entered  our  juices  iu  spite  of  ef- 
forts to  prevent. 


EXPERIMENTT  NO.  13. 

Manures  used — 23 lbs.  Cotton  meal  and  11^  lbs.,  Floats,  applied  May  24tb. 
IVeight  of  cane — 1734  lbs  ; Yield  per  acre,  17.34  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse — 560  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice  1174  lbs. 

Extraction — 67.7  percent.  Bagasse  32.3  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE, 

Limed  in  excess,  using  6 grammes  per  gallon.  The  juice  was  therefore 
worked  alkaline. 


[31] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


81  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 9b.  = 77.76  lbs.  pure  sh gar. 

127  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing ‘37.1=  47.12  “ “ ‘‘ 

130  lbs.  Skiinmings  iiolarizing 0.3=  12.09  “ “ “ 

Total  sugar  accounted  for 136.97  “ 

Total  sugar  in  1174  lbs.  juice  polarizing ..12.4=145.67  “ 

Loss  by  iiiYersion,  alkalinity,  etc., 8.60  “ “ “ 

Here  there  was  a gain  in  glucose  in  the  molasses,  due  to  fer-  ^ 

mentation  induced  by  prevailing  warm  and  sultry  vreather,  of  about  three 
lbs.  This  with  the  glucose  in  the  sugar,  and  scums,  and  the  sucrate  of  lime 
removed  or  left  in  the  molasses  may  account  for  some  of  the  apparent  loss 
— 95  parts  of  cane  sugar,  making  100  parts  of  glucose  or  invert  sugar. 


EXPERIMENT  NO.  II. 

3Ianures  used — 23  11)S.  Cotton  meal  and  11^  lbs.  Floats  put  out  October  19. 
Weight  of  cane — 1832  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  18.32  tons. 

Weight  of  ])agass6 — 620  1])S.,  Weight  of  juice  1212  lbs. 

Extraction — 66.1  i)er  cent,  Bagasse  33.9  per  cent. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  neutrality,  using  6.2  grammes  to  gallon. 


Kind  of  Product. 

2 

3 

s 

o 

o 

fee 

o 

Q 

Totai  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-cfficicnt 
of  Purity 

Raw  juice 

7.6 

13.9 

11.1 

1..55 

81  .02 

Limed  juice 

8.2 

14.8 

12.5 

4.63 

84.40 

Concentrated  juice 

21.0 

38.3 

31.0 

81.00 

Skimmings 

11.9 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

An  accident  prevented  the  successful  working  of  this  ex- 
periment and  only  57  J lbs.  sugar  and  78  lbs.  molasses  were 
obtained. 


[32] 


EXPEEIMBNT  XO.  15. 

Manures  used — 30  lbs.  Cotton  meal  and  15  lbs.  bloats. 
Weight  of  cane — 2020  lbs.,  Yield  jier  ac*re  20.20  tons. 
V^eight  of  bagasse — 710  lbs.,  Weight  of  juicp  1310  lbs. 
Extraction — C4.85  per  cent,  bagasse  35.15  per  cent. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  neutrality,  using  4.4  grammes  per  gallon. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

c i 

i 1 

: 8 
u 
fcC 

, 

J W- 

! 2 

1 ^ i 

H OC 

1 

Co-elllclont  of  | 

Purity  .’ 

Ka  V juice 

7.6 

7.6 

25.0 

.36.01 

13.7  U.5 

13.7  11.8 

i 4.5.9  38.5 
1 64.8  42.1 

L 1 92. 

1 .80 
i.a> 

‘ioieio 

1.15 

2.1-i 

83. 
86. 

84. 
65. 

Lftmed  juice. 

Concentrated  juice 

Molasses. 

Sugar - 

Skimmings  - r- 

T.4 

1 13.4  10.5 

79. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

!41  1))S.  Sugar  polarizing. b6.4Slbs.  purcsugar 

02  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing, ..42.1='  33  73 

104  lbs.  Ski  minings  [X'larizing 10.5=^  17,22  “ 


Total  sugar  a-coounte4  for 142, 44>  “ 

Total  sugar  hi  1310  lbs.  juice  iKilarizing 11.5=^=3150.65  “ 


Loss  in  sugar 8,22  lbs. 

Since  the  purity  co-efficient,  held  Up  very  well  in  concen- 
trating this  juice  an  effort  was  inaile  to  find  out  the  cause  of  tliis 
loss.  The  following  calculations  shove  that  it  was  not  alj 
inverted. 

GLUCOSE  COMPARISON. 


1310  lbs.  Juic-e  had  

94  lbs  Sugar  ^ 

92  Ibe.  Molasses  ® 

164  lbs.  Skimm'ngs  © 


. 1.8  per  cent  ==23  58  lbs,  glucose 
1.15=1.03  lbs. 

19.6=18.03 
2.12=3.47  “ 


Total  recovered 


22.58 


Leaving  of  original  glucose  unrecovered. 


1.00 


[33] 

A similar  calculation  will  show  a loss  also  in  total  solids 
therefore  the  conclusion  was  reached  that  there  had  been  a loss 
of  syrup  somewhere  in  the  cooking’j  perhaps  in  the  overflow  of 
the  pan.  Accordingly  a strict  watcli  was  placed  on  the  latter, 
and  to  our  surprise,  occasionally  an  overflow  would  occur,  es- 
pecially when  the  juices  were  acid  or  the  pan  very  full,  which 
seriously  vitiated  our  results. 

EXPERIMENT  NO.  10. 

Manures  used — 30  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal,  15  lbs.  Floats,  and  15  lbs.  Kai- 
nite. 

Weight  of  cane — 1910  lbs,  Yield  per  acre  19.10  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse — C51  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice  1259  lbs. 

Extraction — 05.9  per  cent.,  Bagasse  34. i per  cent. 

TUEA'OIEXT  OF  .JUICE. 

Limed  to  perfect  neutrality,  using  3.9  grammes  per  gallon  and  cc-neen 
trated  in  Yaryan’s  Vacuum  Distilling  Apparatus. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  product. 

o 

d 

n 

o 

P 

& 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose.  j 

K 

O 

D 

ii  ® 

§ -ji 

; o 

11 

o''" 

o 

8 cl 

Raw  juice. 

8.5 

15.4 

11.6 

1.32 

75-3 

11.4 

Limed  juice 

S.9 

16.2 

13.4 

1.48 

82.7 

11.9 

Concentrated  juice 

20.0 

36.5 

30.0 

3.88 

82.1 

12.9 

Molasses 

Sugar  

95 . 0 

Skimmings 

6.4 

11.6 

8.7 

-92 

75. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

92  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing  95. 

79.5  lbs  Molasses,  samx)le  not  analyzed  (lost). 

140  lbs.  Skimmings  polarizing  8.7. 

The  failure  to  have  molasses  analyzed  prevented  a calcula- 
tion of  results.  The  purity  coefficients  indicate  a successful 
clarification  and  concentration.  Here  for  the  first  time  the 
vacuum  distilling  apparatus,  (single  effect),  erected  by  Yaryaii 
Manufacturing  Comijany,  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  was  used  to  concen- 
trate the  juice.  This  apparatus  was  subsequently  used  in  over 
100  experiments,  and  as  far  as  we  could  judge  from  weights  and 
analyses,  neither  inverted  nor  overflowed,  points  of  great  rec- 


3 


[34] 


ommendatiou.  It  is  very  easily  worked  by  any  one  having  even 
a rudimentary  knowledge  of  machinery. 

EXPERIMENT  NO.  17. 

Manures  used — 30  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal,  15  lbs.  Floats,  15  lbs.  Kaiuite, 
and  10  lbs.  Gypsum. 

Weight  of  cane— 1806  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  18.06  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse— 612  lbs..  Weight  of  juice  1194  lbs. 

Extraction— 66.1  per  cent.,  Bagasse  33.9  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  perfect  neutrality,  using  3 grammes  per  gallon,  and  concen- 
trated in  the  Vary  an. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Degrees  Baurae. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

7.9 

14.3 

10.90 

1.17 

8.4 

15.2 

12.15 

1.51 

23.2 

42.5 

33.90 

4.59 

38.0 

71.3 

44.60 

12.15 

95.00 

1.08 

7.7 

13.9 

9.00 

1.13 

KIND  OF  PRODUCT. 


Raw  juice 

Limed  juice. . ...... 

Concentrated  juice. 

Molasses 

Sugar 

Shimmings 


6.2 

80. 

79.7 

61.1 

64.'? 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


82  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 

85  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 

126  lbs.  Skimmings  polarizing. . 

Total  sugar  accounted  for 

Total  sugar  in  1194  lbs  Juice  % 

Loss 


.95.  = 77.9  lbs.  pure  sugar. 
44.6=  37.91 

. 9.  = 11.34  ‘‘  “ 


127.15 

10.9=130.14  “ “ “ 


2.99  y 


GLUCOSE  CALCULATION. 


1194  lbs  Juice  ^ 1.17=  13.96  lbs.  glucose 

Recovered  in 

82  lbs.  Sugar® 1.08=  .88  ) 

85  lbs.  Molasses® 12.15=10.33/ 

126  lbs.  Skimmings  ® 1.13=  1.42) 


Total 

Loss  in  glucose 


12.63  lbs. 
1.33  lbs. 


EXPERIMENT  NO.  18. 


Manures — None. 

Weight  of  cane — 1626  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  16.26  tons. 
Weight  of  bagasse  5'^4  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice  1042  lbs. 
Extraction  64  per  cent,  Bagasse  66  per  cent. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 


Limed  to  neutrality,  using  2.6  grammes  per  gallon  and  concentrated  in 
the  Vary an. 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degree  Baumc. 

i 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-efificient 

Purity. 

j Glucose  per  cent 

Sucrose. 

Raw  juice 

8.5 

15.4 

12.1 

1.54 

78.5 

12.7 

Limed  juice 

8.6 

15.5 

12.6 

1.50 

81.2 

11.9 

Concentrated  juice ... 

15.5 

28.1 

23.3 

3.29 

82.9 

14.2 

Molasses  

39. 

73.4 

45.5 

11.80 

cfp.f  , , , , T , 

93.9 

Skimmings 

4.9 

8.9 

6.1 

1.01 

68.5 



SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

68  lbs.  sugar. 

68  lbs.  molasses. 


EXPERIMENT  NO.  19. 

Manures  nsed — 30  lbs.  Cotton  8e.ed  meal,  15  lbs.  Floats,  15  lbs.  Kainite 
and  10  lbs.  Gypsum. 

Weight  of  cane — 1636  lbs..  Yield  per  acre  16.36  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse — 548  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice  1098  lbs. 

Extraction — 67.1  per  cent,  Bagasse  32.9  per  cent. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 


Limed  to  nearly  neutrality,  using  3.8  grammes  per  gallon — concentrated 
in  the  Yaryan. 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 


Raw  juice 

Limed  juice 

Concentrated  juice 

Molasses 

Sugar  

Skimmings 


Degrees  Baumo. 

Total  Solids.  I 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-efficient  of 
Purity 

1 

Glucose  per  cent 
! Sucrose. 

8.4 

15.1 

12.4 

1.61 

82.1 

13. 

9.0 

16.25 

13.8 

1.42 

84.9 

10.6 

15.7 

28.40 

23.7 

3.34 

83.4 

14.1 

30. 

67.30 

43.7 

10. 2t 

64.9 

94.8 

1 . 15 

6.7 

ii.oo 

9.7 

1.13 

80.8 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


75  lbs.  sugar. 

82  lbs.  molasses. 


[36] 


Calculations  ou  Experiments  18  and  19,  are  not  made  be- 
cause small  quantities  of  syrup  were  known  to  liave  oversowed  ^ 
during  boiling.  They  are  both  short  of  theoretical  results 
by  about  18  lbs.  But  the  piirety  co-efficients,  especially  ISTo.  18, 
indicate  a successful  clarihcation  and  concentration. 


EXPERIMEiNT  XO.  20. 


Manures  used — If*  lbs.  Tanbage. 

Weight  of  cane  1640  lbs.,  Yeld  jier  acre  16.40  tons. 
Weight  of  bagasse  512  bis.,  Y/eight  of  juice  11*28  bis. 
Extraction  68.1  per  cent,  Bagasse  31.0  per  cent. 


TEEATMEXT  OF  JUICE. 

(See  Experiments  with  Filter  press.) 


EXPEKIMEXT  XO.  21. 


^Manure.s  used — 2.3  lbs.  Tankage. 

Weight  of  cane  1440  lbs.,  Yieid  per  acre  14.40  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse  .530  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice  910  lbs. 

Extraction  63.2  per  cent,  Bagaese  36. 8 per  cent. 

TEEATMEXT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  neutrality — using  5.1  grammes  per  gallcn  and  concentrated  in, 
the  Yaryan. 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

6 

5 

» 

CD 

O 

o 

fcc 

o 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-efficieut 
of  Purity. 

j Glucose  per  cent 

Sucrose. 

Raw  juice 

8.7 

15.7 

13.5 

1.52 

85.9 

11.2 

Limid  juice 

10.2 

18.5 

15.2 

1.48 

82.1 

9.7 

Cor.cen  tratuO  jnir’e 

23.0 

42.0 

35.2 

83.8 

iMol  asses . . 

39.0 

73.3 

49.8 

7.96 

07.9 

Suffar 

94.5 

.89 

Shimmings 

8.^ 

15.9 

12.6 

1.03 

79.2 

[37] 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

78  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 94.5=  73.71  lbs.  pure  sugar, 

70  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 49.8=  34.86  ‘‘  “ “ 

116  lbs.  Skinimings  polarizing 12:6=  13.61  “ “ “ 


Total  sugar  accounted  for 122.18  ‘‘  “ 

Total  sugar  in  910  lbs.  juice® 12.5=122.85  “ “ 


Loss .67 


EXPEKIMEXT  NO.  22. 


Manures  used — 35  lbs.  Tankage. 

Weight  of  cane — 1660  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre,  16.60  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse— 5.50  lbs..  Weight  of  juice  1110  lbs. 

Extraction — 661-  per  cent.,  Bagasse  334  per  cent, 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  nearly  neutrality,  using  4.2  grammes  to  gallon,  and  concen- 
trated in  the  Yaryan. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baumo. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

‘fH 

3 

a; 

0 

0 

0 

C X 

X ^ 

Raw  juice 

7.9 

14.3 

11.6 

1..58 

81.1 

13.6 

Limed  juice 

8.6 

15.5 

12.6 

1.50 

81.2 

11.9 

Concentrated  jniee 

23.0 

42.0 

34.4 

81.9 

Molasses 

40.0 

75.3 

52.3 

!'  ’s.oo 

Sucar 

95.2 

1 . 18 

Skimminrr.s  . 

6.1 

ii.6 

7.4I 

1.00 

67.2 

RESULTS  IN  SUGAR  HOUSE. 


The  fugalman  by  accident  dropped  an  unknown  quantity  of  masse  cuit  G 
in  some  molasses,  and  hence  results  obtained  are  too  low.  The  following 
however  were  actually  obtained  : 

59  lbs.  sugar. 

84  lbs.  molasses. 

Up  to  this  point  our  efforts  have  been  exerted  in  seenring 
data  with  which  to  compare  future  experiments.  Accordingly 
we  have  treated  slightly  acid,  neutral  and  alkaline  juices,  using 
lime  only,  except  with  Xo.  1.  AYe  have  clearly  demonstrated 
that  fresh  juices  limed  to  exact  neutrality,  suffer  little  or  no  in- 
version by  concentration  in  a vacuum,  and  very  little  in  the  open 


pan.  In  fact  the  cosfficient  of  purity  rises  with  the  concentra- 
tion, provided  the  solids  not  sugar  which  rise  to  the  surface  or 
fall  to  the  bottom,  are  removed.  This  is  as  it  should  be,  since  the 
coefficient  of  purity  represents  the  proportion  of  sugar  to  total 
solids.  Of  the  latter  a portion  of  those  not  sugars,  are  either 
rendered  insoluble  and  settle  to  the  bottom,  or  are  forced  by  the 
increasing  specific  gravity  of  the  liquid  to  the  top,  and  are  re- 
moved by  brush  or  otherwise.  This  liming  to  neutrality  how- 
ever gives  dark  colored  products,  a serious  objection,  so  long  as 
they  are  bought  by  color  and  not  by  their  saccharine  content. 
The  rest  of  the  experiments  are  therefore  devoted  to  different 
clarifying  agents  accessible  to  the  Station. 

EXPERIMENTS  WITH  LIME  AND  SUPERPHOSPHATE  OF  LIME. 


EXPERIMENT  NO.  23. 


Manures  used — 45  lbs.  Taul\age,  applied  May  24tli,  1886. 
Weight  of  cane — 1790  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  17.90  tons. 
Weight  of  bagasse — 5.76  lbs.,  Weight  of  juice  1214  lbs. 
Extraction — 67 .8  per  cent.,  Pagassc  32.2  per  cent. 


TKEA'OIEXT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  slight  alkalinity,  using  3.6  grammes  per  gallon  ; settled  and 
made  slightly  acid  Avith  superphosphate  of  lime.  Concentrated  in  Yaryan. 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES . 


Kind  of  Product. 


<a 

6 

Q 


a 

o 


O 


Raw  juice 

I.«imed  jaice 

Coneentrated  juice 
Molasses  


8.6  15.5 

8.9  16.0 

20.0  36.4 

38.8  73.0 


11.9 

13.2 

27.8 

47.9 


1.46 

1.38 

3.76 

19.20 


76.7 

82.5 

76.3 


12.3 

10.4 
13.2 


Sugar 

Skimraings 


95.5  1..59 

6.2  1.00 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

88  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 95.5  per  cent=  84.04  lbs.  pure  sugar. 

86  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 47.9  per  ceut=  41.27  “ “ “ 

107  lbs.  Skimmings  polarizing 6.2percent=  6.63  “ “ “ 

Total  sugar  accounted  for 181.94  131.94  “ “ “ 

Total  sugar  in  1214  lbs.  juice  polarizing. . . 11.9  144.46  “ “ “ 

a u a 


Loss  by  inversion,  etc., 


12.52 


[39] 


This  loss  was  a disappointment^  and  at  first  eonld  not  be  ac- 
counted for,  but  our  laboratory  results  soon  revealed  the  rai)id 
decline  of  coefficient  of  purity,  and  increase  in  glucose  per  cent- 
age  of  sucrose,  in  i)assing  from  limed  to  concentrated  juice.  A 
calculation  will  show  that  upon  the  amount  of  juice  worked,  that 
over  ten  pounds  sre  inverted  in  passing  from  limed  juice  of  82 
per  cent  purit3^  coefficient  to  concentrated  syrup  of  70  per  cent 
purity.  It  is  safe  therefore  to  assume  that  most  of  this  loss  was 
due  to  inversion.  But  superphosphate  of  lime  rightfully  ap- 
plied ought  not  to  invert.  An  analysis  of  the  article  used  was 
made,  and  found  to  contain  a goodly  amount  of  free  suipliuric 
acid  which  had  done  the  Avork.  It  was  however  used  in  a few 
other  experiments  and  discarded.  This  was  a commercial  arti- 
cle and  was  bought  in  ^ew  Orleans. 

EXBEFJMEXT  XO.  21. 


^Manures  used — 45  lbs.,  Tankage  applied  Oct.  19th. 
Weight  of  cane — 15SS  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  15.88  tons. 
Weight  of  bagasse — 562  lbs.  Weiglit  of  juice  1026  lbs. 
Extraction — 64.6  per  cent,  Bagasse  35.4  per  cent. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Idnied  to  slight  alkalinity  settled  and  clear  juice  made  slightly  acid  with 
commercial  superphosphate  ofliine,  containing  free  sulphuric  acid,  lime  used  4 
gramnres  to  gallon,  concentrated  in  the  Yaryan. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

1 

OD 

i) 

O 

tc 

1 

j Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

1 . 

! S 

i ® 

1 ! 

3 

- 

.i's 

'o  ‘5 

S P 

[ Glucose  per  cent 
j Sucrose. 

Raw  juice 

8.6 

15.5 

12.1 

' 1.50 

78.0 

12.4 

Limed  juice 

8.6 

15.51 

1 13.0 

i 1..54 

83.8 

11.8 

Concentrated  juice 

20.7 

37.8 

j 

28-71 

! 4.08 

75.8 

14.2 

Molasses 

1 

Suo^ar 

1 90.1 

i 

Skimmings 

5.9 

10.7' 

6.6 

1 

SUOAR  HOLSE  RESULTS. 


74  lbs.  Sugar,  64  !hs.  molasses  and  202  lbs.  skimmiogs. 

The  sample  of  molasses  from  some  cause  was  not  taken,  lienee 
no  calculation  of  results  can  be  made.  Inversion  was  large  as  is 
proved  by  comparing  the  co  efficient  of  purity  of  the  limed  and 
concentrated  juice  ; the  glucose  per  cent  of  sucrose  also  increases 
greatly. 


[40] 


EXPERIMEXT  XO.  25. 

Manures  used — 45  lbs.  Tankage  and  15  lbs.  Kaiuite. 

Yield  of  cane — lb'42  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  18.42  tons. 

Yield  of  Baga.sse  C04  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1238  lbs. 

Extraction — 67.2  per  cent,  Bagasse  32.8  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  alkali mity,  using  3.8  grammes  to  tbe  gallon,  settled  and  clear 
j nice  made  neutral,  u'itb  commercial  superphospbate  of  lime. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

c 

ce 

0 

c 

£JC 

0 

Tottal  Solid.s. 

Sucrose.  1 

OD 

0 

0 

0 

Co-eflicient  of 

Purity. 

Glucose  per  cent 

Sucrose. 

Raw  juice 

8.9 

16.1 

1 12.5 

1.16 

77.6 

9.3 

Limed  juice 

8.9 

16.1 

! 13.0 

1.04 

80.7 

8.0 

Concentrated  juice 

24.3 

44.5 

36. 

3.96 

80.9 

11.0 

Molasses 

39.4 

74.1 

51.6 

16.20 

Rno'm' 

96.2 

.70 



.Skimmings 

5.9 

10.7 

• 6.8 

.60 

63 . 5 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

90  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 96.2  per  cent=  86.50  lbs.  pure  sugar 

93  lbs.  Molasses  “ 51.6  per  cent=  47.98  “ “ ‘ “ 

185  lbs.  Skimmings  “ 6.8  per  cent=  12.58  “ 

Total  sugar  arccoumted  for 147.14  “ ‘‘  “ 

Total  sugar  in  1238  lbs.  juice® 124=  154.65  “ 


Loss 7.51 

Here  the  loss  was  uot  entirely  by  inversion,  as  following 
glucose  calculations  will  show  : 

1238  lbs.  Juice  ® 1.16=  14.36  lbs. 

Amount  found  in — 

90  11)8.  Sugar  ® 7=  .63 

■93  lbs.  Molasses  ® 16.2=15.06 

1S5  lbs  Skimmings 6=  1.11  16.80 

Gain  in  glucose 2.44  lbs. 

Equal  to  loss  of  sucrose  of  2.32  lbs.,  leaving  5.19  lbs  of  sucrose  unac- 
counted for. 


EXPEPJMEXT  NO.  2G. 


Manures  used — 45  lbs.  Tankage,  15  lbs.  Kaiuite,  and  10  lbs.  Gypsum. 
Yield  of  cane — 1932  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  17.32  tons. 

Yield  of  baga.sse— 580  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1354  lbs. 

Extraction  -70  per  cent..  Bagasse  30  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Limed  to  alkalinity,  using  3 grammes  to  the  gallon,  settled,  and  to  tbe 
clear  juice  added  commercial  superphospbate  of  lime  to  slight  acidity. 


[41] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

o 

3 

ei 

3? 

o 

p 

Sc 

c 

Total  Solids. 

6 

* 

3 

Glucose. 

Co-offi’t  Purity. 

1 

j Glucose  per  cen- 

Raw  juice 

9. 

16.3 

13. 

1.04 

79.1 

8. 

Limed  juice 

9.2 

16.6 

13.6 

1.08 

81.9 

10. 

Concentrated  juice 

23.8 

43.6 

33.9 

3.95 

77.7 

11.65 

Mola.s.sf^s 

.55 . 3 

14.30 

Suo'ar 

96.5 

.42 

Skiniinings 

6.7 

12. 

8.5 

.85 

70.81 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 96.5  per  cent=  88.88  lbs  pure  sugar 

115  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 55.3percent=  63.59  “ “ ‘‘ 

203  lbs,  Skimmings  polarizing 8.5  per  cent=  17.25  “ ‘‘  ‘‘ 

Total  sugar  accounted  for 169.72  “ “ 

'Total  sugar  in  1354  lbs.  juice  polarizing.  .13.  per  cent=17C.02  “ 

Loss 6.30  “ 

GLUCOSE. 

9.2  lbs.  Sugars 42  = .39 

115  lbs.  Molasses  ^ 14.3  =16.44 

203  lbs.  vSkimmings  ® 85  = 1.72 


Total  sugar  recovered 18. .^5  lbs 

Total  sugar  in  1354  lbs.  juice  ^ 1.04  =14.03 


Gain  by  inversion 4.47  lbs=4. 25  lbs.  pure  sugar. 

Loss  unaccounted  for 2.05  “ ‘‘ 

To  test  further  the  accuracy  of  this  loss,  the  followiug  the- 
oretical calculations  were  made.  The  skimmiiigs  containing 
everything  removed  from  the  juice  during  concentration,  are 
taken  from  raw  juice  and  the  remainder  should  be  in  tue  con- 
eentrated  juice,  sent  into  the  strike  pan. 

We  have  the  following  lbs.  of  each  in  the  juice  worked  : 


Kind  of  Produce. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-oUiciont 
of  Purity. 

Raw  juice 

220.70  lbs. 

176.02  lbs. 

14.08  lbs. 

79.1 

Skimmings 

24.36  “ 

17.25  ‘‘ 

1.72  “ 

70.8 

Total 

196.34  lbs. 

1.58.77  lbs. 

12.3611)8. 

by  difte’ce 

[42] 


Lpft  in  tbo  syrap  worked,  giving  by  calculation  a co-efficient  of  purity 
equal  to  80.^4.  But  1554  lbs.  of  juice  at  9^  Baume,  when  coucentrated  to 
2:1.8“^  Baume,  will  weigh  448  lbs.,  and  from  analyses  we  find  it  contains 
19().34  lbs.  total  solids,  152.55  lbs.  sucrose,  and  17.69  lbs.  of  glucose,  showing 
a decrease  of  6.22  Bos.  of  sucrose  and  an  increase  5.33  lbs.  of  glucose,  but  the 
inversion  of  6.22  lbs.  sucrose  would  give  6.54  lbs.  of  glucose.  Hence  6.54 
less  5.38=1.21  lbs.,  is  the  apparent  loss  in  glucose. 

A ciinilar  calculation  upon  the  glucose  per  eent  of  sucrose  will  give 
nearly  same  results. 

In  raw  juice  the  glucose  per  cent  is  8. 

In  skimmings  the  glucose  per  cent  is  10. 

In  concentrated  juice  the  glucose  per  cent  is  11.65. 

Taking  these  and  multiplyiag  by  the  amount  of  sucrose  in  each  and  we 
have  glucose : 

In  raw  juice 14.08  lbs. 

In  skimmings 1.72 

In  concentrated  juice 17.70  19.52  lbs. 

5.32  increase  in  gluco.se. 

Here  theory  shows  that  our  iiierease  in  glucose  sliouhl  he 
5.32  lbs.  and  our  wotk  shows  it  to  be  actually  4.47  lbs.  Theory 
shows  1.2  L sucrose  uuaccouuted  for,  while  our  iiractice  shows  an 
uuaccouutable  balance  of  a little  over  two  lbs.  Here  we  wish 
to  emphasize  the  fact,  that  a slight  acidity,  caused  an  inversion 
of  4 to  G lbs.  upon  a possible  quantity  of  15.8  lbs.  of  sugar,  or 
2 to  4 ])er  ceut  upon  the  sugar  worked.  But  the  agent  was  the 
energetic  sulphuric  acid. 


EXPERBIEXT  XO.  27. 

Hauures  used — 45  lbs.  Tankage,  15  lbs.  Cottou  Hull  Ashes. 
Yield  of  cauo — 1640  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  16.40  tons. 

Weight  of  bagasse — 589  lbs..  Weight  of  juice  1051  lbs. 
Extraction — 64,1  per  cent..  Bagasse  35.9  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JnCE. 

(Like  No.  26.) 


[43] 


T.ABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Tliis  experiment  was  used  in  a,  public  test  of  the  Yaryan  Dis- 
tilling Api^aratus,  and  was  converted  by  it  into  syrup.  No  sugar 
made. 


Experiments  Nos.  28  and  20  were  also  made  into  syrup. 
These  experiments  closed  the  use  of  commercial  superphos- 
phate of  lime,  and  point  conclusively  to  the  loss  which  may  be 
sustained  by  its  use.  Further  on  we  gave  a method  of  manu- 
facturing at  home  a pure  article,  quite  devoid  of  free  sulphuric 
acid,  which  gave  better  results. 

Experiments  in  the  use  of  sulphur  as  a defacatiug  agent 
were  next  instituted. 


EXPERIMENT  NO.  30. 

Manures  used — 85  lbs.  Cotton  seed,  and  15  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 
Yield  of  oane — 1540  lbs  , Yield  per  acre  15.40  tons. 

Yield  of  bagasse — 558  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  98'^  lbs. 

Extraction — 63.8  per  cent.,  Bagasse  36.2  per  cent. 


EXPERIMENT  NO.  31. 

Was  worked  np  with  No.  30  in  the  sugar  house  with 
Manures  used — 85  lbs.  Cotton  seed,  15  lbs.  Acid  Phosphata,  and  15  lbs. 
Kainite. 

Yield  of  cane — 1700  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  17.00  tons. 

Yield  ot  bagasse — 586  lbs..  Yield  of  juice  11.14  lbs. 

Extraction — 65.6  per  cent..  Bagasse  34.4  jier  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  ABOVE  JCIC'ES. 

Sulphured,  limod,  and  left  acid,  using  4 gramme.s  to  the  gallon  and  con- 
centrated in  the  Yaryan. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baiimc 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Glucose  per  con 

Sucrose. 

Co-efU’t  Purity. 

Raw  juice  No.  30 

8.7 

15.7 

12.8 

•1.38 

10.8 

81.5 

Sulphured  juice  No.  30 

8.7 

15.7 

12.8 

1.40 

10.9 

81.5 

Raw  juice  No.  31 

8.9 

16. 

13.6 

1.00 

7.3 

85. 

Sulphured  juice  No.  31 

8.7 

15.7 

13. 

1.15 

8.3 

82.8 

Limed  juice  (both) 

8. 

14.4 

12.1 

1.27 

10.5 

85.5 

Concentrated  juice  (both) 

16.5 

30.0 

23. 

2.82 

12.3 

76.6 

Molasses  both 

34.5 

64.3 

41.1 

11.33 

Su'Tar 

90.6 

3.28 

.Shimmings 

8.1 

14.6 

8.7 

1.00 

1 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


1()3  Ibe.  Sugar  polariziug 90.6=14(5.70  lbs.  pure  sugar. 

:207  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 41.1=  85.07  “ “ “ 

202  ibs.  Skimmings  © 8.7=  17.57  “ “ 

Total  accounted  for 249.34 

Total  in  raw  juice 267.19 


Loss 


17 


8.5 


EXPEEIMENT  XO.  32. 


Manures  used — 85  lbs.  Cotton  seed,  15  lbs.  Cottou  Hull  Ashes. 

Yield  of  Cane — 16.84  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  16.84  tons. 

Yield  of  Bagasse — 584  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1100  lbs. 

Extraction — 65.3  per  cent.,  Bagasse  34.7  i^er  cent. 

ITwEATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Sulpured  and  limed,  using  2.8  grammes  per  gallon  and  left  slightly  acid. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degree  Ban  mo. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

o 

c 

3 

Co-efficient  of 
Purity. 

Glucose  per  cent 
Sucrose. 

Raw  juice 

8.1 

14.6 

11.1 

1.5 

76. 

13.5 

Sulphured  juice 

8.1 

14.6 

11. 

1.54 

75.3 

14. 

Limed  juice 

8.2 

14.8 

11.8 

1.65 

79.7 

14. 

Concentrated  juice 

24.4 

44.8 

34.6 

5.84 

77.2 

16.8 

tVT<^1a®ses  1 ■ 1 1 . » . . . T 

26.4 

48.5 

41.38 

16.46 

Sugar  

95.20 

1.02 

Scums 

4.4 

8.6 

2.2 

.33 

[45] 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


72  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 

1024  lbs.  IMolnssps  “ 

41.3,S—  42.41 

1044  lbs.  Shimmings  “ 

2.2  — 2.29 

<(  U (1 

Total  accounted  for 

Total  present  1100  lbs.  juice  'S) 

113.24 

11.1-122.10 

ii  a a 

i(  It  It 

Loss 

Of  this  amount  there  was  inverted 

3.60 

(1  (C  it 

(1  tt  tf 

i(  It  it 

Balance  unaccounted  for 

5.26 

it  tt  (t 

In  this  experiment  Kroogs’  Filter  Press  was  need  to  filter  the  scums, 
after  the  addition  to  them  of  3 Pus.  pulverized  charcoal. 

The  masse  ouite  from  ahovo  weighed  151  lbs.,  from  which,  was  obtained 
72  lbs.  8ugar=47  per  cent. 

In  working  tills  acid  juice  a small  amount  of  lime  water 
wa>s  introduced  into  the  strike  pan  to  prevent  excessive  foam- 
ing. 

The  pulverized  charcoal  used  here  and  elsewhere,  was  kind  - 
ly  donated  by  Leeds  & Co.,  of  Xew  Orleans. 

EXPEElAlEXTiS^O.  33. 

Manures  used — 23^  lbs*  Cotton  meal,  Ilf  lbs.  Acid  phosphate. 

Yield  of  cane — 1724  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  17.24  tons. 

Yield  of  bagasse — 636  lbs..  Yield  of  juice  1083  lbs. 

Extraction — 63.1  per  cent.,  Bagasse  36.9  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Sulphured  and  limed,  using  2.8  grains  to  gallon  and  left  quite  acid; 
concentrated  in  the  Yaryan. 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 


6 

B 


o 

fcC 

o 


Raw  juice 

Snlphered  juice... 

Limed  juice 

Concentrated  juice 

Molasses 

Sugar 

Shimmings 


8.3 

8.2 

7.6 

24. 

40. 


4.6 


15. 

14.8 
13.7 

43.9 


o 

□2 


CO 

O 

o 

H 


o 


11.8 

1.42 

78.6 

11.2 

1.54 

75.6 

11.0 

1.59 

80.3 

33.3 

5.66 

75.8 

12. 

13. 

14. 
17. 


75.4 


42.1 


22.17 


...  96.1 

4.6  5.0 


1.09 

.72 


o -1 


[46] 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Il>s.  sugar  polarizing 1)6.1=  75.92  lbs.  pure  sugar 

8.5 11>8,  molasses  polarizing 42.1=  35.78  “ “ “ 

121  lbs„  skimming  polarizing 5.0=  6.05  “ “ “ 

Total  sugar  accounted  for 117.75  “ “ 

Total  sugar  in  1088  lbs.  juice  polarizing 11.8=128.38  “ “ 


Loss  by  inversion,  etc 10.63  “ “ “ 

By  a theoretical  calculation  based  on  laboratory  analyses,  the  amount  of 
iiveTsion  was  about  10  lbs. 


EXPEEIMENT  KO.  34. 


Manures  used — 85  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  and  15  lbs.  Floats. 

Yield  of  cane — 1556  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  15.56  tons. 

Yield  of  bagasse — 540  lbs..  Yield  of  juice  1016  lbs. 

Extraction — 65.3,  Bagasse  34.7. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Sulphured  and  left  very  acid,  using  2.3  grammes  of  lime  per  gallon 
©(occentrated  in  the  Y'aryan. 

LABORATORY  RESULTS 


Kind  of  Product. 


Raw  juice 

Sulphured  juice 

Coneentfated  juice, 

Molasses 

Sugar 

Shimmings 


Degrees  Banmc. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose.  i 

® 

tn 

O 

o 

3 

'S 

D 

pL. 

a 

o 

6 

o 

Glucose  per  cent 
of  Sucrose. 

8.5 

15.4 

11.9 

1.24 

77.2 

10.4 

8.1 

14.6 

11.4 

1.50 

78. 

13.1 

22.8 

41.7 

26.3 

5.10 

70.2 

17.4 

28. 

71.3 

47.6 

16.43 

05.7 

1.78 

3.3 

6. 

2.9 

.36 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS  • 

fS) Ilie.  Sugar  ^ 95.7=  57.42  lbs.  pure  Sugar. 

102 lbs.  Molasses 'g) 47.6=  48.55  “ “ “ 

lbs.  Skimmings '2) 2.9=  2.88  “ “ 


'i’otal  sugar  accounted  for 

Total  sugar  in  1016  lbs.  juice  'g) 


108.85  “ 
11.9=120.90  “ 


Loss  hy  inversion,  etc 12.05  “ “ “ 

Both  the  reduction  in  purity  coefficient  and  the  increase  in 
glucose  per  centage  of  sucrose  s.how  a heavy  less. 

In  this  experiment  the  Kroog’s  filter  press'  was  used  for  fil- 
tering the  shimmings  without  the  intervention  of  any  medium. 


[47J 


EXPERIMENT  NO.  35. 


Manures  used — 85  lbs.  Cotton  Seed,  15  lbs.  bloats, and  10  lbs.  Gypsum. 
Yield  of  Cane — 1850  lbs..  Yield  par  acre  18-50  tons. 

Yield  of  Bagasse — 640  lbs..  Yield  of  juice  1210  lbs. 

Extraction— 65.4,  Bagasse  34.6. 

TREATMENT  OF  Jl'ICE. 

Sulphured  and  left  very  slightly  jicid,  using  2.6  grammes  lime  ; concen- 
trated in  the  Yaryan. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baume. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

4^ 

'C 

Si 

a 

0. 

6 

o 

Glucose  per  cent 

of  Sucrose. 

Raw  juice 

! 8.2 

14.8 

11. 

l.,34 

74.3 

12.2 

Sulphured  juice 

8.3 

14.9 

11.1 

1.41 

74.4 

12.7 

Limed  juice. 

8.2 

14.8 

11.1 

74.5 

Concentrated  juice 

25. 

45.9 

33.4 

4.86 

72.7 

14.5 

Molasses 

38.8 

73. 

45.6 

17.60 

62.4 

Sugar 

97.1 

.90 

Skimmings 

4.5 

8.1 

4.2 

.50 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

77  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 97.1=  74.76  lbs.  pure  Sugar, 

94  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 45.6=  42.86  ‘‘  “ 

201  Iba.  Skimmings  polarizing 4.2=  8.46  “ “ 

Total  sugar  accounted  for 126.03  “ “ “ 

Total  sugar  in  1210  lbs.  juice  ® 11.6=133.10  “ “ “ 

Loss  by  inversion,  etc 7.02  “ 

Here  the  loss  by  inversion  was  about  three  .lbs.,  leaving  the  rest  unac^ 
counted  for. 


EXPEEIMENTS  NOS.  36,  37,  38,  39,  40. 

Manures  used — Stable  Manure,  with  and  without  Acid  Phosphate  and 
Floats. 

Yield  of  cane— 1940  lbs. 

Yield  of  Bagasse — 770  lbs.,  yield  of  juice  1170  lbs. 

Extraction— 60.3,  Bagrsse  39.7. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE: 

Sulphured  and  limed  to  neutrality,  using  3.3  grammes  of  lime  per  gal- 
lon. 


[48] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

6 

a 

s 

pq 

xn 

O 

bC 

Total  Solids. 

•osoiong 

Glucose.  1 

Co-cfii’t  Purity. 

O ft 

XJ  O 

« 2' 
P.3 
© => 
o . 

Sulphnred  juice 

‘ 8.4 

15.2 

11.5 

1.12 

75.6 

9.7 

Concentrated  juice 

24.5 

44.9 

33.5 

4.63 

74.6 

13.8 

Molasses 

38. 

71.2 

46.5 

18.20 

65 . 3 

96.2 

.85 

Shimmings 

4.6 

6.3 

6.5 

.75 

j 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


74  lbs.  Sugar  x’olarizing 1)5.2=  70.18  lbs.  pure  Sugar.. 

91.5  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 46.5=  42.54  “ 

136  lbs.  Skirnmiiigs  xiolarizLng 6.5=  8.84  ‘‘  “ “ 

121.56  “ “ 

lo  this  experiment  a small  x>ortion  of  syrup  was  lost.  The  inTevsion 
liowever  amounted  to  li  and  2|  lbs. 

This  completes  Fiat  Xo.  2.  The  size  of  each  experiment  ex- 
cept Nos.  3G^  37,  38,  39  and  4G,  was  1-20  of  an  acre,  these  1-00. 

The  next  plat  worked  was  No.  7,  and  here  on  account  o^ 
smaller  size  of  the  experiments  and  the  lateness  of  the  season,, 
several  field  experiments  were  worked  together  in  the  sugar 
house. 

PLAT  VII. 

PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 

EXPERIMENTS  1,  G,  7. 

Manures  used — On  each,  18  lbs,  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  and  18  lbs.  Kaiuite. 

Yield  of  Cane— 2346  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  14.67  tons. 

Vield  of  Bagasse — 754  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1592  lbs. 

Extraction — 67.9,  Bagasse  32.1. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Sulphured  and  limed,  using  3.1  grammes  per  gallon,  and  left  slightly 
acid. 


LABORATORY  RESULT. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degsees  Baume. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-efli’t  Purity. 

Glucose  per  cent 

Sucrose. 

Raw  juice  No.  1 

8.7 

15.7 

12.7 

1.13 

80.8 

8.89 

Raw  juice  No.  6 

8.6 

15.5 

12.5 

1.01 

80.6 

8.5G 

Raw  juice  No.  11 

8.7 

15.7 

12.7 

1.10 

80.8 

8.66 

Sulphured  juice  (all) 

8.7 

15.7 

12.6 

1.21 

80.2 

9.60 

Limed  juice  (all 

10.6 

19.2 

12.2 

1.50 

79.1 

10.46 

Concentrated  juice  (all) 

26.0 

47.8 

37.7 

5.35 

78.8 

11.24 

Molasses  ralD 

55.2 

15.00 

27.17 

Sugar  ralD 

92.4 

. 85 

.91 

Skimmings  (all) 

7.9 

14.3 

9.3 

.90 

9.67 

In  the  above,  the  limed  juice  was  partially  concentrated  be- 
fore sample  was  taken. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Here  a loss  of  a portion  of  the  syrup  prevented  accurate 
calculation,  but  in  the  masse  cuite  obtained  and  the  glucose  ratio 
to  sucrose  was  determined,  and  applying  this  to  the  total  amount 
of  sugar  in  the  juice,  after  that  in  Skimmings  had  been  deducted, 
and  we  have  a loss  of  lbs.  by  inversion,  viz. : 


Sucrose.  Glucose. 

In  raw  juice 295.31  25.81 

In  Skimmings 14.25  1.47 

Leaving 281. OG  24.34— ora  ratio  6.3 

In  masse  cuite  we  find 271.47  33.93 — or  a ratio  12.5 

Loss  by  inversion 9.59 


EXPEIHMEKTS  2,  4,  5. 


Manures  used — Basal  Mixture  with  f,  and  one  ration  of  Dissolved 
53one  Black. 

Yield  of  cane— 284G  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  17.76  tons. 

Yield  of  Bagasse — 1069  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1777  lbs. 

Extraction — G2.5,  Bagasse  37.5. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 


Sulphered  and  limed  in  excess,  using  3.8  grains  per  gallon. 


[50J 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baume. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose.  j 

Glucose. 

Co  offi’t  Purity. 

Glucose  per  cent 

Sucrose. 

Raw  juice  No.  1 

Raw  juice  No.  4 

8.8 

15.9 

13.2 

1.27 

83. 

9.62 

8.5 

15.4 

11.8 

1.30 

76.6 

11.01 

Raw  juice  No.  5 

8.6 

15.5 

12.3 

1.34 

79.3 

10.89 

Sulphured  juice  (all) 

8.5 

15.4 

11.9 

1.29 

77.2 

10.84 

Limed  juice  (all) 

8.4 

15.2 

11.5 

1.30 

75.6 

11.30 

Concentrated  juice  (all) 

25.0 

45.9 

35.1 

4.34 

/o . 3 

12.25 

Molasses 

Sn  crn.r 

37.5 

70.2 

44.0 

96. 

17.90 

.72 

62.6 

40.68 

.75 

Skimmings 

5-2 

9.4 

8.6 

.94 

10-93 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


144.5  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 96.  =138.72  lbs,  pure  sugar. 

140  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 44.  = 61.60  “ “ “ 

151  lbs.  Skimmings  polarizing 8.6=  12.98  “ “ “ 


Total  accounted  for 

Total  present  in  the  beginning 

213.30  “ “ 

221.47 

Loss  by  inversion,  etc 

Gain  in  Glucose 

6.17  “ “ “ 

Loss  unaccaunted  for 

The  above  juice  had 

The  above  molasses  had 

Containing  Potash 

Soda 

Lime 

Phosphoric  Acid. 

Sulphuric  Acid 

37-57  “ 

11.41  “ 

2.48  “ 

EXPEEIMENTS  NOS.  3,  8 aud  13. 

Manures  used — None. 

Weight  of  cane — 2558  lbs.;  Yield  per  acre,  13.47  tons. 
Yield  of  bagasse — 790  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1768  lbs. 
Extraction — 69.1  per  cent,  Bagasse  30.1  per  cent. 


TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Sulphured,  limed,  using  2.3  grammes  per  gallon  and  left  very  moderately- 
acid. 


[51] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baumo. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-efii’t  Purity, 

Glucose  per  cent 

01  Sucrose. 

Raw  juice  No.  3 

8.6  i 

15.5  1 

12.1 

1.42 

78-0 

! 11.73 

Raw  juice  No.  8 i 

8.5 

15.4  1 

11.6 

1.36 

75.3 

' 11.72 

Raw  juice  No.  11 

8.5 

15.4 

i 12-1 

: 1.46 

78.3 

1 12.06 

Sulphured  juice  [all] 

Limed  juice  “ 

8.5 

15.4 

I 11.4 

1 1.42 

74.0 

i 12.45 

1 11.4 

‘ 20.6 

15.4 

' 2.21 

74.7 

! 14.35 

Concentrated  juice  [all] 

Molasses  “ 

i 30.6 

56.6 

: 41.6 

5.66 

73.5 

13.60 

40.0 

: 75.4 

i 48.4 

17.00 

...... 

35.12 

Sugar  “ 

: 95.8 

! 1.00 

; 1.04 

Shimmings  “ 

I 6.5 

1 11.7 

1 7.1 

' 1.00 

14.05 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Here  the  syrup  coming  from  the  Yaryan  was  weighed  as 
well  as  analysed,  to  test  whether  there  was  any  loss  by  over- 
flow, with  follewiug  results : 

516  lbs.  syrup,  containing  214.65  lbs.  sucrose  and  29.20  lbs.  glucose, 
showing  no  loss  in  overliow,  giving  as  final  results  : 

136  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 95.8  = 130,28  lbs.  pure  sugar. 

168  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 48.4  = 81.31  “ “ “ 

134  lbs.  Shimmings  polarizing 7.1  = 9.51  “ 


Total  sugar  accounted  for. 
Total  in  raw  juice 


221.10  “ 
225.67  “ 


Loss  by  inversion,  etc 4.57  “ ‘‘ 

The  gain  in  glucose  was 5.66  lbs  =5.37  “ ‘‘ 


Total  gain  unaccounted  for. 


.80  lbs.  glucose 


EXPERIME:NTS  XOS.  7,  9,  10. 

Manures  used — Basal  Mixtures  1,  f and  1 ration,  of  Acid  Phosphate. 
Yield  of  cane — 2620  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  17.08  tons. 

Yield  of  Bagasse — 834  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1786  lbs. 

Extraction — 68.2  per  cent.  Bagasse  31.8  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Sulphured  and  limed  to  neutrality,  using  5.1  grammes  per  gallon. 


[52] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 


'o 

m 


■*s 


© 

O 

(-1  t-t 
© © 
CL  c; 
©02 


o 

© 

5 


iS 


© 

d 


O 


rH  © 

o 


.Haw  juice  No.  7 

,cR,a\v  juice  No.  9 

;l?.aw  juice  No.  10 

. .'Snlpliured  juice  (all) 

Xtiined  juice  (a  1) 

-..Ooziceutrated juice  (all)... 

(Molasses 

. Sagar 

.'Bkiinmiugs 


8.5 
8.4 
8. ‘2 

8.3 

8.8 

26.0 

36.0 


15.4 

15.2 

14.8 

14.9 

15.9 
47.8 
67-3 


12.8 

12.0 

11.5 

11.4 

13.1 

36.2 
46.0 
95.8 


1.06 

1.13 

1.02 

1.18 

1.38 

4.74 

13.78 

•55 


83.1, 
78. 9i 

77.71 

76.5 

82.4 

75.7 


8.28 

9.41 

8.87 

10.35 

10.53 

13.09 

29.95 

55 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

A loss  of  a portion  of  the  syrup  and  the  failure  to  analyse 
the  Skimmings  prevented  accurate  calculation  of  results.  There 
was  however  in  the  masse  cuite  obtained  a glucose  ratio  of  13. 
while  in  raw  juice  it  was  8.8,  showing  a decided  inversion. 


'The  al30Ye  juice  had 44  ash. 

The  above  Molasses 5.59  ash. 

U^jiitaiuing  Potash 36.06 

Soda  7.32 

Lime 2.81 

Phosphoric  Acid 2.58 

Salphuiic  Acid 11.94 


EXPERIMENTS  NOS.  12,  14,  15. 

Manures  used — Basal  Mixture  with  i,  f and  1 ration  of  Precipitated 
'.Bone  Black. 

Yield  of  cane — 2206  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  13.79  tons. 

Yield  of  Bagasse — 716  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1490  lbs. 

Extraction — 67.6  per  cent,  Bagasse  32.4  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICES. 

iSulphured  and  limed,  using  3 grammes  per  gallon  and  left  acid. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baume 

Total  solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-effit.  Purity 

<£■" 

■-£ 

u St 
® o- 

d,  ^ 

0'S 
2 o- 

^ O- 

Raw  juice  No.  13 

8.6 

15.5 

12.5 

1.10 

80.6 

e.s 

Raw  juice  No.  14 

8.6 

15.5 

12.5 

1.13 

80.0 

9 0-f 

Raw  juice  No.  15 

8.4 

15.2 

12.3 

1.02 

80.8 

8.13 

Sulphured  juice  fall)  

8.4 

15.2 

12.3 

1.24 

80.8 

10.08 

Limed  juice  (all) 

8.5 

15.4 

12-3 

1.45 

79.8 

11.78 

Concentrated  juice  (all) 

27.0 

49.7 

37.4 

5.30 

75.2 

14.17. 

Molasses  (all) 

39.0 

73.4 

48.3 

16.45 

34.115 

Sugar  (alU 

92  2 

1.16 

12.58 

Skimmings 

9.1 

15.5 

10.8 

1.34 

12.4 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Here  again  in  working  acid  juice  our  little  pan  boiled  ovei 
and  lost  an  unknown  i^ortion  of  syrup,  wliicli  prevents  caleula^ 
tion  of  results.  But  the  glucose  ratio  in  the  masse  cuite  ol> 
tained,  as  well  as  coefficient  of  purity,  indicated  a considerable 
loss  by  inversion. 


Tlie  above  juice  had 58  of  asL 

The  Molasses  had of  ask 

Containing  Potash 34.84 

Soda 5.20 

Lime 3.91 

Phosphoric  Acid 2.60 

Sulphuric  Acid 10.34 


EXPERIMENTS  XOS.  17,  10,  28. 

Manures  used — Basal  mixture  with  f and  1 Rations  Precipitated  Acid  - 

Phosphate. 

Yield  of  cane — 2342  Ihs  ; Yield  per  acre,  14.66  tons. 

Yield  of  hagasse — 822  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1520  lbs. 

Extraction — 65  per  cent.  Bagasse  35  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Sulphured  and  limed,  using  3 grammes  per  gallon,  and  left  very  slightly 
acid. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

© 

B 

5 

© 

© 

F-< 

tc 

C 

G 

Total  Solids. 

1 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-efficient  of  ' 

Purity 

Glucose  per  cent 

of  Sucrose. 

Raw  juice  No.  17 

Naw  juice  No.  19 

Raw  juice  No.  20 

Sulphured  juice  [all] 

Limed  juice  [all] 

Concentrated  juice  [all] 

Molasses  [all] 

8.5 

8.3 

8.4 
8.3 
8.2 

26.0 

15.4 

15.0 

15.2 

15.0 

14.8 

47.8 

12.1 

11.3 

11.6 

11.2 

12.0 

36.2 

1.21 

1.13 

1.17 

1.24 

1.17 

4.74 

78.5 

75.3 

76.3  ! 

74.6  i 
81.0  1 

75.7  j 

10.00 
10.00 
10.08 
11.07 
9.75 
13  09 

Sugar  [all]  

1 

1 

Skimminss  [all],  

6.8 

12.3  ' 8.1 

.85 

10.49 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Were  vitiated  by  failure  to  analyse  molasses  and  sugar,  though  the  glu- 
cose ratio  and  the  purity  co  efficient  show  considerable  loss. 


The  above  juice  had 50  ash 

The  above  molasses  had — ash 

Containing — 

Potash 36.54 

Soda 3.86 

Lime 1.76 

Phosphoric  acid 7.19 

Sulphuric  acid 10.74 


EXPERIMENT  NOS.  22  24,  25. 

Manures  us  *d — Basal  Mixture  with  f and  1 ration  of  Bone  Dust. 
Yield  of  cane — 2062  lbs.,  Yield  per  acre  12.89  tons. 

Yield  of  Bagasse — 650  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  1412  lbs. 

Extraction — 68.5,  Bagasse  31.5. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 


Sulphured  and  limed  to  nearly  neutrality,  using  2.2  grammes  per  gallon 


[55] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kinds  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baume 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-effit.  Purity 

Glucose  i)or 

1 cent  Sucrose. 

Raw  juice  No.  22 

8.8 

15.9 

12.5 

1.06 

60.5 

8.08 

Raw  j nice  No.  24 

8.8 

15.9 

12.5 

1.02 

80  5 

8.16 

Raw  jni3e  No.  25 

8.9 

16.1 

13.8 

.91 

85.7 

j 6.59 

Sulphured  juice  (all) 

8.7 

15.7 

12.4 

1.06 

78.9 

I 8.54 

Limed  juice  (all) 

10.4 

18.8 

15.0 

1.42 

79.7 

9.46 

Concentrated  juice  (all) 

26.2 

48.1 

38.1 

3.85 

79.2 

10.10 

Molasses  (a,ll) 

38.2 

71.8 

46.1 

13.80 

Suga,r  (all 

95.8 

.50 

Skimmings 

7.5 

13.8 

9.5 

.84 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

117  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 95.8  per  ceut=112.08  lbs.  pure  sugar 

120  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 46.1  per  cent=  55.32  “ “ “ 

90  lbs.  Skimmings  polarizing 9.5  per  ccnt=  8.55  “ “ “ 


Total  Sugar  accounted  for 175.95  “ " ‘‘ 

Total  in  raw  juice 181.36  “ “ “ 

Loss  by  inversion,  etc 5.41  “ ‘‘  ‘‘ 

117  lbs.  Sugar  ® 5 = .58  lbs.  glucose 

120  lbs  Molasses'S) 13.8=16.58  “ ‘‘ 

IK)  lbs.  Skimm  ugs 'S) 81=  .76  “ 


Total  recovered 17.92 

Total  in  raw  juice 13.98 

Total  gain 3.94 


Wliicb  is  equal  to  3.74  lbs.  Sucrose,  leaving  a loss  of  Sucrose  unaccounted 
for=1.67  lbs. 


The  above  juice  had 49  ash 

The  above  Molasses  had ash 

Containing  Potash 39.50 

Soda 3.03 

Lime 3.66 

Phosphoric  Acid 4.00 

Sulphuric  Acid 8.37 


EXPERIMENTS  NOS.  27,  29,  30. 

Manures  used — Basal  mixture  with  f and  1 rations  of  Floats. 

Yield  of  cane — 2022  lbs;  Yield  per  acre,  12.64  tons. 

Yield  of  bagasse — 666  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice,  1356  lbs. 

Extraction — 67.1  per  cent.,  Bagasse  32.9  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Sulphured  and  limed,  using  1.9  grammes  per  gallon  and  left  very  acid. 


[56] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Degree  Baume. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-efficient 

of  Purity 

Glucose  per 

cent  Sucrose. 

, 8.9 

16.1 

13.1 

1.06 

81.03 

8.09 

, 8.6 

15.5 

12.4 

1.18 

80.00 

9.51 

, 8.6 

15.5 

12.4 

1.16 

80.00 

9.35 

8.6 

15.5 

12.4 

1.24 

80.00 

10.00 

, 9.2 

16.6 

14.1 

1.42 

84.90 

10.07 

, 27.0 

49.6 

37.8 

5.10 

76.02 

13.49 

. 38.5 

72.4 

45.0 

16.40 

36.42 

92.4 

1.59 

17. 2G’ 

. 7.4 

14.0 

7.0 

1.00 

14. 2S 

Kind  of  Product. 


Raw  juice  No.  27 

Raw  juice  No.  29 

Raw  juice  No.  30 

Suli^Lured  juice  [all].., 

Limed  juice  [all] 

Concentrated  juice  [all] 

Molasses  [all] 

Sugar  [all] 

Skimmiugs  [all] 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


110  lbs  Sugar  polarizing 92.4  per  cent=101. 64  lbs  pure  sugar 

116  lbs  Molasses  polarizing 45.03  per  cent=  52.23  lbs  pure  suga^ 

105  lbs  Slrtmmings  polarizing 7.0  per  cent  = 7.35  lbs  pure  sugar 


Total  sugar  accounted  for 161.22  lbs  pure  sugar 

Total  in  raw  juice 171.15  lbs  pure  sugar 


Total  loss 9.93 

Inversion  by  calculation  from  glucose  ratio  in  masse 

cuite 6.16 


Unaccounted  for 3.77 


EXPEEIMENTS  NOS.  32,  34,  35. 

Manures  used — Basal  mixtures  witb  f and  1 rations  of  Orchilla  Guano^- 
Yield  of  cane — 1560  lbs.,  Yield  i>er  acre  9.75  tons. 

Yield  of  bagasse — 612  lbs.,  Yield  of  juice  948  lbs. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Sulphured,  limed,  using  2.1  grammes  per  gallon,  and  left  very  slightly;- 

acid. 


[57J 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

6 
» 3 

o s 
" cs 

o 

Q 

Tot.al 

Solids. 

d 

OC 

O 

f-i 

o 

m 

Glucose. 

Coeficient 

of  Purity. 

Glu’se  per 

ct  Sucrose 

Raw  juice  No.  32 

8.8 

15.9 

12.9 

1.02 

81.1 

7.90 

Raw  juice  No.  34 

8.7 

15.7 

13.0 

1.02 

82.8 

7.84 

Raw  juice  No.  35 

7.6 

13.7 

11.3 

.85 

82.6 

7.52 

Sulphured  juice  [all] 

8.7 

15.7 

12.6 

1.06 

80.2 

8.41 

Limed  juice  [all] 

8-7 

15.7 

13.0 

1.18 

82.8 

9.07 

Concentr’d  juice  [all] 

31.5 

58.4 

46.0 

4.86 

78.7 

10.. 56 

First  sugar 

41.0 

77.3 

50.6 

13.00 

25.69 

Molasses 

96.0 

.79 

.82 

Skimmings 

7.2 

13.0 

9.1 

.80 

9.34 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

80  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 96.0=76.80  lbs.  j)ure  sugar 

95.5  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 50.6=48.32  ‘‘  ‘‘  “ 

75  lbs.  Skimmings  i)olarizing 9.1=6.82  “ 

131.94 

There  is  an  inversion  here  of  nearly  3 lbs  sugar. 

These  experiments  conclude  our  work  with  sulphur,  and  they 
positively  show  the  injurious  action  of  this  reagent.  Even 
juices  after  being  treated  with  sulphur  and  limed  to  neutrality 
lose  both  in  actual  sugar  house  results  and  in  theoretical  calcu- 
lations upon  purity  coefficients  and  glucose  ratios.  This  loss 
from  Sulphur  increases  in  firoportion  to  the  acidity  of  juice 
worked.  The  great  benefits  to  be  derived  from  use  of  Sulphur, 
are  our  ability  to  work  our  juices  more  leisurely  during  warm 
weather,  and  to  give  us  lighter  colored  products,  but  do  these 
compensate  for  the  losses  of  sugar  sustained  ? These  losses  are 
from  2 per  cent,  upward,  upon  the  actual  sugar  in  the  juices,  and 
may  even  be  in  a very  acid  juice  as  high  as  S or  10  per  cent. 
How  this  action  takes  place  has  been  fully  explained  elsewhere. 

But  while  sulphur  is  to  be  condemned,  especially  the  reck- 
less manner  in  which  it  is  at  present  used  in  the  sugar  houses  of 
this  State,  have  we  a substitute  for  it  I 

To  solve  this  question  the  next  experiments  were  made 
with 

TANNIN, 

as  a purifying  agent.  Live  Oak  bark  was  used  to  furnish  this 


[58] 


reagent.  It  was  ground  to  a powder  and  tlie  latter  treated  with, 
ten  times  its  weight  of  boiling  water,  two  or  three  successive 
times  in  a clarifier.  Each  time,  the  clear  solution  after  settling? 
was  drawn  off  and  used  in  the  juiee. 

Two  ways  are  suggested  of  using  this  reagent.  1st.  To  let 
the  solution  of  oak  bark  run  into  the  juice  as  it  comes  from  the 
mill  in  sufficient  quantities  to  saturate  all  the  imi^urities  of  the 
juice.  2d,  In  the  first  clarifier  heat  the  juice  to  about  105°  or 
110°  E.,  and  then  pour  in  enough  solution  of  oak  bark  to  satu- 
rate the  liquid  and  carry  to  gentle  boiling.  Withdraw  the 
steam  and  the  precij)itate  settles  with  great  rapidity.  Decant 
the  very  clear  juice  and  treat  with  lime. 

In  both  instances,  only  a slight  excess  of  tannin  should  be 
used,  which  can  easily  be  told  by  the  following  simple  test.  Get 
some  white  copperas,  dissolve  a very  small  quantity  in  water 
and  to  this  solution  add  a drop  or  two  of  the  treated  juice.  If 
an  excess  of  tannin  has  been  used,  its  i3 resen ce  will  be  quickly 
revealed  by  a black  coloration  (ink).  The  tannin  first  unites 
with  all  the  albuminoids,  etc.,  to  form  insoluble  precipitates,  and 
an  excess  over  and  above  the  amount  needed  for  this  purpose, 
remains  dissolved  in  the  juice,  and  its  i:>resence  is  revealed  by 
the  copperas.  Either  of  these  methods  gives  excellent  results, 
the  latter  perhaps  the  best,  while  the  former  is  the  most  exiie- 
ditious. 

EXPERIMENTS  NOS.  18,  23,28,  33. 

Manures  used — None. 

Yield  of  cane — 25*20  lbs.,  yield  of  juice — . 

Yield  of  Bagasse — Extraction — . 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICES. 

Solution  of  oakTjark  added  in  insufficient  quantity  ; limed  to  neutrality 
using  4 grammes  per  gallon,  and  made  very  slightly  acid  with  pure  super- 
phosphate of  lime. 


[59] 


Kind  of  Product . 

Degree  Baume. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Coefficient  of  Purity, 

Glucose  per  cent  Su 

Close. 

juice  No.  18 

8.7 

15.7 

12.8 

1.3 

81.5 

10.15 

IRarr  in  ice  No.  23 

8.6 

15.5 

12.7 

1.3 

81.9 

10.23 

JR  aw  juice  No.  28 

8.8 

15.9 

12.9 

1.16 

81.1 

8.99 

Eaw  juice  No.  33 

8.4 

15.2 

12. 

1.34 

78.1 

11.16 

Tannic  Acid  (all) 

8.2 

14.8 

12. 

1.21 

81.0 

10.08 

Limed  juice  (all) 

8.5 

15.4 

12.5 

1.45 

81.1 

11.6 

‘Concentrated  juice  (all) 

26.7 

49.0 

40.0 

4.96 

81.6 

, 12.4 

Molasses  (all) 

39.0 

73.3 

43.9 

16.40 

I 37.36 

■‘Sugar  (all) 

97.0 

.83 

.87 

.Sei  tn  m i n o-s  ( a 1 1) 

8.8 

1.27 

14.43 

.Settlings'’  (all) 

4.5 

8.1 

5.2 

1.02 

19.61 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


120  lbs.  Sugar  polariziug 97.  =110.40  lbs.  pure  sugar 

112  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 43.9=  49  10  “ “ “ 

23Sibs.  Settlings 5.2=  12. .37  ‘‘  ‘‘  “ 

42  Lbs.  Skimmiugs  polarizing 8.8=  3.09  “ “ 

Total  sugar  accounted  for 181.02  “ “ 

Neitlier  tlie  bagasse  uor  the  weight  of  juice  were  recorded 
and  hence  no  way  of  knowing  the  accuracy  of  our  results. 

Here  both  purity  coefficient  and  glucose  ratio  indicate  suc- 
cessful treatment.  This  juice  was  treated  with  oak  bark  solu- 
tion Monday  morning,  but  was  not  concentrated  till  Tuesday 
evening.  Maximum  Temperature  for  the  day  52^  F. 

A good  eveh  grain  of  good  size,  nearly  i)ure  white,  are  the  . 
remarks  of  the  Assistant  at  the  vacuum  pan,  recorded  in  the 
sugar  book.  The  analysis  shows  it  to  contain  97  per  cent*  pure 
sucrose. 


The  juice  contained 47  of  ash. 

The  Molasses  contained 3.85  of  ash 

Containing  Potash 42.30 

Lime 5.54 

Phosphoric  Acid 1.98 

;Sulpliuric  Acid 7.82 


[60] 

EXPERIMENTS  NOS.  1C,  21,  26,  31. 

Manures  used — Basal  mixtures. 

Yield  of  cane — 2^79  lbs,  Yield  of  juice  1535  lbs. 

Yield  of  bagasse  744  lbs. 

Extraction  67.4  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Raw  juice,  as  it  came  from  the  mill,  was  treated  in  slight  excess  with  a 
10  per  cent  solution  of  Oak  Bark,  then  limed,  using  3.5  grammes  per  gallon 
and  left  slightly  acid. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degree  Banme. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

' 

Coctlicicnt  of  Purity, 

Glucose  per  cent  of 

Sucrose, 

Raw  juice  No.  16 

8.9 

16.1 

12.7 

.98 

78.8 

7.71 

Raw  juice  No.  21 

9.0 

16.3 

13.8 

.92 

80.6 

6.66 

RaAv  juice  No.  26 

9.0 

16.3 

13.4 

.92 

82.2 

6.86 

Raw  iuice  No.  31 

8.7 

15.7 

13.1 

1.02 

83.4 

7.78 

Tannic  acid  juice(all) 

8.8 

15.5 

12.9 

.85 

83.2 

6.59 

Limed  juice  (all) 

8.4 

15.2 

12.8 

.94 

84.2 

7.34 

Concentrat-"d  juice  (all) 

23.5 

43.0 

36.8 

2.50 

85.5 

6.79 

Molasses  (all) 

39.0 

75.3 

46.7 

12.44 

26.63 

Sugar  (all) 

95.8 

.72 

.75 

Scums  (all) 

3.2 

5.8 

4.6 

.50 

10.87 

Settlings  (all) 

8-7 

15.7 

10.5 

1.02 

66.8 

9.71 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS.  ’ 

A small  portion  of  the  juice  was  lost,  but  there  was  obtained 

119.5  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 95.8=114.48  lbs.  pure  sngai‘ 

100.5  lbs.  Molasses  “ 46.7=  46.93  ‘‘  ‘‘ 

117^  lbs  Settlings  polarizing 10.5=  12.33  “ “ “ 

94  lbs  Scums  polarizing 4.6=  4.32  “ ” 


178.06 

From  the  co-efficients  of  purity  and  the  glucose  per  cent  of  sucrose  in* 
the  raw  juice  and  the  masse  ciiite,  we  found  very  little  inversion. 

The  molasses  from  this  experiment  gave  4.76  iierceut  ash,  containing 

Potash 36.55  per  cent 

Lime 7.87  per  cent 

Phosphoric  Acid 3.62  per  cent 

Sulphuric  Acid 9.81  per  cent 


[61] 

PLAT  VIII. 

POTASSIC  MANURES. 

EXPERIMENTS  is^OS.  6,  11,  IG,  21,  2C. 


Manures  used — (18  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  15  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate)  Meal 
Phosphate. 

Yield  of  cane — 3160  lbs.,  weight  of  Bagasse  1106  lbs. 

Yield  of  juice — iiOSI  lbs.,  Extraction  65  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Solution  of  oak  bark  added  in  slight  excess,  limed  to  neutrality,  using  4 
grammes  per  gallon,  and  made  acid  wdth  puie  superphosphate  of  lime  (home 
made.) 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baume. 

1 Total  Solids. 

o5 

OJ 

o 

02 

Glucose. 

Co-etliT  Purity. 

Glucose  per 

cent  Sucrose. 

Raw  juice  No.  6 

9.2 

16.6 

14. 

.85 

84.3 

6.71 

Raw  juice  No.  11 

9.2 

16.6 

13.8 

.92 

83.1 

6.66 

Raw  juice  No.  16 

9. 

16.2 

13.6 

1.02 

83.9 

7.50 

Raw  juice  No.  21 

8.3 

15.0 

11.8 

1.21 

78.6 

0.25 

Raw  juice  No.  26 

8.5 

15.4 

11.8 

1.20 

76.6 

10.17 

Tannic  Acid  juice  (all) 

7.8 

14.0 

11.8 

.92 

80.2 

7.79 

Limed  juice  (all) 

7.1 

12.8 

10.5 

.92 

82.0 

8.76 

Concentrated  juice  (all) 

29. 

53.5 

42.2 

4.00 

78.8 

9.47 

Molasses  (alll. 

38. 

71.3 

42.8 

14.10 

32.94 

Sugar  (.all) 

95.1 

.63 

.66 

Skimmings  (all) 

10.1 

1.96 

19.40 

The  molasses  fromTthese  experiments  were  mixed  with  that  from 

EXPERIMENTS  8,  13,  18,  23,  28. 

Manures  used — None. 

Yield  of  cane— 4348  lbs.,  yield  of  Bagasse  15*20  lbs. 

Yield  of  juice — 2828  lbs. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICES. 

Oak  bark  solution,  not  quite  to  saturation;  limed  to  neutrality,  using 
4.3  grammes  per  gallon,  and  made  slightly  acid  with  superphosphate  of 
lime  (home  made). 


[62] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baumo. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Coefficient  of  purity. 

*3 

3 

o 

^ i 

o 2 

o 

o 

3 

Raw  juice  No.  8 

8.6 

15.5 

12-5 

1.27 

bO.9 

10.16 

Raw  juice  No.  13 

8.5 

15.4 

12.4 

1.27 

80.5 

10.25 

Raw  juice  No.  18 

8.3 

15.0 

11.7 

1.34 

78.5 

11.45 

Raw  juice  No.  23 

8.0 

14.4 

11.2 

1.34 

77.7 

11.96 

Raw  juice  No.  28 

8.3 

14.9 

11.1 

1.30 

74.5 

12.61 

Tanuic  acid  juice  [all] 

7.8 

14.0 

10.8 

1.13 

77.7 

10.46 

Limed  “ “ 

7.5 

13.6 

11.0 

1.21 

80.8 

11.00 

Concent’ted  “ 

31.8 

58.9 

46.1 

5.50 

78.2 

11.93 

Molasses  “ 

38.0 

71.3 

42.8 

14.10 

32.94 

Siurar  “ 

97.0 

.85 

.87 

Scums  “ 

6.8 

.78 

11.47 

Settlings  “ 1 

1.0 

1.00 

100.00. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Ill  the  first  ezperiments  there  should 

he 272.08  lbs  sucrose  and  20,30  lbs  glucose 

The  settlings  and  scnius  coutained. . 37.71  “ “ and  7.33  lbs  glucose 

Of  the  concentrated  syrup  there 

were  510  lbs,  containing 218.02  “ “ and  20.76  lbs  glucose 

The  glucose  per  cent  of  sucrose  for  raw  juice  is 7.46 

“ “ “ “ “ “ settlings  and  scums 19.04 

“ “ concentrated  juice 9.05 

In  tlie  settlings  and  scums,  had  there  been  maintained  the 
same  glucose  ratio  as  existed  in  the  raw  juice,  there  would  have 
been  41.74  lbs  sucrose  and  3.11  lbs  glucose,  showing  an  inver- 
sion of  4.00  lbs  sucrose  to  make  4.21  glucose.  Taking  this 
from  the  raw  juice,  we  have  left  230.34  lbs  sucrose  and  17.19  lbs 
glucose,  which,  had  there  been  no  loss,  should  have  been  in  the 
syrup.  But  we  find  20.7G  lbs  glucose,  an  excess  of  3.57  lbs, 
equal  to  3.39  lbs  sucrose,  which,  added  to  the  amount  found  and 
subtracted  from  the  amount  which  ought  to  be  present,  we  have 
an  unaccountable  deficiency  of  8.93  lbs  in  the  syrup. 

lu  the  second  exx^erimeiits  there 

should  be 338.94  lbs  sucrose  and  36.65  lbs  glucose 

The  settlings  and  scums  contained. . 17.38  “ “ and  4.33  lbs  glucose 

Of  the  concentrated  syrup  there  were 

676.5  lbs,  containing 311.89  ‘‘  “ and  37.20  lbs  glucose 

The  glucose  per  cent  of  sucrose  for  raw  juice  is ' 10.8  per  cent 

“ ‘,  “ “ “ settlings  and  scums  is 24. 9 per  cent 

“ “ “ ‘‘  “ “ syrup  is 11.9  per  cent 


[63] 


EeduciDg  the  settlings  to  the  same  glucose  ratio  which  ex- 
ists  in  raw  juice,  and  we  find  a loss  of  2.15  sucrose  inverted  into 
2.27  glucose.  Subtracting  these  amended  settlings  from  the 
raw  juice,  and  we  have  819.41  lbs  sucrose  and  34.54  lbs  glucose, 
which  amounts  should  be  found  in  the  syrup.  We  find,  how- 
ever, only  311.89  lbs  sucrose  and  37.20  lbs  glucose.  Taking  the 
excess  of  glucose,  2.G6  lbs,  equal  to  2.52  lbs  sucrose,  and  adding 
to  the  amount  found  and  subtracting  from  the  amount  which 
should  be  present,  and  we  have  5.00  lbs  deficiency  unaccounted 
for  in  the  syrup. 

RESULTS  IN  SUGAR  AND  MOLASSES. 

lu  first  syrup,  there  were 218.02  lbs  sucrose  and  20,76  lbs  glucose 

In  second  syrup,  there  were 311.89  “ “ and  37.20 

Total 529.91  “ and  57.96  “ 


143.5  lbs  Sugar  polarizing  95.1 136. 46  lbs 


173.0  “ “ “ 97.0 167.8111)3 

48.0  - 97.0 46.56  lbs 

419.0  “ Molasses  “ 42.8 179. 33 lbs 


.90  lbs  glucose 

jl.88 

.59.07  “ '' 


Total  recovered 530. 16 lbs  60.85  “ “ 

Apparent  gain 25  “ suc'e  2.89 


KECAPITULATION  OF  RESULTS. 

Cane  ground — 7580  lbs,  Extraction  65  per  cent. 

Yield  of  juice — 4882  lbs. 

Amount  Sucrose  i^resent  in  raw  juice .611.02 

“ “ obtained  in  first  Sugar,  polarizing  100°. 350. 83=57. 4 per  cent 

“ “ in  molasses,  polarizing  100° 179.33=29.4  per  cent 

“ “ obtained  in  Skimniings 55.12=  9.0  per  cent 

“ “ inverted  in  “ 6.15=  1.0  percent 

“ “ from  raw  juice  to  syrup 5.91=  1.0  per  cent 

2 “ unaccounted  for 13.61=  2.0  per  cent 


The  skimmings,  etc.,  could  easily  have  been  worked  over, 
but  in  this  and  some  other  instances  we  preferred  analysing, 
weighing  and  throwing  away  than  to  mix  with  the  pure  juices. 

EXPEKIMEETS  XOS.  7,  9. 

Manures  vsed — Meal  Phosphate  with  ^ and  rations  f of  Muriate  Pot- 
ash. 

Yield  of  cane — 2304  lbs.,  weight  of  Bagasse  792  lbs. 

Yield  of  juice — 1512  lbs..  Extraction  65.7  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Addition  to  saturation  of  oak  bark  solution  ; limed  to  neutrality,  using 
4.3  grammes  per  gallon,  and  made  very  acid  with  Superphosx^hato  of  Lime. 


[64] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 

Degrees  Baume. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Co-cffi’t  Purity. 

Glucose  per 

cent  Sucrose. 

Raw  juice  No.  7 

8.8 

15.9 

12.9 

1.06 

81.1 

8.21 

Raw  juice  No.  9 

8.8 

15.9 

13.0 

1-06 

81.7 

8.15 

Tannic  Acid  (all) 

7.4 

13.4 

11.0 

1.00 

82.0 

9.09 

Limed  juice  (all) 

8.4 

15.2 

12.9 

1.02 

84.2 

7.10 

Concentrated  juice  (all) 

24  0 

44.0 

34.3 

4.50 

77.9 

13.11 

Molasses  (all) 

41.3 

78.0 

47.2 

23.70 

50.21 

Sugar  (all) 

95.8 

.67 

.69 

Skimming's  (all) 

6.4 

11.5 

4.0 

.30 

7.50 

Settlings  (all 

9.0 

16.2 

9.4 

.78 

8.29 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


128  lbs.  Sugar  polarizing 

122.62  lbs.  pure  sugar.. 

108  lbs.  Molasses  polarizing 

47.2= 

: 50.97 

il  u 

ll 

94  lbs.  Settlings 

9.4= 

= 8.83 

ll  (( 

ll 

93  lbs.  Skimmings  polarizing 

4.  - 

3.72 

ll  ll 

ll 

Total  accounted  for 

186.14 

il  a 

fi 

Total  Sugar  in  juice 

195.09 

ll  ll 

ll 

Amount  of  loss 

8.95 

ll  ll 

ll 

Total  glucose  in  cane 

16.02 

128  lbs.  Sugar  @ 

.85 

108  lbs.  Molasses  'S 

25.59 

94  lbs.  Settlings  

.73 

93  lbs.  Skimmings  <a) 

.28 

Total  Glucose  in  products 

27.05 

Excess  due  to  inversion 

11.03 

Which  is  equal  to  10.47  lbs.  Sucrose,  making  a gain  of  1.52  lbs.  of  Su- 
crose. Here  excess  of  Superphosphate  has  caused,  as  was  expected,  a large 
inversion. 


The  Molasses  of  this  Experiment  gave 4.76  a«h. 

Containing  Potash 36.00 

Lime 5.52 

Phosphoric  Acid 3.62 

Sulphuric  Acid 7.91 


EXPERIMENTS  NOS.  12,  14. 

Manures  used — Meal  Phosphate  and  i and  f rations  of  Kainite. 

Yield  of  cane — 2236  lbs.,  yield  of  Bagasse  764  lbs. 

Yield  of  j nice — 1472  lbs.  Extraction  34.1  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

It  was  first  sulphured  in  usual  way,  then  solution  of  oak  bark  added  to 
saturaticn,  and  limed  to  slight  alkalimity,  using  f grammes  lime  per  gallon. 


[65] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 


Raw  juice  No.  12 

Raw  juice  No.  14 

Suli)hured  and  Tannic  Acid  (all). . 

Limed  (all) 

'Concentrated  (all) 

Molasses  (all) 

•Sugar  (all) 

Skiminings  (all) 

•Settlings  (all) 


be 

OJ 

Q 


8.8 

8.7 

8.1 

9.0 

24.0 

38.3 


.7.3 


15.9 

15.7 

14.6 

16.2 

43.2 

72.0 


13.2 


02 


13. 

12.6 

11.9 

13.0 

34.3 

45.3 

95.1 

9.4 

7.5 


1.06 

1.04 

1.02 

1.45 

4.00 

15.00 

.61 

.85 

.94 


81.7 

80.2 

81.5 

80.2 

79.9 


O 


8.15 

8.25 

8.57 

11.15 

11.66 

33.11 

.63 

9.04 

12.53 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


In  the  raw  juice  there,  were 

15.45 

lbs. 

Glucose 

Deduct  Settlings  and  Scums ...... 

....  23.77 

a (( 

2.72 

ii 

i i 

Left  in  clarified  juice 

....164.67 

(1  (( 

12.73 

a 

ii 

The  s^ump  weighed  434  lbs  cont’ng. 

...149.73 

U ll 

17.36 

ii 

U 

105.5  lbs.  Sugar  at  94.1 

...100.33 

li  ii 

.64 

cc 

ii 

105  lbs.  Molasses  at  45. 3° 

...  47.56 

a ii 

15.75 

a 

ii 

Total  in  Sugar  and  Molasses 

...147.89 

U (( 

16.39 

a 

ii 

Excess  of  Glucose 

Equal  to  Sucrose 

Total  Sucrose  recovered 

Unaccounted  for 

...  3.48 

...175.14 

. ..  13.30 

le 

ll  ll 

ll  It 

3.66 

:c 

ii 

No  benefit  accrued  from  the  combination  of  these  two  reagents. 


The  above  molasses  had 4.66  ash 

Containing  Potash 51.48 

Lime 3.54 

Phosiihoric  Acid 2.27 

•Sulphuric  Acid 13.92 


EXPERIMENTS  XOS.  17,  19. 

Manures  used — Meal  Phosphate  and  4 and  f rations  of  Sulphate  of  Pot- 
ash. 

Yield  of  cane — 1518  lbs,  Yield  of  Bagasse  530  lbs. 

Yield  of  juice — 988  lbs,  Extraction  65.1  i^er  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICES. 

Treated  with  Oak  Bark  solution  to  saturation  and  limed  to  perfect  neu- 
trality' using  5 grammes  per  gallon. 


[66] 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 


Raw  juice  No.  17. . . 
Raw  juice  No.  19. . . 
Taunic  acid  juice.. 

Limed  juice 

Concentrated  juice. 

Molasses 

Sugar 

Settlings 

Scum.s 


fcc 


8.8 

8.7 

8.0 

8.0 


38.5 


/ -O 

4.3 


15.8 

15.7 
14.5 
14.5 

46.8 
72.3 


13.6 

7.7 


13.1 
12.9 
12.0 
12.0 
38.6 

39.2 
95.1 

8.5 

4.7 


1.3 

1.27 

1-11 

1.08 

3.76 

16.20 

1.00 

1.00 

.50 


82.9 

82.1 

82.7 

82.7 

82.5 


f-H  O 

o 

o 

s 


O 


9.91 

9.83 

9.25 

9.00 

9.74 

41.32 

1-05 

11.76 

10.6a 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS.  ' 

After  this  juice  was  limed  to  perfect  neutrality,  640  lbs  were 
accurately  weighed,  analysed  and  sent  into  the  Yaryan  and  con* 
centrated  to  syrup,  weighed  again  and  sent  to  the  strike  pan,, 
grained  and  masse  cuite  weighed,  then  centrifugalled  and  sugar 
and  molasses  weighed.  The  following  are  results — the  analyses 
are  from  above : 


Kind  of  Product.  Weight. 

Limed  juice 640.  ibs 

Concentrated  juice 198.  lbs 

Masse  cuite 96.  lbs 

Sugar 55.50  lbs 

Molasses 50.25  lbs 

Loss  by  the  Yaryan 

Loss  by  the  pan 

Gain  by  Yaryan 

Gain  by  pan 

Nett  gain  in  iu  Yaryan  

Nett  loss  by  pan  from 

analyses 


Sucrose.  Glucose.  Pr  ct  glu’se  to  su’se 


76.80  lbs  6.91  lbs  9.00 

76.42  lbs  7.44  lbs  9.73 

72.47  lbs  8.60  lbs  11.90 

52.78  lbs  .55  lbs  1.04 

19.69  lbs  8.12  lbs  41.30' 

.38  ....  

3.95  ....  


1.25 

.13 


2.76 


Analyses  show  that  about  1 J lbs  only  of  sucrose  was  in- 
verted. The  apparent  nett  loss  probably  did  not  exist.  The 
goods  were  weighed  in  the  sugar  house  on  one-thousand-pountE 
platform  scales,  while  the  laboratory  analyses  are  based  upon 
the  most  accurate  weighings  upon  delicate  balances.  Again, 
though  each  vessel  through  which  these  products  fiassed  was 
carefully  washed,  some  little  was  necessarily  lost.  It  is  also 


[67] 


very  difficult  to  obtain  a fair  samxDle  of  molasses  from  a centri- 
fugal in  whicli  water  is  used  in  purging  the  sugar. 

This  experiment  shows  conclusively  that  inversion  is  re- 
duced to  a minimum  by  such  defecatiou. 

The  molasses  from  this  experiment  was  mixed  with  that 
from  experiments  22,  24,  27  and  29. 


The  raw  juice  contained 4:]  per  cent  asli 

The  combined  molasses  contained 4.72  per  cent  ash 

Containing — 

Potash 4.5.13 

Lime 6.14 

Phosphoric  acid 2.03 

Siilpliuric  acid 10.47 


EXPERIMENTS  NOS  22,  24. 

Manures  used — Meal  Phosphate  with  4 and  f rations  of  Carbonate  of 
Potash. 

Yield  of  cane — 1106  lbs.,  yield  of  Bagasse  383  lbs. 

Yield  of  jUice — 718  lbs.,  Extraction  65  per  ceut. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICES. 

Solution  of  oak  bark  added  to  saturation  ; limed  to  slight  alkaliuity 
and  made  slightly  acid  with  superphosphate  of  lime  (home  made). 

LABORATORY  ANALYSIS. 


Kind  of  Product. 

M 

oo 

a 

p 

tc 

3 

1 Total  Solids.  1 

53 

X 

o 

53 

3 

W. 

6 

X 

p 

O 

Co-effi’t  Purity. 

Glucose  per 
cent  Sucrose. 

RaAV  juice  No.  22 

8.1 

14.6 

10.7 

1.34 

73.3 

12.52 

Raw  juice  No.  24 

8.0 

14.5 

10.5 

1.34 

72.4 

12.76 

Tannic  Acid  juice  (both) 

7.5 

13-6 

‘ 10.0 

1.30 

73.5 

13.00. 

Limed  juice  (both) 

6.5 

11.7 

9.0 

1.30 

76.8 

14.44 

Concentrated  juice  (both) 

23. 

39.3 

30.0 

4.20 

76.4 

14. 

Molasses  (both) 

36. 

67.2 

38.3 

16.20 

42.29 

Sugar  (both) 

Skimmings  (both) 

3.5 

6.3 

92.3 

4.9 

l.,58 

.60 

17.11 

12.24 

Settlings  (both) 

7.3 

13.2 

7.7 

.96 

12.46 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


In  the  jiime  there  were 

Removed  in  scums  and  settlings 

Leaving 

208  lbs.  concentrated  juice  gave. . 

86.5  lbs  masse  cuite 

44.  lbs.  sugar 

56-5  lbs.  molasses 

Total  accounted  for 

Add  sucrose  .8  lb.  equal  to  ) 

Gain  in  glucose.  ^ . 

Balance  unaccounted  for 


76.28  lbs.  Sucrose  9.61  lbs.  Glucose 


..10.65 

“ 

1.31 

iC 

u 

65.63 

a 

11 

8.30 

( 6 

(1 

.62.40 

a 

li 

8.74 

a 

(c 

.62.24 

ii 

(t 

9.84 

i i 

(( 

.40.61 

i i 

<( 

.69 

ic 

i( 

.21.63 

a 

<( 

9.15 

a 

< 1 

.72.89 

.73.69 

. 2.59 

i i 

(( 

10.46 

i i 

u 

[68] 


EXPEEIMENTS  NOS.  27,  29. 

Manures  used — Meal  phosphate,  with  } aud  f rations  of  Nitrate  of  Pot- 
ash. 

Yield  of  cane — 1270  lbs,  Yield  of  Bagasse  490  lbs. 

Yield  of  juice  780  lbs,  Extraction  61.4  per  cent. 

TREATMENT  OF  JUICE. 

Solution  of  Oak  Bark  to  saturation,  limed  to  slight  alkalinity  aud  made 
slightly  acid  with  superphosphate  of  lime  (home  made). 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Kind  of  Product. 


Raw  juice  No.  27 

Raw  juice  No.  20 

Tannic  acid  juice  [both].. 

Limed  juice  [both] 

Concentrated  juice  [both] 

Molasses  [both] 

Sugar  [both] 

Scums  [both] •• 

Settlinos  [both] 


Degree  Baume. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Coefficient  Purity. 

Glucose  per  cent 

of  Sucrose. 

8.2 

14.8 

11.4 

1.27 

77.0 

11.1 

7.7 

13.9 

10.5 

1.50 

75-5 

14.3 

7.4 

13.3 

10.7 

1.21 

79.7 

11.3 

7.2 

13-0 

10.8 

1.41 

83.0 

13.0 

20.5 

35.5 

28.4 

4.40 

15.6 

34.5 

38.0 

14.80 

• ••••• 

38-95 

96.4 

.72 

-74 

6.7 

.96 

14.32 

6.7 

12.6 

8.7 

1.00 

11.49 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

In  the  raw  juice  from  analyses 84.91  lbs  sucrose  aud  10.92  lbs  glucose 

Removed  in  settlings,  etc 15.25  “ “ “ 1.87  “ 


Left  in  limed  juice 69.66  “ “ 

230  lbs  conceutratod  syrup  contained.  .65.32  “ 

66.5  lbs  masse  cuite  coutaiued 65.50  “ 

44  11)S  sugar  contained 42.42  “ “ 

CUf  lbs  molasses  contained 23.08  ‘‘ 

Total  recovered 80.75  “ “ 


9-05  “ 
10.12  “ 
9.30  ‘‘ 
“ .31 

8.99 
‘‘  11.17 


U 


i i 
s( 


Here  tlie  juice  was  made  slightly  acid  and  a slight  inver- 
sion took  place  in  concentrating  the  juice,  but  not  enough  to 
account  for  the  loss,  which  is  about  4 lbs.  This  discrepancy 
must  be  due  to  the  manner  of  working,  which  was  to  weigh  the 
cane  and  bagasse  on  a five-ton  scale,  and  the  difference  between 
the  weights  was  called  the  weight  of  juice. 


[69] 


The  difficulties  encountered  in  conducting  the  experiments 
just  closed  were  very  great.  In  the  first  place  our  cane  and 
bagasse  were  weighed  on  a five  ton  scale,  and  the  difference  es- 
timated as  juice.  While  every  precaution  was  taken  to  see  that 
both  were  weighed  promptly  and  in  order,  yet  the  losses  and 
gains  on  our  work  where  chemical  analyses  indicated  good  re- 
sults, fluctuated  between  J to  5 lbs.  to  the  experiment.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  with  a proper  weighing  of  the  juice,  that  more  accu- 
rate results  can  be  obtained.  Again  the  taking  of  samples  which 
was  done  after  each  operation  of  each  experiment,  was  a task 
requiring  much  care  and  the  exercise  of  much  patience.  It 
required  much  time  to  thoroughly  mix  either  the  molasses  or 
sugar  from  each  experiment.  Too  many  instances  occurred 
where  products  were  not  weighed,  and  samples  not  taken,  which 
vitiated  the  calculations  of  our  results,  but  they  were  due  large- 
ly to  the  inexperience  of  all  in  this  enterprise,  and  another  year 
our  familiarity  with  what  is  required  will  probably  correct  these 
errors. 

The  experiments  clearly  show  that  juices  worked  acid,  will 
certainly  invert  sucrose,  the  amount  depending  upon  the  degree 
of  acidity  and  duration  of  action  and  heat.  They  further  show 
that  neutral  juices  can  be  worked  with  little  or  no  inversion  of 
sugar.  They  also  show,  that  there  are  necessarily  no  un- 
known losses  in  the  manufacture  of  cane  in  Louisiana.  The 
sugars,  molasses  and  skimmings,  should  contain  all  the  sugars 
started  with  in  the  juice  either  as  such  or  transformed  products. 
These  experiments  indicate  further,  the  danger  of  the  use  of 
sulphur  in  clarification,  as  well  as  the  success  in  our  hands  of 
oak  bark.  This  latter  however  needs  further  investigation  to 
study  other  questions  not  involved  in  these  trials. 

ASH  ANALYSES. 

All  through  the  season,  the  ash  of  different  juices  was  de- 
termined, and  it  may  be  assumed  without  much  error  that  the 
mineral  matter  of  all  our  cane  juices  amounts  to  about  .50  per 
cent. 

Excessive  quantities  of  phosphoric  acid  and  potash  were 


used  iu  different  forms  as  manures  on  Plats  Yll  and  YlII. 
All  attempt  was  made  to  determine  wliat  effect  heavy  doses  of 
these  fertilizing  ingredients  would  have  on  the  juices  of  the 
cane  and  upon  the  masse  cuites  in  restraining  crystallizable 
sugar.  These  analyses  varied  greatly,  as  was  to  he  expected 
from  the  different  methods  pursued  in  clarification.  Again, 
many  impurities  existed  in  the  molasses  of  this  Station,  since  we 
had  no  filter  press  by  which  we  could  relieve  the  syrups  of  any 
sediment  after  concentration  and  hence  to  avoid  loss  and  to 
make  our  exiieriments  as  accurate  as  possible,  all  sediments 
after  clarification  were  carried  forward  into  the  molasses. 

The  analyses  are  appended: 


ANALYSES  OP  ASit  OP  MOLASSES  PEOM  CANE  TREATED  WITH  DIFFERENT  KINDS  AND  QUANTITIES  OF  MINERAL  MANURES. 


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[72] 


Au  inspection  of  this  table  will  show  that  excessive  doses  of 
potash  as  manure  have  increased  this  ingredient  in  the  juice^ 
and  since  there  is  no  known  way  of  removing  it,  it  passes  into 
the  molasses.  By  reducing  the  above  analyses  to  a similar 
content  of  what  are  really  accidental  impurities,  this  becomes^ 
more  apparent.  It  is  therefore  that  excessive  quantities. 

of  qwfash  in  manures  are  detrimental  to  the  yield  of  sugar.  An- 
alyses of  molasses  do  not  show  excesses  of  phosphoric  acid  in  the 
juices,  since  this  substance  is  removed  by  lime  in  defecation.. 
The  sulphuric  acid  is  largest  in  the  molasses  where  sulphur  was 
used  in  defecation. 

MASSE  CUITE. 

The  exact  quantity  of  water  to  be  left  in  masse  cuite,  so 
that  in  the  centrifugal  it  will  purge  itself — is  a question  of  great 
importance.  It  is  evidently  a waste  of  fuel  to  over-cook  the 
cuite  and  then  use  a large  quantity  of  water  to  purge  the 
crystals. 

A series  of  analyses  of  masse  cuites  is  herein  inserted.  They 
can  hardly  be  compared  with  each  other,  since  varying  quanti- 
ties of  water  were  used  in  the  centrifugal.  The  water  used  to 
100  lbs.  masse  cuite,  was  not  always  on  the  sugar  5 indeed  the 
greater  part  was  wash  water  of  the  pan  and  centrifugal. 


[73] 


ANALYES  OF  MASSE  CUITE. 


XI 

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REMARKS. 

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© a 

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_a  o 
— < 1— 1 

81 

75.09 

7.89 

7.82 

9.20 

58.0 

90.6 

50.9 

67.8 

18.8 

83 

78 , 47 

12.00 

6.00 

9.00 

51.5 

96.1 

49.5 

67.4 

7.0 

Boiled  thick  to  prevent  foaming. 

34 

70.41 

12.31 

5.12 

12.15 

40.6 

95.7 

88.9 

55.2 

11.1 

St’k  thin  Si,  no  water  us’d  inFugal 

85 

76.17 

11.42 

6.00 

6.41 

49.4 

97.1 

47.0 

61.7 

11.8 

Washed  to  obtain  a good  grain. 

36 

76.73 

12.22 

4.00 

7.05 

49.5 

96.2 

47.6 

62.0 

10.7 

Washed  to  obtain  a good  grain. 

2 

7(5.75 

10.00 

4 . 45 

8.80 

55.5 

96 

58.8 

69.4 

9.0 

Fugalled  6 hours  after  .strike. 

7 

75.00 

10.00 

7.00 

8.00 

46.2 

95.8 

44.3 

59.1 

16.8 

Hard  coarse  grain— well  washed. 

8 

74.66 

8-61 

7.87 

8.86 

48.0 

95.?* 

46.0 

61.6 

7.8 

12 

72.70 

11.77 

6.00 

9.58 

42.9 

92.2 

89.6 

58.1 

11.5 

22 

73.00 

7.49 

6.24 

18.27 

50.9 

95.8 

48.  s 

66.8 

3.4 

27 

75.80 

9.84 

5.74 

8.62 

55.1 

92.4 

50.9 

67.1 

9.8 

82 

16 

76.52 

77.84 

8.00 

6.44 

8.00 

7.83 

7.48 

7.89 

48.9 

57.6 

96.0 

95.8 

46.9 

55.2 

61.8 

70.9 

7.8 

6.1 

Cut  stril^e,  ^ fugalled  3 hours  after 
strike  gave  G-2  per  cent  .sugar. 

18 

75 . 68 

9.21 

6.98 

8.18 

58.9 

97.0 

52.8 

69.2 

2.2 

Good  even  grain  of  good  size. 

7 

76.53 

11.63 

8.88 

8.46 

56.5 

95.8 

54.1 

70.7 

8.8 

12 

76.04 

8-30 

6.21 

9.45 

54.7 

95.1 

52-0 

68.4 

7.3 

17 

75.50 

9.05 

8.85 

6.60 

57.8 

95.1 

55 . 0 

72.8 

11.6 

22 

71.74 

11.28 

8.28 

8.75 

50.9 

92.8 

47.0 

65 . 5 

15.6 

Cau  one  tell  in  advance  what  will  be  his  return  in  sugar 
from  his  masse  cuite  f Nothing  is  more  difficult.  If  this  masse 
cuite  was  a mixture  of  i^ure  sugar  and  water  the  task  would  be 
an  easy  one. 

But  unfortunately  in  practice  our  masse  cuite  contains  an 
unknown  quantity  of  different  foreign  matters — glucose  and 
mineral  salts — beside  the  sugar  and  water.  It  is  known  that  all 
viscous  and  gummy  matters,  dextine,  glycerine,  gelatine,  solu- 
ble albuminoids,  including  legumine,  colloids  of  all  kinds, 
restrain  sucrose  in  the  molasses.  Glucose,  by  its  viscosity  also 
acts  in  a similar  manner.  The  exact  amount,  restrained,  is  yet 
an  unsolved  problem.  It  is  variously  estimated  from  once  to 
twice  their  entire  weight.  Sulphates  and  phosphates  of  potash 
and  soda  are  regarded  as  inoffensive,  i.  e.,  they  do  not  decom- 
pose, alter  or  prevent  crystallization.  They  simply  increase 
the  masse  without  decreasing  the  actual  weight  of  sugar  ob- 
tained. Chloride  of  calcium  and  other  deliquescent  salts  are 
objectionable,  because  the  water,  which  they  absorb  dissolves 
some  of  the  sugar.  Common  salt  and  Chloride  of  Potassium 


unite  with  suoar  to  form  double  deliquescent  salts,  destroying 
4 to  6 parts  of  their  own  weight  of  sugar,  while  caustic  Soda  and 
Potash  are  actual  destroyers  of  sugar  by  transforming  it  into 
lower  i)roducts.  With  these  facts  before  us,  who  can  tell  how 
much  sugar  the  average  masse  cuite  of  Louisiana  will  yield? 
Working  upon  cane  of  different  degsees  of  immaturity ^ and 
therefore  of  varying  composition,  by  i)rocesses,  almost  i)eculiar 
to  each  sugar  house  who  can  tell  the  numerous  changes  which 
the  juices,  the  most  unstable  of  all  vegetable  i^roducts,  have 
undergone  in  their  concentration  to  masse  cuite  ? Could  per- 
fectly matured  uniform  canes  be  grown  and  their  juices  sub- 
jected to  identical  treatment,  then  a thorough  chemical  exam- 
ination of  juices  from  the  mill  to  the  masse  cuite' once  made 
might  be  always  applicable.  But  these  are  imj)ossibilities  in 
Louisiana  and  hence  we  have  to  make  empirical  formulas  for  our 
worn;,  which  are  often  radically  inappropriate  and  inexact.  It 
usual  in  Louisiana  to  subtract  the  solids  not  sucrose  from  the 
sucrose  and  reckon  the  remainder  as  available.  This  is  far  from 
being  true  in  practice.  It  is  further  asserted  that  cold  wmter 
dissolves  three  times  its  own  weight  of  sucrose.  Apply  any  of 
these  to  our  own  results  above  and  it  will  be  found  that  we 
have  greatly  surpassed  the  theoretical  yield.  Indeed  our  yield 
in  i)ure  sugar  is  often  greater  than  the  supposed  soluble  influ- 
ence of  the  water  (alone)  would  permit. 

In  the  beet  sugar  industry  10  per  cent,  is  the  usual  amount 
of  water  left  in  the  masse  cuite.  There  the  glucose  is  almost 
entirely  absent.  In  Louisiana,  however,  it  abounds  largely  in 
our  masse  cuite,  forming  a liquid  menstrum  in  which  sucrose 
can  crystallize,  therefore  it  has  been  found  that  water  can  be 
reduced  to  a much  lower  quantity  with  most  excellent  results. 
In  fact  there  seems  to  be  a co-ordinate  relation  between  the 
glucose  and  water  x^resent.  If  glucose  is  large  the  water  can 
be  greatly  reduced  and  vice  versa.  From  our  experiments,  when 
the  glucose  attained  about  9 to  10  per  cent,  (an  average  amount) 
the  best  results  were  obtained  with  from  0 to  7 percent  of  water. 
AVith  such  a comx)osition,  the  crystals  purged  themelves  nicely, 
requiring  the  minimum  amount  of  wash  water  and  giving 
maximum  results  in  sugar. 


[75] 


It  was  also  found  that  a larger  quantity,  with  better  grain 
of  sugar  was  obtained  by  permitting  the  masse  cuite  to  cool 
from  3 to  4 hoursj  heated  water  exercising  a higher  solubilty  over 
the  sugar  than  when  cooled  to  a lower  temperature.  An  examina- 
tion of  the  table  above  with  that  of  the  ash  of  the  molasses  will 
show  that  about  4 of  the  solids  not  sugars  in  the  masse  cuites 
are  mineral  salts,  aud  these,  if  the  juices  have  been  properly 
.treated,  are  innocuous.  The  remaining  half  may  be  classed 
with  glucose  in  its  inverting  power. 

When  a juice  has  been  treated  by  processes  Avhich  give 
ilittle  or  no  inversion,  the  amount  of  these  substances  not  sugars 
left  in  the  mnsse  cuites  to  restrain  sucrose,  will  amount  to  about 
J of  the  glucose.  Therefore  in  estimating  the  available  sugar 
in  raw  juice,  it  is  not  far  wrong  to  calculate  by  the  following 
formula,  viz : subtract  from  the  sucrose,  one  and  one-half  the 
weight  of  glucose  and  call  the  remainder  available. 

JUICES  FROM  2nd  PRESSURE. 

On  December  10th,  792  lbs.  bagasse  which  had  already 
yielded  6G  per  cent  juice  was  subjected  to  a second  pressure. 
'The  rolls  and  the  juice  troughs  were  thoroughly  cleansed  before 
the  pressure.  The  juice  was  carefully  caught,  weighed  and 
analysed.  The  rolls  and  troughs  well  washed  and  washings 
weighed  and  analysed. 

The  bagasse  caught  on  a large  sheet,  weighed  717  lbs. — 
showing  a loss  of  75  lbs. 

Of  pure  juice  there  was  collected. . 31  lbs. 

Of  Washings 41  lbs. 

The  j nice  contained 13  per  cent  Total  Solids 

0.2  Sucrose 

, .82  Glucose. 

The  Washing  contained 70  Sucrose,  giving 

A total  of  Sucrose  of 3.14  lbs. 

Or  a total  of  about  34  lbs.  pure  juice— showing  an  unac- 
countable loss  of  about  40  lbs. 

Another  sample  of  522  lbs.  was  taken  and  similarly  treated 
with  almost  identical  results — 

Only  here  the  juice  showed 17.8  Total  Solids. 

12.4  Sucrose. 

1.02  Glucose. 


[76] 


The  jaices  from  the  1st  pressure  were  both  richer  in  Sucrose, 
AVhat  became  of  the  lost  40  lbs  Was  it  water  vaporized 
in  the  mill  and  before  weighing  of  the  finely  divided  bagasse  ? 
The  iatter  was  weighed  just  as  quickly  as  it  could  be  handled^ 
after  grinding.  Weather  clear  and  dry.  Maximum  TemiDera- 
ture  650  p, 

SECOND  SUGARS. 

Several  attempts  were  made  to  make  second  sugars,  but 
it  was  found  that  in  the  absence  of  a hot  room,  that  good  results 
could  not  be  obtained.  Again  our  little  centrifugal  i^urged  with 

difficulty  the  crystals  of  2d  sugar.  It  was  therefore  determined 
to  abandon  further  tests. 

Th  following  were  the  results  : 


PLAT  II— EXPERIMENT  No.  1. 

The  molasses  from  1st  sugars  were  boiled  to  string — gran- 
ulated after  several  days  and  centrifugalled.  From  these  we 
have  full  results,  as  follows  : 

Experiment  No.  1 — 

70  lbs.  1st  Sugars  ® 90^2 

14.71  lbs.  2(1  Sugars  'S*  85° 

76.3  lbs.  24  Molasses  ^ 35.3 

117.  lbs.  Skimmings  ® 

Loss 


63.14=  52.7  per  cent 
12.50=  10.5  “ “ 

26.92=  22.5  “ “ 

14.62=  12.2  “ 

2.50=  2.1  ‘‘ 


Total 119.68  100.0 

Total  Sugars  63.2  per  cent;  103  lbs.  Sugar  'S)  90.2  to  the  Ton  of  Cane. 
Experiment  3,  gave  by  same  treatment — 

108  lbs.  1st  Sugars 91°5 

26  lbs.  2d  Sugars 83° 

66  lbs.  2d  Molasses 33.3 

Skimmings  and  loss 


97.74=  60.7  per  cent 
21.62=  13.8  “ 

22.07=  13.9  “ “ 
18.21=  11.6  “ “ 


159.64  100.0 

Total  74.5  per  cent;  122  lbs.  ® 91.5  to  the  Ton  of  Caiie. 

Experiment  No.  7,  gave — 

95  lbs.  Ist  Sugars  'g) 87°6 

lit  lbs.  2d  Sugars  'g) 83 

51t  lbs.  molasses  © 33.5 

85  lbs.  Shimmings  ® 6.8 

Inversion  and  loss 


83.16=  68.2  per  cent 
9..30=  7.7  “ “ 

17.26=14.20 
5.77=  4.7  “ “ 

6.43=  5.2  ‘‘ 


121.92  100.00 

Total  Sugars  75.90  per  cent ; 113  lbs.  'g)  87.6  to  the  Ton  of  Cane. 


t i it- 


[77] 


Experiment  No.  G — 

LOT  lbs.  1st  Sugars  ® 96°  =103.00=  63.  percent 

lbs.  2(1  Sugars  ® 83°  = 21.94=  13.4  “ “ 

68  lbs.  Molasses  ® 33.3  22.66=  13.8  “ “ 

Skimmings  and  loss 15.99=  9.8  “ “ 

163.59  100.0  “ 

Total  Sugars  76.4  per  cent;  117  lbs  ^ 96.  to  the  Ton  of  Cane. 
Experiment  No.  13 — 

SI  lbs.  1st  Sugars® 96.  = 77.76=  53.4  percent 

*25  lbs.  2ud  Sugars 80.2  = 20.05=  13.8  “ “ 

64  lbs.  2nd  Molasses 27.07=  18.6  “ “ 

1.30  lbs.  Skimmings 12.09=  8.3  “ ‘‘ 

Loss 8.60=  5.9  “ ‘‘ 

145.57  100.0  “ 

Total  Sugars  67.20  per  cent ; 94  lbs.  ® 96.  to  the  Ton  of  Cane. 


LOSS  IN  SCUMS,  SKIMMINGS  AND  SETTLINGS. 

Few  planters  have  even  an  approximate  idea  of  the  amount 
of  sugar  emptied  into  the  ditches  during  the  grinding  season. 
In  the  first  place,  the  blanket  throAvn  away  is  usually  equally  as 
rich  in  sucrose  as  the  juice  from  which  it  comes.  The  skim- 
miugs  and  brushiugs  removed  in  concentration  are  much  richer 
in  sucrose  than  the  juice.  The  settlings,  both  from  the  treat- 
ment with  lime  and  from  the  syrup  after  concentration,  are 
also  rich  in  sucrose.  In  our  work  they  are  all  grouped  together 
and  called  ^^skimmiugs,”  unless  otherwise  mentioned.  IS'umer- 
ous  attempts  were  made  to  work  these  skimmings  so  as  to  re- 
cover every  pound  of  sucrose  possible.  They  were  worked  over 
in  every  conceivable  way,  repeating  the  operation  as  often  as 
four  times  in  many  instances,  and  the  lowest  results  obtained  in 
sucrose,  thrown  away,  was  4 per  cent  of  the  total  amount  in  the 
juice  worked.  This  often  reached  as  high  as  10  per  cent,  and 
where  no  care  was  taken  to  save  them  reached  even  12  and  15 
per  cent  of  the  sucrose  i)resent.  This  is  an  enormous  loss  in 
itself ; but  add  to  this  the  sucrose  inverted  in  the  process  of 
refining  these  products  and  the  loss  will  be  even  greater.  The 
amount  of  this  inversion  depends  upon  the  temperature  of  the 
sugar  house  and  the  delay  in  working  them.  But  worked  as 
soon  as  possible,  and  at  any  temperature,  analyses  will  reveal 


[78] 


a greater  glucose  ratio  and  a lower  purity  co-efficient,  which  are 
positive  declarations  of  inversion.  The  total  loss  from  these 
sources,  given  by  Mr.  Spencer  in  Bulletin  ^o.  15,  Magnolia  Ex- 
periments, at  per  cent  derived  from  the  results  of  his  work., 
is  regarded  by  him  as  far  too  low.  This  season’s  work  fully 
substantiates  the  work  of  Magnolia,  and  we  would  say  after 
all  our  trials,  that  the  loss  is  certainly  between  5 and  15  per 
cent  of  the  juices  worked.  How  can  we  avoid  this  loss?  It  has 
been  demonstrated  that 

FILTER  PRESSES 

will  greatly  reduce  it,  and  perhaps,  by  skillful  use,  nearly  oblit- 
erate it.  A Kroog  Hand  Filter  Press — kindly  furnished  for  a 
short  time  for  experimental  purposes  by  Mr.  Shultze,  of  the 
Sangerhausen  Works  of  Germany — was  used  to  test  this  ques- 
tion in  two  instances.  In  the  first.  Experiment  Xo.  32,  three 
pounds  pulverized  charcoal  were  added  to  the  shimmings  and 
boiled  for  ten  minutes  and  then  filtered.  With  so  small  a press 
the  operation  was  a lengthy  and  tedious  one,  and  therefore  in- 
version took  iilace  before  the  work  could  be  finished.  There 
was  no  way  of  steaming  the  cake  formed,  and  hence  the  latter 
was  not  washed.  At  the  end  of  the  operation,  however,  there  was 
found  in  the  cake  formed  2.29  lbs.  sucrose  from  a total  of  122 
lbs.  of  the  juice,  or  not  quite  1.9  per  cent.  This,  by  xiroper  steam- 
ing and  washing,  might  have  been  reduced  to  at  least  1 iier  cent.. 

Second  trial  was  with  Exxieriment  No.  31.  Here  no  filter- 
ing medium  was  used^  but  the  mass  of  shimmings  sent  directly^ 
to  the  press.  This  operation  was  a more  tedious  one,  and  re- 
quired oftener  the  removal  of  the  filter  cloths.  The  inversion 
was,  however,  not  so  great.  Here  we  obtained  2.9  lbs.  sucrose 
in  the  cake  out  of  120  lbs.  sucrose  in  the  juice,  or  2.4  per  cent, 
loss.  The  cake  was  not  carried  to  anything  like  dryness,  on 
account  of  the  difficulty  of  the  hand  work.  With  steam  power 
and  steam  in  the  press,  the  cake  might  have  been  made  quite 
solid  and  sugar  contents  greatly  reduced. 

From  the  results  of  these  exx)eriments,  there  is  no  hesi- 
tancy in  declaring  filter  presses  as  a crying  necessity  in  the 
sugar  houses  of  the  State,  to  save  the  sugar  now  thrown  away 


[79] 


in  the  ditches,  if  not  for  use  in  the  adaptation  of  the  William- 
son & Elmmer^s  or  Kleeman’s  processes  in  our  w ork. 

On  the  10th  of  November  the  following  experiments  were 
made  with  what  was  then  believed  to  be  the  Kleemans  iirocess 
of  treating  raw  juices,  but  which  has  been  subsequently  shown 
to  be  Williamson  & Eummer\s: 

No.  1. — 60  gallons  juice  (a)  received  150  pounds  of  lime  and  100  c.  c.  su- 
perphosphate of  alumina;  without  removal  of  the  blanket,  9 lbs.  pulver- 
ized German  lignite  were  added,  and  the  whole  mass  boiled  for  five  minutes 
and  then  sent  to  Kroog’s  jiress.  The  filtered  juice  (b)  was  clear  and  limpid. 
In  concentrating,  a white  scum  arose  to  the  surface,  which  had  to  be  re- 
moved. It  was  concentrated  to  25°  B (c)  in  open  pan.  In  cooling  a precipi- 
tate formed,  due  mainly  to  the  superxdiosjihate  of  alumina  added. 

No.  2.-6  gallons  of  juice  («)  was  limed  to  neutrality  and  boiled  ten 
minutes  with  1^  lbs  bituminous  coal  and  filtered,  which  gave  a clear  but 
dark-colored  juice  (Z>). 

No.  3. — 5 gallons  juice  («)  was  limed  and  left  acid  and  boiled  for  five 
minutes  with  H lbs.  pulverized  bituminous  coal  aud  filtered,  which  gave 
a clear  and  limpid  juice  {by,  concentrated  to  22°  B (c)  in  oiren  pan,  which  re- 
mained clear  on  cooling. 


ANALYSES  OF  ABOVE. 


No.  of  Experiments. 

Degree  Baumo. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

1 Co-Efficicut 

1 Purity. 

1 a 

8.0 

14.5 

1 12  5 

84.8 

1 b 

7.6 

13.7 

! 13.0 

94.9 

1 r, 

20.0 

53.5 

44.0 

82.2 

8.0 

14.5 

i 12.5 

84.8 

2 b 

8.4 

15.2 

i 13.7 

90.1 

3 a 

8.0 

14.5 

12.5 

84.^ 

3 b 

7.6 

13.7 

13.0 

94.9 

3 c 

27.0 

49.7 

1 41.7 

83.9 

2 (&)  was  concentrated  a little  in  boiling. 


The  increased  coefficients  of  purity  indicated  the  removal 
of  a large  amount  of  solids  not  sugar.  Our  supply  of  pure  Ger- 
man Lignite  gave  out  with  one  ex^ieriment,  hence  we  could  not 
tell  anything  about  its  decolorizing  effect,  which  is  claimed  for 
it  by  Mr.  Kleeman,  and  which  is  proposed  as  a substitute  for 
Bone  Black.  The  bituminous  coal  used  here  and  pulverized 


[80J 


charcoal  subsequently  used,  had  apparently  similar  results, 
causing  an  easy  filtration  of  the  juice  from  the  solids,  but  ex- 
ercising little  or  no  decolorizing  effects. 

The  method  is  a rapid  one,  and  quickly  disposes  of  the  oth- 
erwise troublesome  scums  and  settlings.  There  is  no  skimming 
required,  and  on  this  account  we  think  it  a great  improvement 
over  the  usual  way  of  clarification.  But  it  is  well  known,  that 
a portion  of  the  Albuminoids  coagulable  by  heat  and  lime  are 
rendered  soluble  by  boiling  with  lime,  and  the  appearance  of 
scums  in  the  subsequent  concentration  would  indicate  that 
these  Albuminoids  had  not  been  successfully  removed.  Unfor- 
tunately at  this  time,  our  entire  laborator^^  xforce  was  engaged 
in  the  regular  work  of  the  sugar  house  and  therefore  could  not 
determine,  this  question  by  analysis.  But  we  find  our  suspi- 
cions corroborated  by  the  experiments  of  Dr.  Spencer,  at  Mag- 
nolia, Bulletin  15,  page  24.  who  found  only  35.17  per  cent  of  the 
Albuminoids  in  the  juice  removed  by  this  process,  while  45  per 
cent,  are  removed  by  the  ordinary  way  of  clarification. 

The  Kleeman  process,  as  we  have  since  learned,  varies  from 
the  above  in  two  essential  points.  1st.  The  juice  is  defecated 
as  usual,  and  the  clear  juice  and  the  scums  with  settlings,  sepa- 
rately treated  witli  brown  coal.  2nd.  The  concentrated  juice  is 
again  mixed  with  brown  coal  and  filtered,  the  last  operation  be- 
ing performed  by  gravity.  The  Station  has  recently  received 
a beautiful  Filter  Press  from  Messrs.  Pusey  & Jones,  of  AVil- 
mington,  Delaware,  through  their  courteous  agents,  Messrs. 
Kirchoff  Bros.,  of  Few  Orleans,  and  will,  the  coming  season, 
experiment  extensively  in  these  processes,  accompanying  them 
with  analytical  work  in  the  Laboratory.  It  is  also  receiving 
samples  of  Lignite  from  Louisiana,  Alabama  and  Mississippi,  for 
the  purpose  of  finding  if  possible,  a home  article  which  can  sub- 
stitute brown  coal. 

In  closing  this  the  report  of  a series  of  experiments  which 
involved  a great  exi)enditure  of  time  and  patient,  careful  labor 
the  Director  wishes  to  return  his  personal  thanks  to  all  persons 
who  so  kindly  aided  him  in  his  work. 

Special  acknowledgements  are  made  to  my  regular  assistant 
Mr.  W.  L.  Hutchinson,  and  my  volunteer  assistants,  Messrs.  J. 
P.  Baldwin,  Jr.,  and  Wm.  Shiel,  of  Louisiana,  Mr.  B.  S.  Burton, 
of  Georgia,  and  Mr.  J.  D.  Stubbs,  of  Virginia,  for  their  ardur- 
ous  and  intelligent  labors,  both  in  the  sugar'  house  and  in  the 
Laboratory,  by  which  much  of  the  success  achieved,  is  due. 


[81] 


EVAN  HALL  STTGAR  HOUSE. 

Mr.  Henry  McCall,  tlic  eiitei’pri^iug  proprietor  of  Evan 
Hall  Plantation,  has  kindly  ])lace<l  at  our  disposal  the  record  of 
his  sugar  house  for  the  past  season.  This  record  was  kept  by 
Mr.  Levin  A.  Becnel,  chemist'  anrl  innchinist,  who  has  used  every 
precaution  to  insure  accuracy.  It  is  only  deserved  praise  to  say 
that  Mr.  McCall  is  one  of  our  most  intelligent  and  progressive 
planters,  and  his  sugar  house  one  of  the  best  in  the  State. 

This  record,  condensed,  is  presented  in  order  to  show 
tlie  losses  which  are  sustained  even  in  our  best  sugar 
houses,  and  with  the  ho]>e  that  pro])er  appliances  will  be  secured 
to  avoid  imicli  of  them  in  the  future.  It  is  learned  that  Mr. 
McCall  lias  procured  for  the  next  season  fdter  i)resses,  whereby 
the  losses  in  scums  will  be  greatly  reduced.  It  is  hop<Ml  that 
similar  records  will  be  kept  next  year,  so  that  by  (5ompari''On  the 
actual  gains  may  be  ascertained. 


CONDENSED  RECORD  OF  EVAN  HALL  SUGAR  HOUSE,  188c3. 


No.  acres  cane  ground 937 

“ tons  “ “ ...  22,368 

Av  per  centage  of  extraction 75.85 

No.  gallons  juice  extracted 3,846,000 

“ pounds  juice  extracted 33,933,564 

“ “ total  solids  in  j dice. . 4,830,265 

‘‘  sugar  in  juice 3,614,700 

“ “ total  solids  in  syrup. . 4,103,632 

“ “ sugar  in  syrup 3,121,719 

“ “ total  solids  removed 

in  scums 726,633 

“ sugar  rein’d  in  scums,  492,981 
“ masse  cuite obtained.  4,837,049 

“ “ solids  not  sugar  in 

masse  cuite 981,913=20,30  per  cent  ) Per  cent  compo- 

“ “ sugar  in  masse  cuite.  3,121,719=64,54  per  cent  > sition  of 

“ ‘‘  water  in  “ . 733,417=15.16  per  c<‘nt  ) masiso  cnito. 

“ “ 1st  sugars  obtained  . . 2,440,678=50.40  per  cent  of  masse  cuite 

“ “ 2nd  “ “ ..  47,766 

“ “ all  “ “ ..  2,488,444=51.4  per  cent  of  1st  masse  cuite 

“ “ molasses  froui  first 

masses  cuite 2,348,605 

“ “ water  evapora’d  from 

Ist  molasses 436,949 

“ “ wa’r  left  in  mo’s  obt’d  296,468=15.5  per  cent  ) Per  cent  cornpo- 

“ “ su’r  “ “ “ 633,275=33. 1 per  cent  > lion  of 

“ ‘‘  solidsnot  sugar  left.  . 981,913=51.4  per  cent  ) molasses  obtaind 


Molas.ses  obtained..  1,911,656 


Per  cent  of  sugar  obtained  of  total  sugar  in  juice 68.84  j)er  cent 

Per  cent  of  sugar  i!i  molasses  of  total  sugar  in  juice 17.52  ])er  cent 

Per  cent  of  sugar  lost  n scums,  ( tc.  . . . 13.64  per  cent 


mo.  00 


182] 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

MAY  1887. 


Date. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Compar 
ison  of 

Daily  Rainfall. 

State 

of 

Weather 

REMARKS. 

May. 

9 A.  M. 

3 P.  M. 

9 P.  M. 

Maximum ! 

Minimum. 

Wet  Bulb. 

Dry  Bulb. 

1 

7d° 

84° 

80° 

8do 

70° 

74° 

7d° 

.00 

Fair 

2 

77 

84 

89 

85 

d9 

75 

77 

.00 

Fair.... 

3 

77 

75 

75 

87 

70 

73 

77 

.00 

Fair 

4 

d5 

74 

78 

75 

d3 

d5 

d5 

.53 

Fair 

5 

d9 

77 

70 

79 

59 

d7 

d9 

.00 

Fair 

d 

75 

83 

7d 

84 

di 

73 

75 

.00 

Cloudy. 

7 

75 

87 

74 

89 

do 

73 

75 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

8 

7d 

8d 

77 

88 

dd 

75 

7d 

.00 

Fair 

9 

80 

88 

79 

90 

d3 

78 

80 

.00 

Fair 

- 

10 

88 

91 

80 

94 

d5 

87 

88 

.00 

Fair. . . . 

11 

7d 

88 

79 

90 

70 

75 

7d 

.00 

Fair 

12 

70 

87 

77 

89 

d4 

d8 

70 

.00 

Cloudy. 

13 

74 

84 

80 

92 

d4 

73 

74 

.10 

Cloudy. 

14 

7d 

89 

78 

91 

d5 

74 

7d 

.00 

Fair 

15 

74 

87 

73 

90 

d4 

73 

74 

.3d 

Cloudy. 

Id 

77 

83 

74 

90 

dd 

74 

77 

.00 

Cloudy. 

17 

70 

87 

71 

89 

dd 

d8 

70 

.00 

Cloudy. 

IS 

d9 

85 

d5 

88 

d4 

d7 

d9 

.00 

Cloudy. 

19 

70 

83 

71 

8d 

59 

d9 

70 

.32 

Cloudy. 

20 

74 

75 

73 

8d 

59 

71 

74 

.00 

Cloudy. 

21 

7d 

87 

74 

89 

d2 

75 

7d 

.00 

Fair  ... 

22 

73' 

89 

73 

90 

d5 

70 

73 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

23 

72 

87 

70 

89 

d3 

72 

72 

.15 

Fair  . . . 

24 

73 

91 

74 

92 

d7 

71 

73 

.00 

Fair  ... 

25 

70 

90 

d8 

91 

dd 

d9 

70 

.00 

Fair  ... 

2d 

7d 

87 

73 

90 

d4 

74 

7d 

.00 

Fair  ... 

27 

74 

89 

70 

89 

dl 

70 

74 

.00 

Fair  . . . 

28 

74 

90 

71 

90 

d3 

73 

74 

.30 

Cloudy. 

29 

74 

89 

72 

89 

d2 

74 

74 

4.50 

Rainy. . 

30 

71 

8d 

d7 

87 

dO 

d9 

71 

.00 

Cloudy. 

31 

71 

88 

72 

89 

d3 

70 

71 

.30 

Cloudy. 

Av. 

74 

8d 

75 

89 

d4 

d.5d 

Highest  temperature  during  month  94'-'. 
Lowest  temperature  during  month  59^\ 
Average  temperature  during  month  77'^. 
Total  rainfall  during  month  d-hd. 
Average  daily  rainfall  .21. 


OATS  AND  POTATOES. 


BULLETIN  No.  11 

OF  THE 

STATE  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

AND 

Sugar  Experiment  Station, 


W^m.  C.  Stubbs,  Ph.  D., 

OIHEOTOR 

ISSUED  BY 

a"HO]MF*SO]Nr  J. 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  la. 


BATON  ROUGE : 

PRINTED  BY  LEON  JASTREMSKI,  STATE  PRINTER, 

1887. 


[2] 


EXPEEIMEIy^TS  IX  OATS, 

OBJECTS. 

Are  to  test  the  economy  of  growing  oats  at  home  as  a food  crop 
for  stock,  in  iDreference  to  the  prevailing  custom  of  importing 
annually  large  quantities  at  great  cost.  With  these  objects  in 
view,  efforts  have  been  made  to  decide  the  following  questions : 

1st.  Best  time  to  sow  I 

2nd.  Manurial  requirements  of  our  soils  for  growing  oats  % 

A third  question  will  next  season  be  propounded — what 
variety  is  best  for  seed  This  question  forces  itself  ujDon  us,, 
since  a large  quantity  of  oats  sold  in  our  markets  as  ^‘Kust 
Proof”  are  not  true  to  name;  The  experiments  of  last  year  are 
repeated  at  both  stations  upon  the  same  plats. 

BEST  TIME  TO  PLANT. 

This  year,  sowings  were  made  at  the  Sugar  Experiment 
Station — on  the  last  day  of  October,  January  3rd  and  February 
1st  5 on  the  State  Experiment  Station  on  October  30th,  Decem- 
ber 3rd  and  February  7th.  The  winter  was  very  favorable  to 
the  growth  of  oats,  and  grave  apprehensions  were  entertained 
for  the  safety  of  the  fall  oats,  lest  they  might  head  before  the 
winter  was  over  and  be  killed,  or  that  they  would  reach  such  a 
luxuriant  growth  as  to  ‘Oodge”  in  the  spring.  The  former  were 
not  realized — the  latter  occurred  on  a few  of  the  most  promising 
plats. 

PREPARATION  OF  THE  GROUND. 

It  was  turned  over  in  October  with  a two-horse  plow,  the* 
oats  and  fertilizers  sowed  by  hand,  the  former  at  the  rate  of  two- 
bushels  per  acre,  and  both  harrowed  in  together.  Good  stands- 
were  everywhere  obtained. 

PREVIOUS  CULTIVATION. 

At  the  Sugar  Experiment  Station,  as  soon  as  the  oat  crop* 
was  removed  last  May,  all  the  plats  were  solved  broadcast  in 
cow  peas.  These  were  cut  and  made  into  forage  in  Seiitember, 
leaving  only  the  root  residues  in  the  soil.  At  the  State  Experi- 
ment Station  the  plat  in  oats  last  year  grew  a good  crop  of  crab 
grass,  which  was  removed  for  hay.  The  other  plats  were  culti- 


[3] 

vated  in  corn  by  tenants  last  year,  and  the  ground,  when  takeiii 
for  these  experiments,  was  excessively  foul  with  rank  weeds-^ 
which  required  time  and  labor  to  eradicate. 


EXPERIMENTS  IX  OATS. 

SUGAR  EXPERIMENr  STATION,  KENNER,  LA. 

PLAT  XO.  12. 

Land  broken  with  two-horse  plow ; manures  and  oats  sowed'. 
October  30th  and  harrowed  in  j harvested  May  9th  j weiglieii 
May  12th  j threshed  May  30tli.  The  yields  of  last  year  are  aisa^ 
given  for  comparison. 

PLAT  NO  12. 

SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION. 


Fertilizers. 


K 

o 

6 

Kind. 

Amt.  P«-r 
Acre. 

1 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  / 

270  lbs. 

Acid  Phosphate  ^ 

270  “ 

Cotton  Seed  Meal ) 

270  “ 

2 

Acid  Phosphate  > 

270  “ 

Kainite  ) 

270 

Q 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  ) 

360  “ 

o 

Acid  Phosphate  ^ 

180  “ 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  ) 

360  “ 

4 

Acid  phosphate  > 

180 

Kainite  ) 

270  “ 

r 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  / 

405  “ 

0 

Acid  Phosphate  s 

135 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  ) 

405  ‘‘ 

6 

Acid  Phosi)hato  > 

135  “ 

Kainite  ) 

270  “ 

7 

Cotton  Seed  Meal 

300  “ 

8 

Acid  Phosphate 

150  “ 

9 

10 

Kainite 

Nothing 

150  “ 

11 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  1 

300  “ 

Acid  Phosphate  ^ 

1.50  “ 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  ) 

.300  ‘‘ 

12 

Acid  Phosphate  > 

150  “ 

IKainite  ) 

150 

Yield  Per  Acre 


Cost  Per 
Acre 

1886. 

1887. 

W’ght  of 
oats 

in  sheaf. 

Bushels 
of  oats. 

5yght  of 
oats 
in  sheaf. 

Bnsheii? 
of  oatsf- 

$4.86 

3137  lbs 

67f 

6418  lbs 

o3 

6.80 

6673  “ 

73  21-32 

7563  ‘• 

56  2 2-^ 

4.86 

5564 

64  17-32 

6000  ‘‘ 

58  10-32- 

6.80 

3127  “ 

67  20-32  I 

6509  “ 

48  17-^. 

4.86 

4991  “ 

55  3-32 

4000 

39  12-32 

6 80 

5409  ‘ = 

62  28-32 

5454  “ 

49  12-32 

2.70 

6095  “ 

59  20-32 

6162  “ 

30  31-32 

1.35 

5405  ‘‘ 

57  30- .32 

9189  ‘‘ 

50  2-32 

1.12 

5041  “ 

57  6-32 

7027  “ 

51  13.*^ 

5041  “ 

57 

8378 

40  2C4-32; 

4.05 

3135  ,, 

103  6-32 

6216 

70  30-32- 

5.17 

5837  “ 

70  4-32 

8163  “ 

60  14-32- 

[4] 


Before  discussing  the  above,  two  factors  which  greatly  in- 
terfered with  the  results  must  be  mentioned ; 1st.  The  benefi- 
cial effects  of  the  pea  vines,  grown  alter  the  crop  was  made  last 
year.  The  vines  were  removed,  but  the  root  residues  have  been 
instrumental  in  modifying  greatly  the  effect  of  the  manures 
used.  2ud.  A drouth  of  over  five  weeks  duration,  from  March 
20th  till  April  23rd,  just  at  the  time  these  oats  were  heading, 
and  when  rain  was  absolutely  essential  for  perfect  fruitification. 
This  cause  seriously  modified  results,  as  is  shown  by  the  heavy 
istraw  and  small  percentage  of  grain. 

The  i^ea  vines  gave  increased  growth  to  all,  as  is  shown  by 
the  increased  weight  of  all  the  Experiments  except  No.  5, 
(which  was  again  troubled  with  defective  drainage),  and  appa- 
rently rendered  useless  the  large  application  of  cotton  seed 
meal,  if  we  may  judge  from  the  results  of  8,  9 and  10,  where  no 
meal  was  used.  The  effect  of  the  phosphate  is  quite  apparent  in 
the  increased  yield  of  grain.  Judging  from  these  Experiments, 
we  may  again  say  that  kainite  has  added  nothing  to  the  combi- 
nation of  acid  phosphate  and  cotton  seed  meal.  The  influence 
of  pea  vines,  both  when  taken  oft  and  turned  under,  is  almost 
marvellous  upon  the  subsequent  crops.  This  has  been  demon- 
strated by  experiments  in  cane,  corn  and  oats.  When  turned 
under  we  should  naturally  expect  good  results,  but  largely  in- 
creased yields  are  obtainable  even  when  only  the  roots  are  left. 
Are  these  good  results  ascribable  to  the  chemical  lood  furnished 
by  the  decomposition  of  the  roots  alone,  or  to  the  accumulation 
of  nitrogenous  matter  in  the  upper  layers  of  the  soil,  brought 
about  by  the  intense  shade  afforded  the  soil  during  the  period 
cf  greatest  nutrification  ? Have  these  numerous  tap  roots  made 
the  soil  more  open  and  porous,  and  left  it  better  drained  and  in 
better  tilth  ? What  are  all  of  the  benefits  which  i)ea  vines  have 
upon  subsequent  crops  'I  These  questions  we  propose  to  inves- 
tigate the  following  summer  by  weighing  and  analyzing  both 
vines  and  roots,  the  latter  dug  up  and  washed  out  to  the  depth 
of  two  feetj  at  the  same  time  accurately  determining  the 
amounts  of  nitrogen  in  pea-vined  soil  and  that  adjacent  not  pea- 
vined.  In  this  way  some  light  may  be  thrown  upon  this  highly 
interesting  subject. 


[51 


Several  of  these  plats,  particularly  No.  12,  suffered  hadly 
from  the  rust,  notwithstandiug  the  seed  used  was  of  the  Red 
Rust  Proof  variety.  The  drouth  did  the  work.  . i 

In  the  above  Experiments,  Nos.  1,  2,  7 and  11  were  so  badly 
lodged  that  they  had  to  be  cut  with  sickles,  hence  their  weights 
in  the  sheaf  are  below  the  others. 

The  following  conclusions  are  suggested  by  these  experi- 
ments : That  pea-vined  lands  requires  a diminished  quantity  of 
nitrogenous  manures,  but  full  rations  of  iihosphoric  acid,  and 
that  kainite  is  not  yet  needed  on  this  kind  of  soil. 


PLAT  NO.  12  {a). 

This  plat  was  not  in  oats  last  year.  Cane  was  windrowed 
for  seed  in  it  in  the  fall  of  1885.  It  was  pea-vined  like  No.  12  in 
May,  and  after  that  received  the  same  treatment,  except  no  ma- 
nures were  applied  at  the  time  of  planting,  October  30th. 

On  March  Gth  the  manures  were  applied  as  a top  dressing 
when  the  oats  were  a foot  or  more  in  height.  Here  are  the  re- 
sults: Harvested  May  12th,  weighed  May  16th,  and  threshed 
May  3()th. 

PLAT  NO.  12  {a). 


Fertilizers. 


Kind. 


1 Nitrate  Soda.: 

2 Nitrate  Soda 

^ 'Acid  Phosphate 

^ Nothing 

iNitrate  Soda 

^ Acid  Phosphate 

^ I Kainite 

5 Sulphate  of  Ammonia, 
(j  Sulphate  of  Ammonia. 

Acid  Phosphate 

^ Nothing 

I Sulphate  of  Ammonia. 

® Acid  Phosphate 

iKainite 

9 Nothing 


Yield  per  acre. 


d 

o 

o 

c3 

o 

a 

o c3 

O 

o 

r—>  92 

dt)  4.^ 

f-( 

Ch 

a 

02 

o 

O 

'*-•  .22 

O 7c 

^ cS 

» o 
a 

W 

140  lbs 

$3.85 

5600  lbs 

60  17-32 

140 

140 

u 

(( 

5.11 

5580 

51  8-32- 

4070  ‘‘ 

34  27-32. 

140 

140 

(( 

5.65 

7230  “ 

45  6-32' 

140 

(( 

150 

n 

4.50 

5778  '• 

46 

150 

150 

(( 

li 

5.85 

5890  ‘• 

44  11-32 

4200  ‘‘ 

36  24-32 

15) 

t< 

150 

(i 

6.75 

6510  “ 

62  1-32; 

150 

u 

4588  “ 

28  H-32 

[6] 

Tlie  above  manures  were  put  out  March  5th,  and  only  one 
; good  rain  occurred  (March  20th)  between  its  application  and 
.3inrvest.  Hence  results  are  uniform  as  regards  straw,  but  very 
discordant  in  grain.  In  fact  some  of  these  experiments  gave  as 
low  as  20  per  cent  of  grain,  due  entirely  to  the  effects  of  the 
• drouth  while  heading. 

PLAT  NO.  13. 

These  experiments  were  sown  January  3d,  manures  put  on 
with  oats,  and  harvested  May  11th,  weighed  May  16th,  and 
threshed  June  12th.  This  plat  was  similarly  manured  last 
.year.  From  Bulletin  No.  4 we  take  the  following  : 

OBJECT. 

The  object  of  these  experiments  was  to  test  the  value  of  in- 
gredients used  first  on  oats  and  then  following  with  cow  peas, 
i to  find  what  effect  the  residues  of  manures  left  iii  the  soil  would 
iliave  on  the  latter.  The  late  Dr.  Eavenel,  of  Charleston,  S.  C., 
c used  a mixture  of  South  Carolina  floats  (finely  ground  rock 
tpliosphate)  mixed  with  kainite  as  a specific  manure  for  cow 
peas.  By  its  use  an  increased  growth  of  peas  was  attained, 
which,  turned  under  at  the  proper  time,  or  permitted  to  rot  on 
the  surface,  gave  an  enhanced  fertility  to  the  soil.  Using  these 
ingredients  as  sources  of  phosphoric  acid  and  potash,  alone  and 
combined  with  cotton  seed  meal,  and  in  another  series  substi- 
tuting Orchilla  phosphate  (a  natural  deposit  from  the  Caribbean 
Sea)  for  floats,  we  have  tried  tjo  determine  the  effects  upon  these 
;plats- 

After  harvest  last  year,  this  plat  was  sown  in  peas,  the  lat- 

removed  for  forage  and  the  land  rebroken  and  sown  in  oats 
January  3d.  The  result  of  both  years  are  appended. 


[7] 


PLAT  NO.  13— OATS 


SUGAR  EXPERIMEXT  STATION,  KENNER  LA. 


Fertilizers. 


Yield  Per  Acre. 


Kind. 


^3 


Cotton  Seed  Meal  ) 

Orcliilla  Plios.  / 

Kainite  ) 

Cotton  Seed  Meal 

Floats 

Kainite 

Orchilla  Phos. 

Kainite 

Floats 

Kainite 

Orcliilla  Phosphate 
Floats 


250 

250 

125 

250 

250 

12) 

250 

125 

250 

125 

250 

250 


lbs 


V 

d 

-M  O 

O 


Amount  in  Sheaved 
Oats. 


1886. 


$5.34 

5.34 

3.19 

3.19 

2.25 

2.25 


3860  lbs. 


4776 


2520  “ 

2580  “ 

2700 
2940  “ 


1887. 


6278  lbs. 


6759 


5443  ‘‘ 

5696  “ 

.5696  “ 

7346 


Bushels  in  Oats. 


1886.  1887. 


79  7-32 


61  20-32 


67  7-32 


56  26  32 

72  14-32 
64  3-32 


These  oats  being  much  younger  and  smaller  than  Il^'os.  12 
und  13,  did  not  suffer  as  severely  from  the  drouth.  They  were 
not  so  high  as  the  fall  oats,  but  were  much  better  headed.  The 
Orchilla  seems  to  have  given  better  results  in  gain  than  the 
Tloats.  Here  again  Kainite  appears  without  effect.  The  Ni- 
trogen does  not  seem  to  exercise  so  much  influence  as  last  year. 


PLAT  NO.  3— OATS. 

This  plat  (in  oats  last  year)  was  put  in  cow  peas,  vines  re- 
moved and  land  plowed  with  a two-horse  plow  and  manures  and 
oats  sowed  February  1st.  They  started  off'  well,  but  were  soon 
checked  by  the  prevailing  drouth,  developing  the  rust,  which 
almost  demolished  it.  It  recovered  slightly  under  the  rains  of 
May  and  came  to  harvest  with  poor  yield  June  3rd. 


PLAT  NO.  3— OATS. 

SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  KENNER,  LA. 


Fertilizers. 


Kind. 


Yield  per  acre. 


Qi 

P. 

© 

u 

© 

Wq  oats  in  slieaf 

.*3  O 

2 o 

ci 

f-t 

Pi 

to 

© 

o 

-tJ 

g 

CC 

O 

o 

1886 

1887 

3 

23 

4S0  ; 

lbs 

$4.32 

5686  lbs 

19^88 

( ( 

15  17-32 

1095 

Ii 

8 18-32 

10  16-32 

480 
' 96 

u 

ii 

5.18 

• « • • 

1345 

(( 

96 

192 

C( 

i c 

2.30 

2594 

<( 

960 

ii 

9 10-32 

2834 

860 

ii 

6 17-32 

480 

192 

a 

i i 

5.76 

4890 

<< 

1422 

ii 

14  14-32 

96 

ii 

.86 

3295 

<( 

1056 

ii 

10  6-32 

• • • • 

2353 

(( 

768 

ii 

5 7-32 

192 

ii 

1.44 

2305 

i ( 

576 

ii 

4 28-32 

480 

ki 

96 

a 

6.62 

2883 

li 

1345 

ii 

13  2-32 

192 

i i 

2449 

(1 

461 

ii 

3 16-32 

480 

ii 

96 

ii 

6.62 

3170 

(( 

1056 

ii 

9 2-32 

192 

a 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

Nothing 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Acic  Phosphate. . . 
Acid  Phosphate. . . 

Kainite 

Nothing 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

Kainite 

Acid  Phosphate. . . 

Nothing 

Kainite 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Acid  Phosphate. . . 

Kainite 

Nothing 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

Floats 

Kainite 


No  comment  is  needed  except  to  say  that  the  entire  plat 
was  a most  prodigious  failure.  It  was  planted  February  1st, 
and  during  this  month  there  were  six  rains  on  six  consecutive 
days,  from  17th  to  21nd,  giving  5.23  inches.  On  March  lst.it 
was  quite  vigorous  and  iiromising.  It  rained  on  the  7th  and 
20th  of  March,  and  from  the  latter  date  not  a drop  fell  till  April 
23d,  when  there  was  a good  shower,  too  late  to  repair  the  great 
injury  done.  After  this  no  rain  fell  till  May. 

It  was  harvested  June  3d,  weighed  June  I4th,  and  threshed 
June  21st. 


Uorj^eriments  in  Oats  at  State  Exiieriment  Station,  Baton  Rouge,  La. 


PLAT  NO.  1— OATS. 

This  plat  was  in  oats  last  year.  After  the  oats  were  re* 
moved  it  grew  up  in  crab  grass  which  was  cut  and  made  into 
hay.  It  was  plowed  with  a two  horse  plow  October  29th,  1886, 
and  manures  and  oats  sown  and  harrowed  in  on  October  30th. 
Harvested  May  10th,  1887. 


[9] 


PLAT  XO.  1 OATS. 


STATE  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 


c 

Fertilizers. 

Yield  Per  Acre. 

o 

Bushels  Per  Acre 

X 

4> 

® . 

Ph  o 

Weight  ; 

in  Sheaf. 

<.-1 

o 

c 

Kind. 

. M 

3*^ 

<! 

O 

1886. 

1887. 

1886. 

1887, 

1 

Cottonseed  Meal 

300  lbs. 

$2.70 

2280  lbs. 

3167  lbs. 

27  5-32 

36. 

2 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  ? 
Acid  Phosphate  s 

300  “ 

mo  “ 

4.05 

2700  “ 

382  > “ 

35  29-32 

44.3 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  ) 

300  “ 

3 

Acid  Phosphate  > 

150  “ 

5.17 

3000  “ 

3567  “ 

41  5-32 

39.3 

Kainite  ) 

150 

4 

Acid  Pnosphate  f 
Kainite  ) 

150  “ 

150  “ 

2.45 

2820  “ 

2427  ‘‘ 

38  5-32 

24.7 

5 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  \ 
Kainite  S 

350  “ 
175  “ 

4.46 

2553  “ 

2496  “ 

30  16-32 

28.56 

Here  the  mixture  of  acid  phosphate  and  cotton  seed  meal 
lias  given  the  best  results. 


PLAT  XO.  2— OATS. 

This  plat  was  in  oats  last  year.  The  crab  grass  which  grew 
on  it  after  the  removal  of  the  oats  was  made  into  hay.  It  was 
broken  by  a two-horse  plow  and  oats  sowed  and  harrowed  in  on 
October  30th.  On  March  15th  manures  were  applied  as  a top 
dressing  to  the  growing  oats. 


[10] 


PLAT  NO.  2— OATS. 


Fertilizers. 


Kind. 


Nitrate  of  Soda 

Sulphate  of  Ammoni 

Nitrate  of  Soda 

Acid  Phosphate 

Nothin^ 

Sul.  of  Ammonia 

Acid  Pbosiihate 

NPrate  of  Soda 

Acid  Phosphate 

Muriate  Potash 

Sul.  of  Ammonia. . . . 

Acid  Phosphate 

Muriatic  Potash.... 


o 

a 


200 

150 

200 

200 


lbs 


150 

200 

200 

200 

100 

150 

200 

100 


$5.50 

4.50 

7.30 


6.30 

8.80 

7.80 


Yield  per  acre. 


Weight  in  sheaf 

Bushels. 

1886 

1887 

1886 

1887 

3853  lbs 

[4900  lbs 

43  20.32 

3713  ‘‘ 

3750  “ 

42  19.32 

43  4-32 

4213  “ 

4550  “ 

42  25.32 

41 

863  “ 

2000  “ 

14  19.32 

21  31-32 

3638  “ 

3900  “ 

41  6.32 

43  16-32 

4648  “ 

4450  “ 

49  26.32 

56  21-32 

4645  ‘‘ 

3900  “ 

48  15.32 

45  3-32 

Highest  yield  in  1886 49.8  bushels 

Highest  yield  in  1887 56.7  bushels 

Last  year  tliis  plat  was  sown  in  the  spring,  this  year  in  the 
fall,  and  hence  results  should  have  been  much  better,  but  the 
drouth  already  alluded  to  seriously  vitiated  the  yield. 


PLAT  NO.  3— OATS. 

As  soon  as  the  Lonisiana  State  University  and  A.  & M. 
College  came  in  possession  of  the  U.  S.  Garrison  with  its  lands, 
arrangements  were  at  once  begun  to  transfer  the  Station  with 
the  College.  A piece  of  land  of  about  seven  acres,  which  had 
just  grown  a crop  of  corn  and  which  had  been  left  very  foul  with 
weeds,  was  selected  for  sowing  in  oats.  After  much  labor  in 
removing  the  weMs,  it  was  broken  with  a two  horse  plow  and 
divided  into  two  parts.  One  was  seeded  to  oats  on  December 
3d,  the  other  February  7th.  On  both  the  same  fertilizer  was 
used,  which  consisted  of  200  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  150  lbs. 
Acid  Phosphate  per  acre,  put  in  with  the  seed,  and  both  har- 
rowed in. 


[11] 


That  planted  December  3d  was  harvested  May  17th  to 
20th,  and  gave  in  sheafed  oats  5122  lbs.  and  threshed  59.2 
hushels  per  acre. 

That  planted  February  7th  gave  2250  lbs.,  and  threshed  G.5 
hushels  per  acre. 

Both  were  injured  by  the  drouth,  but  the  latter  most  seri- 
ously, producing  rust  badly. 

In  all  of  our  experiments  the  ^^Ked  Bust  Proof”  variety  of 
oats  were  used  at  the  rate  of  two  bushels  per  acre.  But  none 
of  these  oats  proved  true  to  name,  since  they  all,  more  or  less, 
during  the  drouth,  succumbed  to  the  rust,  which  in  several  in- 
stances seriously  injured  the  crop.  This  suggests  the  propriety 
of  paying  more  attention  to  seed,  and  buying  only  such  as  are 
guaranteed  to  be  ^^Eust  Proof”  and  not  of  the  variety  of  ^‘Eust 
Proof.” 

CONCLUSIONS. 

It  is  rarely  wise  to  draw  conclusions  from  the  results  of  two 
years  only,  but  when  we  consider  the  peculiar  and  almost  oppo- 
site conditions  which  prevailed  in  these  years,  we  think  we  can 
safely  assert  that  oats  in  sufficient  quantities  to  supply  all  our 
wants  can  be  economically  grown  in  Louisiana. 

The  winter  of  1885-G  was  very  cold,  destroying  all  winter 
sown  grain — with  an  unusually  wet  spring.  The  winter  of  ’8G-87 
was  a peculiarly  dry  and  open  one,  with  an  excessively  dry 
spring.  Yet  in  both  years  very  fair  crops  of  oats  were  made 
from  fall  sowings 

The  average  of  fall  sowings  at  Kenner  for  1886  was 65.4  bushels  per  acre 

“ “ “ “ “ “ 1887  was. ..  .52.6  bushels  per  acre 

“ “ spring  “ “ Baton  Rouge  for  1886  was. 38.1  bushels  per  acre 

“ “ “ fall  “ “ “ “ 1887  was. 38. 6 bu‘<hels  per  acre 

•“  " “Dec,  “ ■“  “ “ “ 18s7  was. 59. 2 bushels  per  acre 

“ “ “Jan.  “ “ Kenner  for  1887  was 66.2  bushels  per  acre 

The  February  averages  of  1887  are  not  made,  since  these 
were  failures.  Again,  it  has  been  shown  by  numerous  planters 
from  Baton  Eouge  to  the  Gulf  during  this  season,  that  excellent 
crops  of  oats  can  be  cheaply  made  by  proper  preparation  of 
land  and  judicious  manuring. 

It  is  therefore  with  no  hesitation  that  we  recommend  our 
planters  to  grow  their  own  oats.  Prepare  the  land  well,  sow  in 


[12] 


October  two  bushels  per  acre  of  genuine  Ked  Eust  Proof  ’ 
oats,  scatter  broadcast  with  the  oats  four  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  of  a mixture  of  two  parts  of  cotton  seed  meal  and  one 
part  of  acid  phosphate,  harrow  them  both  in  and  open  well  your 
drains.  In  the  spring  you  may  confidently  expect  an  excellent 
yield.  If  this  crop  be  gathered  by  a reaper,  or  better  a self- 
binder,  the  time  and  expense  of  harvest  will  be  small.  As  soon 
as  the  oats  are  removed  sow  the  lands  in  solid  peas  and  it  will 
be  in  excellent  order  for  the  fall  planting  of  cane,  or  for  a spring 
crop  of  cotton  or  corn. 

POTATOES. 

( Solarium  Tuberosum ) 

The  immense  increase  in  the  growth  of  trucks  for  market  in 
the  last  few  years  in  this  State,  iiarticularly  around  Ii^Tew  Or- 
leans and  Baton  Kouge,  has  been  very  gratifying  to  the  agri- 
culturalists of  the  State.  It  inaugurates  a new  era  in  our  agri- 
cultural industry.  It  is  a harbinger  of  that  bright  future  and 
exalted  iDrosperity,  which  nature  has  decreed  by  her  multiple 
gifts  of  soil,  climate  and  geographical  position,  should  be  the  le- 
gitimate destiny  of  Louisiana.  With  a climate  permitting  the 
growth  of  the  greatest  variety  of  crops,  with  soils  of  unparal- 
lelled  fertility,  with  a great  natural  artery  of  trade  oonnecting 
us  on  the  one  hand  with  the  populous  West  and  E'orthwest,  and 
on  the  other  by  the  gulf  and  ocean  with  the  seaports  of  the 
world.  With  competing  railroads  reaching  their  iron  arms 
from  every  progressive  city  in  the  land  in  search  of  our  trade^ 
nothing  is  wanting  to  make  our  State  great  and  prosperous,  but 
intelligent  and  well  applied  labor  in  the  production  of  the  lar- 
gest and  most  diversified  crops.  The  danger  of  over  production 
is  completely  subordinated  b^^  the  magnitude  and  easy  accessi- 
bility of  our  markets.  This  gradual  development  of  a new  in- 
dustry brings  with  it  another  blessing  scarcely  inferior  to  the 
physical  and  natural  ones  just  mentioned.  The  truck  grower,, 
unlike  the  planter,  is  daily  placed  in  keen  competition  with  the 
world  and  must  tax  his  most  latent  powers  of  observation  and 
thought  to  reach  the  most  exiieditious  and  economical  methods 
of  iDroducing  the  largest  crops  and  placing  them  in  the  best  and 


% 


[13] 

cheapest  conditions  in  the  markets  of  the  world.  All  this  de- 
mands study,  investigation,  a more  thorough  and  intimate 
(knowledge  of  nature  and  her  laws,  a larger  intelligence  of  his 
business,  and  a general  mental  development.  It  means  small 
well  tilled  farms,  closely  crowded,  bringing  with  them  a higher 
social  development  in  the  multiplication  of  schools,  churches, 
etc.,  giving  to  each  individual  farmer  a pride  of  and  love  for 
country  and  State  heretofore  unknown. 

The  State  Experiment  Station  realizing  the  importance  of 
this  industry  to  the  State,  began  its  efforts  in  its  behalf  this 
season.  In  reviewing  the  crops  grown  for  the  I^'orthern  mar- 
kets, it  was  found  that  potatoes,  onions  and  cabbages,  were 
those  which  had  received  the  largest  attention.  This  was  to  be 
expected  since  the  raising  of  these  crops,  together  with  melons, 
peas,  tomatoes,  etc.,  constitute  what  are  termed  ‘Tarm  garden- 
ing,-’ in  contradistinction  to  true  market  gardening,  and  the 
former  is  always  a prelude  to  the  latter.  The  former  may  be 
adjunct  to  every  farm,  while  to  raise  the  latter  successfully,  a 
considerable  expenditure  of  money  and  some  practical  exi^eri- 
ence  are  needed  in  the  business  in  the  purchase  of  sashes  for 
hotbeds  and  cold  frames. 

The  i)otato  was  selected  as  deserving  our  first  attention. 

The  potato  belongs  to  a family  of  plants  which  are  noted 
for  furnishing  a very  deadly  poison:  Solarium — The  nightshade 
is  a well  known  member  of  it.  This  poisonous  principle  is  found 
in  the  potato  only  in  very  small  quantities  in  the  sap,  berries 
and  sprouted  tubers.  Cooking  the  latter,  however,  destroys 
this  compound.  This  plant  is  a native  of  America,  and  is  now 
found  growing  wild  in  the  elevated  portions  of  Arizona  and 
Mexico.  The  tubers  of  the  potato  are  not  roots,  but  under- 
ground enlarged  stems,  with  true  buds  (eyes)  more  closely 
crowded  at  the  extremity  (seed  end)  furthest  from  the  plant, 
just  as  on  an  ordinary  branch  of  a tree.  The  other  extremity 
of  the  potato  is  called  the  stem  end.  These  eyes  are  independ- 
ent of  each  other,  and  develop  and  grow  at  the  expense  of  the 
starch  in  the  tuber. 

The  following  directions  have  been  taken  from  Truck 
Farming  in  the  South,”  a book  published  by  Orange  Judd  & 


[14] 

Co.,  York,  and  written  by  Dr.  A.  Oemler,  of  Savannah, 
Ga.,  the  iiresident  of  the  Chatham  County  (Ga.)  Fruitrand 
Vegetable  Growers^  Association,^’  and  who  has  been  for  over 
twenty  years  a successful  Southern  truck  grower.  His  direc- 
tions are  therefore  based  upon  practical  experience  and  can  be 
implicitly  followed  without  fear  of  failure.  His  work  (costing 
only  $1  50)  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  farmer  and  gar- 
dener. 

VARIETIES  TO  PLAN.T  IN  THE  SOUTH. 

That  variety  which  is  productive  of  large  and  even- sized 
tubers,  with  few  or  no  small  ones,  and  early  and  popular  enough 
in  Northern  markets  to  command  high  jirices,  is  the  one  best 
adapted  to  our  wants.  The  ‘‘Early  Eose”  meets  these  require- 
ments, and  is  the  general  hivorite,  but  the  “Beauty  of  Hebron” 
and  the  “ Burbank  ” are  also  grown.  In  Louisiana  the  Peerless 
seems  to  be  the  variety  mostly  grown,  though  it  is  far  from  be- 
ing among  the  earliest  to  mature. 

SIZE  OF  SEED  FOR  PLANTING. 

Experiments  have  failed  to  decide  the  mooted  question, 
whether  it  is  more  advisable  to  plant  the  whole  potato,  or  to  cut 
it  lip  in  sets.  As  a rule,  cut  large  potatoes  into  single  eyes  j with 
small  ones,  divide  into  parts  sufficiently  large  to  furnish  nutri- 
ment to  the  young  sprout.  To  attain  a crop  with  as  many  large 
potatoes  as  possible  only  one  stalk  should  grow  to  a hill  j three 
or  more  are  apt  to  grow  where  whole  potatoes  are  used  as  seed. 
Full  maturity  is  more  desirable  than  size  of  the  cut.  Over  ripe 
potatoes  often  rot  in  the  hill,  and  hence  the  largest  potatoes  are 
not  to  be  preferred  for  seed.  Medium  size  potatoes  cut  to  single 
eyes,  provided  the  latter  are  well  developed,  are  the  safest  to 
plant.  Northern  raised  potatoes  sprout  on  reaching  a Southern 
climate,  and  should  not  be  imported  until  ready  for  use.  After 
the  first  sprouts  are  rubbed  off  the  succeeding  ones  will  be 
weaker  and  more  numerous.  If  the  potato  has  not  sprouted, 
there  is  less  danger  of  more  than  one  eye  iDushing  up,  if  i)lanted 
whole.  Southern  truck  growers  have  found  that  the  home 
grown  seed  of  the  second  crop,  maturing  late  in  the  fall,  whether 


[15] 

cut  or  not,  gives  the  best  results.  They  are  not  so  dry,  and  put 
forth  only  single  shoots. 

SOIL  AND  CULTIVATION. 

In  open,  sandy,  warm  soil,  jilant  as  soon  as  cut ; in  cool, 
moist,  heavy  soil,  dry  by  spreading  the  sets  in  the  shade  a day 
or  two,  or  sprinkle  with  lime  or  pilaster.  The  quantity  for  an 
acre  is  three  to  four  barrels.  Though  a native  of  the  South,  it 
is  found  at  high  altitudes,  and  therefore  its  peculiarities  ada^it  it 
more  to  the  North  than  the  South.  It  is  intolerant  of  heat  and 
drouth,  and  therefore  should  be  planted  as  early  as  possible  to 
escape  warm  weather.  About  February  1st  is  the  best  time  to 
plant  the  earliest  varieties.  The  potato  requires  a cool,  moist 
soil,  therefore  black  moulds,  if  well  drained,  will  give  enormous 
yields. 

But  the  quality,  which  varies  greatly  with  soils,  will  be  in- 
ferior. The  best  quality  of  potato  is  grown  on  a sandy  soil,  but 
for  yield  a sandy  loam  filled  with  vegetable  matter  is  indispen- 
sable. 

The  land  should  be  thoroughly  broken,  well  pulverized  and 
highly  manured.  Stable  manure  is  relied  on  for  the  potato 
grower.  In  its  absence  composts  of  cotton  seed  leaf  mould  and 
acid  phosphate  are  to  be  recommended,  using  both  in  heavy 
quantities,  remembering  that  land  cannot  be  made  too  rich  for 
potatoes.  Generally  dry  manures  should  not  come  in  contact 
with  the  sets  lest  the  heat  should  destroy  their  vitality.  Kai- 
iiite  should  never  be  used  on  the  potato  or  in  the  drill  at  the 
time  of  planting,  for  fear  its  deliquescent  magnesium  chloride 
will  injure  the  stand.  It  should  be  broadcasted  at  least  two 
mouths  before  planting.  A yield  of  ten  barrels  from  a single 
pound  of  seed,  dividing  single  eyes  into  ten  pieces,  reported  to 
a New  York  house,  shows  the  effect  of  heavy  manuring  and  the 
availability  of  very  small  eyes.  Mr.  Knight,  a celebrated  Eng- 
lish Horticulturist  and  President  of  the  Royal  Horticultural  So- 
citty,  once  made  twelve  hundred  and  eighty-four  bushels  of  sixty 
pounds  each,  per  acre.  However,  sixty  to  one  hundred  barrels 
lier  acre  is  quite  a satisfactory  crop  for  a Southern  truck  farmer. 

They  are  usually  planted  in  drills  three  or  more  feet  apart, 


[16] 


and  the  sets  (cut  side  down),  placed  at  intervals  of  twelve  or 
lifteen  inches.  In  very  light  soil  these  sets  may  be  covered  six 
inches  deep  by  the  plow,  and  no  hilling  up  in  subsequent  culti- 
vation.  In  heavy  soil  cover  to  depth  of  three  to  four  inches,  and 
early  in  the  growth  draw  up  another  inch  or  two ; all  after 
workings  should  be  superficial.  The  crop  should  not  be  worked 
after  the  plant  begins  to  bloom  or  to  set  the  tuber. 

HARVESTING  THE  CROP. 

When  the  plant  dies  and  not  before,  the  crop  should  be 
gathered.  Side  the  rows  with  the  plow  and  remove  the  pota- 
toes with  a steel  i^rolonged  fork.  Assort  at  once  into  first  qual- 
ity and  culls.  Dig  the  crop  in  cloudy  weather  if  i:>ossible.  If 
dug  in  sunshine,  empty  at  once  into  well  ventilated  barrels  and 
haul  immediately  to  the  shade  or  cover  with  vines.  Potatoes 
will  not  endure  exposure  to  the  sun.  Handle  carefully  and 
avoid  bruisiug.  When  bruised  add  to  the  culls,  shake  well  the 
barrel,  press  the  head  upon  its  contents  and  cooper  strongly. 

SECOND  CROP. 

The  culls  from  the  rq)est  field  may  be  used  for  seed  of  sec- 
ond crop,  and  should  be  stored  in  a cool,  dry  i)lace.  They  may 
be  covered  with  very  dry  sand  or  put  away  in  crates.  Just  be- 
fore planting,  if  exposed  for  a day  or  two  to  warmth  and  mois- 
ture, sprouting  may  be  hastened  and  a better  stand  secured. 
The  time  for  planting  the  second  crop  is  about  August  1st.  If 
the  eyes  have  sprouted,  the  tubers  should  be  cut,  otherwise 
planted  whole.  Deep  and  thorough  pulverization,  with  heavy 
manuring  is  more  essential  to  second  crop  than  the  first  in  order 
to  obtain  maturity  l^efore  frost.  The  seed  from  this  crop  can  be 
used  to  idant  in  the  spring. 

EXPERIMENTS  IN  POTATOES. 

Made  at  the  Station  were  of  two  kinds. 

1st.  To  determine  the  variety  best  adapted  to  this  climate, 
soil  and  markets. 

2nd.  To  determine  the  fertilizer  best  suited  to  a large  and 
early  growth  of  potatoes. 


[17] 

FIEST— VARIETIES. 

Only  live  varieties  could  be  obtained  in  Baton  Kouge. 
These  were  secured  and  planted. 

1st— -Peerless—A  large  yellow  potato,  smooth,  medium  ma« 
turity,  with  large  vines ; a good  bearer. 

2d — Canada  Victor— A large  red,  smooth  potato,  of  good 
quality,  small  vines,  little  earlier  than  No.  1. 

3rd — Burbank— Good  size,  round  smooth  potato,  slight  pink* 
ish  tinge,  with  distinct  pink  eyes.  An  early  variety  of  great 
promise. 

1th — Early  Rose— Bemarkably  early;  potatoes  large,  but 
not  numerous  ; slight' rose  tint. 

5th-^Jackson  White — Old  variety;  very  productive ; color 
white ; shape  oblong ; not  very  early. 

These  varieties  were  planted  February  2nd  in  connection 
with  different  fertilizers — the  fertilizers  running  North  and  South 
and  the  varieties  East  and  West.  The  fertilizers  were  i)ut  in 
the  drill,  a scooter  run  through  them,  and  potatoes  cut  to  two 
eyes,  dropped  at  intervals  of  12  inches  and  covered  with  the 
plow. 


EXPERIMENTS  IN  VARIETIES  AND  FERTILIZERS. 


Fertilizers  used  per  acre. 

Average  of  all  manures 
in  bushels.  ' 

No. 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

Varieties  used 

100(»  lbs  cotton 
seed  meal. 

i 1 

500  lbs  Acid 
Phosphate. 

1 

500  lbs  Kain- 
i ite. 

1 

500  lbs  kainite 
and  500  lbs 
Acid  PhosTe. 

1000  lbs  cotton 
seed  meal 

500  lbs  kainite 

1000  lbs  cotton 

1 seed  meal 

500  acid  phos. 

1000  lbs  cotton 
sd  meal, 500  lbs 
acid  phospliTe 
500 lbs  kainite 

Peerless 

96.5  bu 

53.5  bu 

.53.5  bu 

38.3  bu 

30.0  bu 

103.3  bu 

100.3  bu 

67.9 

Canada 

Victor. . . 

100.0  bu 

25.0  bu 

38.3  bu 

40.0  bu 

43.3  bu 

106.6  bu 

110. Obu 

66.2 

Embank  .... 

86.6  bu 

45.0  bu 

38.3  bu 

70.0  bu 

60.3  bu 

103.3  bu 

120.0  bu 

74.7 

Early  Rose. . 

8J.3l)u 

33.3  bu 

16 . 6 bu 

43  3 bu 

36,6  bu 

13.3  bu 

100  0 bu 

44.7 

Jackson 

White.  , . 

106.6  bu 

6().0  bu 

30.0  bu 

76.6  bu 

70.0  bu 

76.6  bu 

135  0 bu 

79.2 

TIir  above  were  dug  April  IDtli,  wluni  tlie  Early  Rose  was  ripo — tio 
Embank  nearly  matured — the  Canada  Victor  next,  with  the  Pcoilcss  and 
Jackson  White  quite  green. 


[183 

SEOOlSn— FEBTILIZEKS. 

Grounds  prepar(xl  ill  be<ls  3 J feet  wido^  opened,  fertilizers 
deposited  in  the  drill,  mixed  by  running’  a scooter  through  them, 
potatoes  cut  to  two  r^yes,  and  dropped  12  inches  apart,  and  cov* 
ered  with  a.  plow.  Planted  February  1st,  and  harvested  April 
19th.  Variety  useil,  Peerless. 


EXPERIMENTS  IN  I^EKTILIZEKS. 


No.  of  Exp’t. 

1 

3 . 

3 

r ) 

“ 1 

1 

^-1 

9 : 

“ 10 

. 

1 

1 

Manures  Used 
Per  Acre. 

1 

I 

s 

o 

'3 

1 

OQ  1 

S ! 

o 1 

i 

05  1 

S 1 

8 : 
o 

s 

.a 

i s 

i 3 

1 a 
• < 

i i 

1 ^ 

-Si 

i 

i 

i - 

1 0; 

^ 1 
g 

1 , 
s 3 
^ 5 

vs  .t;  1 
o ?3  ! 

i 

(E 

*“< 

^ 1 

5 ! 

S ^ 

.d 

X* 

o 

i . a 

i Xi 

i'T  X 

p- 

le  i 

^ i 

S i 

V -2  : 

■-.aa 

11^ 

IJ^o 

ii 

jP 

j 

n .-a 

F. 

a ;r 
© 

O 0 

X =0  A 
d!  .t:; 
c 

ill 

) 

! 

1 

bt 

eij 

'q 

X 

i 8 
i 2 

: i 

I 

O ! 

c 

.5 

X 

1 " 

1 § 

1 

be 

a 

o 

Yield  l>or  acre' 

' 

1 

! 

t 

i 

! 

iu  bushels  in 

T 

j 

j 

t 

niorchantible 

70.6 

101.6 

76.3 

'56.6 

129. 

(86.6 

|14l. 

i 90. 

132- 

iioe.a 

potatoes. 

|_ 

I 

i 

i 

! 

j 78.6 

1 

I 

Yield  per  acre 

t~ 

i 

i 

I 

in  bushels  of 

1 16.6 

20. 

12.6 

1 

11.3  , 

ill. 7 

|l6.3 

7.6 

1 10.3 

! 14.6 

j 8. 

small  potatoes 

1 

i 

i- 

1 

1— 

i 

! 

1 

Total  yield  per 
acre  in  l)U8li. 

i 

i 67,2 

121.6 

1 

BS.ajoi.a 

140 . 3 

I 

IKK).  3 

) 

! 

U57 , 3 

i 

I 9T.6 

|142.3 

I 93,2 

U14.6 

liEMAKKS  OX  Ano\  E. 


The  soil  upon  which  the  above  Wixs  planted  was  a brown 
loam,  whose  previous  culture  had  been  of  an  execrable  character 
It  was  prepared  as  best  we  could,  but  was  far  from  being  in  ex- 
cellent order.  Except  those  plats  in  which  Kaiuite  was  use. I 
excellent  stands  were  obtained.  The  Kaiuite  injured  greatly  llte 
germination  of  the  potato  by  abstracting  from  it  the  water  and 
leaving  the  setts  a dry  honey  combed  mass  of  blackened  matter. 
Hence  the  caution  already  given  of  never  using  this  salt  on  po- 
tatoes at  planting,  but  on  the  land,  broadcasted,  at  least  two 
months  before.  These  experiments  were  planted  Feb.  2d,  and 
harvested  April  19th.  They  started  off  well,  were  iioed  and 
plowed  Feb.  25th  and  March  iSth.  After  that  time  a drouth  of 


[ly] 

iiimsual  (Inrfvtiou  set  in,  wliicli  Qjnised  tlie  vine-s  to  torn  yelto 
aiKl  droo]).  Tlie  x^otatoos  iicvt^r  reached  full  maturity  and  <M 
not  mak'o  anytliing  like  the  yields  they  would  have  done  with 
feiir  seasons. 

It  is  didi(*ult,  thereiore,  to  draw  from  these  exx>ermients  any 
accurate  conclusions,  llowevcr,  it  seems  that  a mixture  of  cot- 
ton seed  meal  and  acid  x>hosp]iat^  has  ]>roduoe<l  the  best  results, 
followed  by  taukagc,  which  a mixture  of  blood  and  bone 
(nitrogen  and  x^hosx)horic  acid).  Uried  blood  forming  only  ni- 
trogen, lias  not  given  as  high  results  as  cotton  seed  meal,  which 
has  also  a small  amount  of  x>hosphoric  acid,  and  this  in  time  is 
aided  in  its  productive  cai)acity  by  the  mldition  of  acid  phos- 
idiate.  The  injury  to  the  stand  wherever  kaiuite  wihs  used, 
leaves  it  still  an  open  (juestion  whether  potash  is  needed  for  fer- 
tilizers for  potatoes. 

VAUIETIES. 

The  Marly  liose  was  the  earliest  variety  jdanted.  Tlie  tu- 
bers were  of  fair  size,  very  smooth,  with  very  few  small  ones. 
The  yield  was,  however,  small — a great  objection.  The  quality 
of  this  potato  is  excellent,  and  its  api>rcciatiou  is  shown  by  its 
commanding,  during  the  x>ast  season,  at  least  50  cents  per  barrel 
more  than  the  white  varieties.  It  would  seem  advisable  to  let 
this  variety  form  a xmrtion  of  the  crop  for  very  early  shipment. 

The  llurbank  was  next  to  the  Early  Rose  in  maturity  and 
in  quality,  with  greater  producing  capacity.  It  has  many  qual- 
ities recxunmeuding  it  to  the  Boutliern  truck  grower. 

The  ( 'auada  Motor  is  a fine  potato  in  size  and  quality,  me- 
dium in  maturity  and  very  objectionable  in  color— very  rod. 

The  dacksou  White  gave  us  a large  number  of  tubers,  with 
^^ery  few  large  ones — due,  probably,  to  Immaturity  when  gath- 
ered; it  is  too  late  for  early  marketing  ; (jnality  go(>d. 

Tlie  IhMwless  Is  a large  producer,  growing  a great  quantity 
ot  very  large  tubers,  medium  in  maturity  and  very  poor  quality. 
It  is  ail  excellent  vaiiety  for  late  shipments. 

Ordinarily,  the  first  shipments  of  fully  rixie  potatoes  coru: 
maiid  the  highest  iwices  t^accordiiigly,  tliis  year,  as  soon  as  it 


[20] 


was  discovered  that  the  drouth  had  prematurely  suspended  the 
growth  of  our  crop,  it  was  gathered  and  shipped.  Subsequent- 
ly it  was  founxl  out  that  this  year  was  an  exception  to  the  usual 
rule,  for  potatoes  continued  to  advance  in  value  until  the  crop 
was  exhausted,  and  even  now  are  commanding  excellent  prices. 
On  the  day  that  we  dug,  the  local  market  in  Baton  Eouge  quoted 
potatoes  dull  at  $1  25  per  barrel.  We  therefore  determined  to 
shii)  to  the  various  markets.  Thirty  barrels  were  packed  care- 
fully and  shipped,  ten  each  to  Cincinnati,  St.  Louis  and  Kansas 
City.  Those  consigned  to  the  last  place  were  shipped  by  rail 
over  the  Mississippi  Valley  road — the  others  by  steamboat 
All  reached  their  destination  without  injury. 

The  freight,  commissioiij  etc.,  per  barrel  by  steamer  to  Cincinnati  was.  51] 
“ “ “ and  insurance  per  bbl  by  steamer  to  St.  Louis.  48 

“ “ “ etc.,  per  bbl  by  rail  to  Kansas  City  was $1  17 


The  potatoes  sold  in  Cincinnati  at $2.50  per  bbl 

“ “ “ “St.  Louis  at 2.31  “ “ 

“ “ “ “ Kansas  City  at 2.85  “ “ 

“ “ netted  in  Cincinnati 1.97  “ “ 

•“  “ “ “ St.  Louis 1.83  “ “ 

“ “ “ “ Kansas  City 1.68  “ “ 

The  plat  in  potatoes  raised  at  the  rate  of  30  barrels  per 
acre — a very  small  yield,  owing,  as  before  stated,  to  the  drouth. 

The  seed,  4 barrels  per  acre,  cost $ 0.00 

The  fertilizers  used  (.on  a part)  cost 7.43 


Total  cost  for  seed  and  fertilizers $16.43 

The  thirty  barrels  sold,  nett 54.80 


Leaving  for  labor,  barrels  and  proht,  per  acre $28.37 


The  cost  of  preparing,  planting,  cultivating  and  harvesting 
a crop  of  potatoes  will  depend  greatly  upon  the  character  of 
hind  and  price  of  labor.  It  should  not  exceed  $15,  and  can  be 
reduced  to  $10.  The  seed  (4  barrels  to  the  acre)  will  cost  usu- 
ally from  $2  to  $2  50  per  barrel.  The  manures,  using  1000  lbs 
cotton  seed  meal  anfl  400  lbs  acid  i^hosphate  per  acre,  will  cost 
about  $14.  The  yield  should  not  be  less,  with  this  manure,  than 
50  barrels  per  acre,  ami  if  the  land  is  rich  in  vegetable  matter 
even  more.  Adding  the  costs  together,  we  have : 


[21] 


Seed $ 8.00  to  10.00 

Labor 10.00  to  15.00 

Fertilizers 1 4.00  to  14.00 


Total  cost ..132.00  to  $39,4)0 


Should  50  barrels  be  raised  to  the  acre,  the  cost  will  then 
be  64  to  78  cents  per  barrel,  and  the  profits  realized  per  acre 


will  be 

$11.00  to  $16.00  when  potatoes  sell  for $1.00  per  barrel* 

22.00  to  32.00  when  potatoes  sell  for 2.00  per  barrel 


The  potato  crop  is  taken  off  early  enough  to  permit  a 
growth  of  a second  crop,  with  the  soil  in  excellent  condition 
from  the  cultivation  received  by  the  potatoes.  On  the  Station  a 
fine  crop  of  cotton  is  now  growing  on  the  laud  from  which  the 
potatoes  were  taken  in  April. 

I learn  from  Hon.  Theodore  S.  Wilkinson  that  he  has  grown 
early  potatoes  for  market  this  year  between  his  rows  of  cane 
without  any  detriment  to  the  latter.  When  pea  vines  have  been 
turned  under  for  the  planting  of  cane,  and  rows  seven  feet 
wide,  this  practice  promises  success,  especially  if  the  potatoes 
be  properly  and  heavily  manured.  The  residue  left  by  the  i^ota- 
toes,  and  the  cultivation  given  the  potatoes,  would  both  be 
highly  beneficial  to  the  cane  in  its  after  growth. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

With  the  abundance  of  stable  manure  to  be  found  on  every 
plantation  and  to  be  had  from  the  stables  of  New  Orleans  for 
almost  nothing,  together  with  the  ease  and  cheapness  that  we 
can  grow  pea  vines,  there  is  no  reason  why  our  soils  cannot  be 
converted  into  the  finest  garden  loams,  upon  which,  with  the  aid 
of  i)roper  commercial  fertilizers,  maximum  crops  of  potatoes  can 
be  grown.  Stable  manure  is  used  by  truck  growers  in  large 
quantities — often  as  high  as  100  tons  per  acre.  It  should  be 
held  in  higher  esteem  by  our  gardeners.  It  is  useless  to  attempt 
to  grow  large  erops  upon  poor  soils,  or  upon  soils  badly  pre- 
pared or  cultivated,  or  even  upon  soils  improperly  manured. 
One  aere  of  potatoes  upon  a rich,  well  drained  soil,  properly 


maniiml  and  judiciously  worked,  always  brings  more  i)rofit  than 
many  acres  upon  poor,  unmanured  soils,  badly  cultivated. 
Therefore,  every  one  desirous  of  growing  trucks,  especially  po- 
tatoes, should  apply  whatever  home  manures  that  is  obtainable, 
turn  under  a good  coat  of  pea  vines,  and  supplement  them  both 
liberally  with  cotton  seed  meal  and  add  phosphate,  bands  for 
successful  truck  grt>wing  must  be  many  times  richer  than  ordi- 
nary farming  or  plantation  soils.  With  rich  lands,  well  selected 
seed,  good  cnltivmtion  Jiiul  carefid  preparation  for  market,  hand- 
some profits  are  always  to  be  expected  in  liouksiana  from  truck 
growing. 

Attention  is  called  to  the  following  letter  from  Mr.  J.  Mc- 
Quade,  one  of  a large  number  of  planters  who  was  induced  to 
try  the  cnltivatfou  of  oats,  from  the  results  obtained  by  the  Sta- 
tion in  *80  and  published  in  Bulletin  Xo.  4.  He  used  the  for- 
mula therein  recommended. 


Parish  of  East  Patox  Rouge,  T.a,,  I 
July  18S7.  y 

Prof.  Wm,  C.  Stnbbs,  DireckH  ; 

Pon.r  Siu— On  Nov.  ‘Jlth,  18S6,  f sowed  30  acres  of  verv  iliin  lainl  in  oatr, 
It  was  in  1865  in  8tiil)))l0  cane  wliicli  was  killed  l>y  the  Iroe/e  in  January, 
i^ate  in  the  spring  the  land  was  broken  and  planted  in  corn,  which  was  \"ery 
b.adly  cultivated.  I pi;t  according  to  your  rocomnieud.atious,  four  huudicil 
pounds  per  .acre  of  two  p.arts  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  one  part  of  A.cid 
Phosphate.  1 harrested  8000  Ihs.  of  sheaved  oats  per  acre,  which  gave 
when  threshed  66  per  cent,  of  grain  or  about  65?  biisliels  per  acre.  I left  sev- 
eral spots  upon  which  I put  no  fertilizer  and  gofe  lu)  o.ats.  1 did  not  even  cut 
them.  I liave  sold  Mr.  Wm.  ffarig,  of  Raton  Rouge,  a lot  of  these  oats  and 
he  estimates  a saving  from  their  use  of  at  least  three  dollar®  per  week,  with 
seven  head  of  stock.  Voiirs  truly, 


J.  Mc’Quade. 


C23  3 


RKCOJiD  OF  WEATHER  lA^tJISIANA  8TTOAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 

FOR  JUNE  1887. 


<!;■ 

■+3 

03 

Q 

TEMPICRAITJ 

RE. 

^ 

1 Rainfall. 

5 

1 ^ 

i 

. 

i tS 

1 S 

S 

1 ~ 

■ rO 

'..f 

! "Pi 

<’ 

fflj 

! O 

j ^ 

*-3 

Oi 

cr. 

j S 

5 

1 

87"^ 

h- 

8.5' 

’ 93^' 

♦>9 

1 

2 

89 

83 

84 

i 94 

70 

.3 

89 

90 

88 

i 94 

70 

4 

86 

90 

80 

j 94 

72 

r 

84 

89 

77 

to 

6 

HI 

87 

80 

j 89 

68 

7 

84 

iH) 

84 

! 91 

69 

K 

81 

i 93 

79 

1 94 

70 

1.63 

9 

80 

1 90 

82 

93  ^ 

69 

j .40 

JO 

79 

1 89 

79 

91 

67  1 

11 

74  1 

1 88 

79 

! 90  i 

65  j 

1 ..50 

12 

74  ! 

! 87 

Tti 

1 90  ’ 

I 65  i 

13 

78  1 

87  i 

1 69 

! 89  1 

i 62  ' 

14 

76  : 

88  I 

: 7fi  ' 

88 

62  ! 

15  I 

83  i 

90  1 

80 

90  i 

! 64  1 

1 

16 

84 

89  i 

K)  : 

91  1 

i i 

17 

75  1 

i i 

1 1 

1 69  ! 

18 

71  1 

' 89  1 

H9  j 

70 

19 

79  ! 

90 

79  1 

;w  i 

69 

.20 

73 

87  , 

71  i 

89  j 

1 '1 

i .95 

21 

75 

77 

76  j 

79 

70 

1.79 

22 

82 

87 

1. 

88  ! 

70 

23 

8.3 

81> 

83 

90  j 

70 

24 

80 

: 88 

82 

91  1 

71  1 

25 

84 

93  1 

94 

72  { 

26 

83 

91 

8;2  j 

93  ; 

70 

27 

8(*  , 

82 

83  i 

70  ; 

1.50 

28 

I 75  1 

80  i 

72  1 

80 

70  f 

1 ..5.5 

29  1 

, 79 

85  : 

72 

86  : 

68  1 

1 .36 

:io  i 

78  ; 

75  1 

73  i 

78 

71 

.67 

Average.  1 

83.8  1 

90.7  ! 

78.3  ! 

10.35 

Maximum  temperature  'rotal  rainfall  for  month  10.35  inches. 

Minimum  temperature  62'  Average  daily  rainfall  .3:15 


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SORGHUM. 


BULLETIN  No,  12, 


OF  THE 


Wm.  C.  Stubbs,  Ph.  D., 

IDIKECTOH 


KEXXEK,  LA„  JAXUAEY,  1S8S.  • 


ISSUED  BY 

H:HOTvir»so]N  .r.  siKO. 

■'OOMMISSIOXEK  OF  AC. KICULTUKE,  BaTOX  EOL'GE,  LA. 


BATOX  ROUGE ; 

PBIXTE'D  BY  LEOX  JASTRKMSKI,  STATE  PRlXTfZR, 

1888. 


SUGAK  EXPJ':RLVrE]v'T  STATION,  ? 

Kouner,  La.  ^ 

Major  T.  J.  ELixl,  Ctwtuiesiomei’ of  Afenculture.,  Baton  Enuse,  La.: 

Dtdr  Sir — I hand  you  bercAvith  a Bulletin  oii  Sorghiun,  giving  resiiltfc' 
of  experiments  made  on  this  Station  during  the  past  year,  and  also  a review 
of  the  progress  of  the  Sorghum  Industry  in  the  United  States.  The  lattei' 
was  prepared  by  retpiest  for  the  State  Agricultural  Swiety  and  read  at  its> 
last  annual  meeting  in  Shreveport. 

I^spectfnlly, 

C.  S'J'UBBS,  ]>irectoiv 


I 


SORGHUM. 


Three  and  a half  decades  have  passed  since  Leonard  Wray^ 
the  great  pioneer  of  sorghum  iudusti’y,  introduced  into  the 
United  States  Chinese  sorghum  and  African  Imphee.  Along 
with  the  seed,  came  printed  statements  of  the  value  of  these 
plants  and  their  adaptability  to  the  economical  production  of 
sugar.  Since  that  time  they  have  had  a checkered  career. 
Buring  the  war,  sorghum  was  largely  cultivated  in  the  South. 
It  was  manufactured  in  a crude  way  into  a very  indifferent 
syrup,  which  was  highly  prized  by  the  Confederate  soldier^ 
From  its  discovery  up  to  the  present  time,  granules  of  sugar 
have  been  occasionally  found  in  barrels  of  sorghum  syrup,  and 
many  predictions  as  to  its  becoming  a valuable  sugar  making, 
plant,  have  been  based  alone  upon  these  observed  facts.  In 
China,  however,  we  are  authoritatively  told  that  though  grown 
for  several  thousand  years,  it  has  never  been  used  for  either 
sugar  or  syrup  making.  The  attempt  to  make  sugar  from  sor- 
ghum has  been  almost  exclusively  confined  to  Americans.  It  is 
curious  to  find  such  contradictory  opinions  and  opposite  views 
positively  asserted  by  the  earlier  writers  on  sorghum.  Kothing 
definitely  was  known  until  1878,  when  the  Department  of  Agri- 
culture at  Washington  undertook  the  investigation  of  the  plant 
and  its  products.  Since  that  time,  these  investigations ' have 
continued  with  varying  fortunes,  until  the  grand  culmination 
at  Fort  Scott,  has  announced  such  a decided  success,  as  to 
create  again  the  hope  that  the  United  States  can  grow  all  the 
sugar  it  consumes.  It  is  even  proposed  from  our  Southern  cane, 
sorghum  and  beets  to  produce  sugar  not  only  for  home  consump- 
tion, but  an  abundant  surplus  for  export. 

That  sorghum  contains  sucrose  which  under  certain  condi- 
tions, can  be  eliminated  in  as  pure  a form  as  that  from  sugar 
cane  has  been  demonstrated  time  and  again  in  the  most  authentic 
manner.  Dr.  Collier,  the  chemist  who  made  the  first  investiga- 
tions in  sorghum  early  became  such  an  enthusiast  that  his  ac- 


V 


[4] 

tioiis  exasperated  Ids  chief  and  caused  a separation.  Con- 
vinced  by  the  results  of  his  official  experiments,  he  boldly  per- 
usisted  that  sorghum  sugar  could- be  made  for  one  cent  per 
pound.  Emboldened  by  these  investigation,  the  States  of  New 
Jersey,  Illinois,  Minnesota,  Wisconsin  and  Kansas,  started  at 
once  factories  for  the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  sorghum. 
Minnesota  and  Wisconsin  were  north  of  the  sugar  latitude,  and 
only  syrup  could  be  made.  Their  seasons  are  too  short  to  per' 
mit  of  that  maturity  so  essential  to  the  elaboration  of  sugar  in 
the  plant.  Excellent  syrup  in  large  quantities  continued  how- 
ever to  be  a product  of  these  States.  The  first  results  at  the 
large  sugar  works  at  Champaign  with  their  vacuum  pan,  hot 
rooms  and  centrifugals  were  so  encouraging  that  a perfect 
thrill  of  delight  permeated  Illinois  and  remained  till  a subse- 
quent season  demonstrated  the  capacity  of  only  40  lbs.  of  sugar 
to  the  ton  of  sorghum,  when  disappointment  displaced  delight, 
and  her  people  and  her  factory  “shut  up.”  In  Kansas  and  New 
Jersey,  where  liberal  State  bounties  were  paid,  the  industry  was 
more  persistent.  In  New  Jersey  it  has  outlived  the  State  bounty 
which  expired  by  limitation  two  years  since,  while  we  find  its' 
factory  doing  excellent  work  the  past  season  under  the  able  ad- 
ministration of  Dris  Cook  & Neale.  The  Rio  Grande  Works 
near  Cape  ^lay,  New  Jersey,  has  been  a series  of  failures. 
Starting  eight  years  ago,  with  a paid  up  capital  of  $250,000,  it 
modeled  its  works  after  those  used  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar 
torn  cane.  A few  seasons  of  financial  failures  demonstrated, 
the  folly  of  such  works.  The  roller  mills  failed  to  extract  one 
half  of  the  juice  in  the  sorghum,  and  disaster  was  inevitable. 
'With  courageous  zeal,  the  intelligent  managers,  abandoned  these 
works  in  the  midst  of  sugar  making,  purchased  a ditfusion  plant 
of  the  Franco- German  patent  for  beet  roots,  and  tried  to  adapt 
it  to  sorghum.  Result,  another  disastrous  failure.  Undaunted, 
they  made  another  trial.  Seeing  the  sorghum  gradually  grow- 
ing in  sugar  each  year,  and  yielding  under  scientific  influences 
^to  climate  and  soil,  they  knew  that  machinery  coi  Id  be  devised 
by  which  it  could  be  profitably  extracted.  Experiments  had. 
shown  that  diftusion  extracts  dark  colored  and  bitter  tasting 
compounds  from  the  leaves  and  sheaths  of  unstripped  canes., 


Avliicli  make  the  products  almost  unsalable.  Accordingly  ma- 
chines were  devised  and  coni^iructed  b3^  Avhicli  the  cane  was 
rapidly  stripped^  cleaned,  cut  and  shredded.  Such  machines 
are  now  pronounced  essential  to  the  successful  working  of  sor- 
ghum into  sugar.  The  average  yield  per  acre  for  five  years  up 
to  last  3"ear  has  been  onl^^  308  lbs.  of  sugar.  Last  y^ear  it  reach- 
ed an  average  of  1400  lbs.,  with  a maximum  of  1970  lbs.  of  first 
sugars,  and  llii  gallons  of  molasses. 

The  sorghum  plant  in  China  is  poor  in  sngar^nd  sensitive 
to  frost.  At  Eio  Grande  it  has  been  acclimatea  so  that  it 
Avill  stand  (piite  a severe  frost  with  ice,  and  been 
educated  to  imbibe  five  times  its  normal  dose  of  sugar. 
Such  results  so  deservedly  merited  from  the  persistent 
energy  of  its  intelligent  managers,  is  exceedingly"  gratifying 
especiail.y  when  it  is  remembered  that  State  bounty  was  with- 
drawn two  years  ago. 

Encouraged  by  the  prospects  of  diffusion  extracting  all  the 
sugar  from  cane,  the  citizens  of  Ottawa,  Kansas,  led  on  by  lion, 
AV.  L.  Parkerson,  established  at  that  point  a few  y-ears  since  a 
large  and  complete  factory".  It  is  merely  necessary*  to  say-  here 
that  it  failed,  after  the  promise  of  great  success. 

Convinced  that  only"  a few  more  persistent  and  intelligent 
efibrts  Avere  needed  to.  Avrest  from  sorghum  the  sugar  Avhich  it 
contained  this  same  Mr.,  Parkerson,  repaired  to  Port  Scott,  and 
there  erected  the  Parkerson  Sugar  Works,  Avhosename  and  fame 
are  iioav  Avritten  and  spoken  in  e\^ery  tongue.  AYith  national 
aid,  liberally  bestoAved,  Avith  scientific  skill  bending  its  energies 
upon  one  single  accomplishment,  Avith  improved  machinery 
erected  for  a sole  purpose,  the  Parkerson  Sugar  AA^orks  of  Port 
Scott,  Kansas,  sounded  its  determined  attack  upon  sorghum 
early-  in  the  fall  of  ^80,  and  millions  of  souls  aAvaited  the  issue 
Avitb  intense  solicitude. 

The  interest  deepened  as  time  Avore  on,  and  the  dailies  with 
intelligent  correspondents  at  the  seat  of  Avar,  Avere  denounced 
for  Avithholdiug  the  neAvs  from  Port  Scott.  Poreign  countries^ 
had  sent  embassadors  to  iiiA-estigate  and  report  upon  this  strange 
plant  Avhich  under  the  infiueiice  of  diffusion  Avas  to  revolutionize 
the  sugar  world,  add  the  name  of  Fort  Scott  to  the  commercial 


sugar  marts  upon  tlie  blackboards  of  sugar excbanges,  aud  make 
all  Kansas  rich  and  happy.  It  a pity  to  say  failure  to  all 
these  high  hopes  and  bright  anticipations,  but  the  truthful 
chronicler  of  history  has  so  recorded,  and  the  chemist  in  charge 
has  officially  announced  ‘^tlie  absolute  failure  of  the  experiments 
to  demonstrate  the  commercial  practicability  of  manufacturing 
sorghum  sugar’^  which  fell  upon  our  intelligent  Commissioner  of 
Agriculture  ‘dike  a wet  blanket/’  to  sny  nothing  of  the  chagrin 
and  grief,  amounting  to  almost  discouragement  Axhich  followed. 

“Human  fortitude  is  equal  to  human  calamity”  was  one  of 
the  impressive  sentences  contained  In  the  “farewell  address”  of 
Lee  to  his  army  at  Appomattox,  and  its  truth  has  been  fully 
verified  in  the  history  of  the  Parkerson  Sugar  Works.  Un- 
daunted by  fiiilure,  aud  urged  to  renewed  exertions  by  the  un- 
just attacks  of  carping  critics,  the  courageous  managers  calmly 
surveyed  the  field  of  disaster,  reviewed  the  causes  as  far  as 
known,  and  calmly  resolved  upon  another  trial.  Defective  and 
superiluops  machinery  was  removed,  uncertain  or  useless  pro- 
cesses were  eliminated,  pet  theories  were  abandoned  and  sim- 
plicity and  pure  science  left  to  conduct  a campaign,  which  has 
attained  a success  that  finally  -places  sorghum  sugar  making 
among  the  profitable  industries  of  this  country.  The  success  of 
’87  at  Fort  Scott  is  due  1st,  to  the  almost  complete  extraction 
of  the  sugars  from  the  cane  by  difiusion.  2nd.  The  prompt  and 
proper  treatment  of  tlie  juice  in  defecating  and  evaporating. 
3d.  The  efficient  manner  in  which  the  sugar  was  boiled  to  grain 
in  the  strike  pan. 

According  to  the  report  of  General  Manager  Parkerson,  the- 
Gost  of  labor  and  fuel  per  ton  of  cleaned  cane  was  $ 1 . The  esti- 
mated cost  of  salaries,  wear  and  tear  of  machinery  etc.,  another 
dollar,  making  a total  of  two  dollars  per  ton  for  manufacture. 
“Upon  this  basis  with  the  same  yield  of  cane  and  product  se- 
cured this  year,  it  requires  but  little  figuring  to  show  that  we 
have  developed  a business  of  great  interest  and  profit  to  our 
t5tate  and  nation,”  is  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Parkerson. 

The  total  cane  worked  into  sugar 2,643  tons  ; tlie  total  sugar 
made  235,826  lbs.;  or  per  ton  of  cane  worked  8h.2  lbs. 


Xo  second  sugars  were  made — 

'The  sugar  sold  for  5J  cents  and  netted 813,559  98 

The  State  bounty  was  2 cents  per  pound 4,71G  52 


Total 17,276  50 

'There  were  also  51,000  gallons  (estimated)  molasses  at 

20  cents 10,200  00 

^eed  valued  at 7,000  00 


Value  of  total  product 831,476  50 

EXPENSES. 

Paid  for  cane  and  seed 8 9,614  00 

Labor  5,737  16 

Fuel 1,395  77 

Salaries 3,500  00 

Insurance,  etc 1,500  00 


Total  expenses $21,746  00 

Total  value.. $34,476  50 

Total  expenses 21,246  93 

Xet $13,229  57 

Had  the  factory  been  in  the  South,  and  made  the  same 


yields,  the  account  would  have  been  different  in  the  following  : 
Xo  State  bounty ; an  increase  of  cost  of  fuel,  and  a probable 
decrease  in  the  price  of  molasses. 

There  is  however  one  feature  of  the  above  account  which  it  is 
hard  to  realize  : 

The  cane  with  seed  cost $9,614  00 

The  seed  is  valued  at 7,000  00 

iMakiug  2,643  tons  cane  cost  only  $2,614,  or  not  quite  $1 
per  ton. 

The  financial  success  of  the  above,  while  highly  gratifying 
to  the  manager,  is  not  apparent  upon  close  examination.  The 
molasses  and  seed  remain,  and  are  estimated  at  $17,000. 

Since  the  company,  as  we  learn,  has  closed  its  works  for  the 
coming  season,  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  some  of  its  stockholders 
do  not  regard  the  enterprise  as  profitable.  However,  the  prob- 
lem of  making  sugar  from  sorghum  is  solved,  and  the  <|uestioii 
rs  now  only  a commercial  one.  The  following  is  an  outline  of 
the  process  at  Fort  Scott : 

1st.  The  topped  cane  is  delivered  at  the  factory  by  the 
iarmers. 


2nd.  It  is  cut  by  a macliiiie  into  pieces  1 J inches  long. 

3d.  The  leaves  and  sheaths  are  sex^arated  from  the  cut  cani;" 
by  fanning  mills. 

4th.  The  cleaned  cane  is  cut  into  line  chi'xis. 

oth.  These  chix)S  are  diffused  in  iron  tanks  with  hot  ivatexv 

dth.  The  defecation  of  juice  by  lime. 

7th.  Concentration  to  syrup  in  double  effect. 

8th.  Cooked  to  grain  in  a high  vacuum  strike  x^an, 

Oth.  Purging  of  masse  cuite  by  centrifugals. 

AVith  the  excexttion  of  the  works  at  Sterling  and  Hutchin- 
son, Kansas,  which  were  also  failures,  mention  has  been  made  of 
all  the  sorghum  sugar  factories  in  the  Korth. 

SORGIIU3I  IX  THE  SOUTH, 

Many  speculations  have  been  made  as  to  the  adaxffability 
of  sorghum  for  sugar  making  in  the  South,  but  no  systematic 
attempt,  so  far  as  the  writer  knows,  has  been  made  previous  to 
the  exxieriments  began  two  jmars  since  on  the  Sugar  Experiment 
Station,  near  Kew  Orleans.  The  following  are  some  of  the  con- 
clusions derived  from  two  years  of  careful  experiments : That 
sorghum,  as  a plant,  is  specially  adapted  to  Louisiana,  the 
(xuinea  corn,  a true  sorghum,  growing  wild  almost  everywhere, 
without  cultivation,  fully  attests.  Several  hundred  analyses 
made  on  different  varieties  of  sorghums  grown  on  this  Station 
show  a much  larger  amount  of  sucrose,  a smaller  amount  of 
glucose  and  a higher  coefficient  of  x^Ri’ity  than  the  x^^blished 
analyses  of  the  cane  grown  Korth.  Indeed  grown  here 

are  remarkably  high  in  sucrose  and  low  in  glucose.  It  is  i)os. 
sible  also  of  growing  two  crops  a year,  as  has  been  done,  by 
using  the  seed  of  some  of  the  earlier  varieties.  The  Station  has-' 
groAvn  ten  different  varieties,  and  has  found  that  they  vary  in. 
tonnage,  sugar  content,  period  of  ripening,  and  l)abitsof  growth^ 
The  Early  Amber  and  Chinese  varieties  are  too  small  to  be  prof- 
itable. The  Honduras  yields  an  enormous  tonnage  x^oor  in 
sugar.  Link’s  Hybrid,  India,  Enyama,  and  Early  Orauge^  are 
varieties  which  yield  fair  tonnage  and  large  sugar  contents. 

First  and  last,  the  Station  has  made  a good  deal  of  sugai  - 


from  sorghum,  but  it  has  eucoiiutered  man}"  difficulties,  which 
only  a careful  scientillc  investigation  will  overcome. 

Sorghum  juice  extracted  by  the  mill  is  very  impure,  con- 
taining much  starch,  dextrine  and  kindred  [)roducts,  which  are 
very  objectionable  and  render  the  ordinary  process  of  working 
sugar  juices  totally  inapplicable.  Starch  is  transformed  by 
acids  at  all  temperatures  into  dextrine  and  tlien  into  glucose/ 
Is  only  i)artially  x^recipitated  by  lime.  Dextrine  is  not  i>recix^i- 
tated  by  any  of  the  reagents  used  in  the  sugar  house.  In  the 
l)resence  of  albuminoids  ferments,  fatty  matter,  etc.,  it  causes  a 
decomx>osition  of  the  sucrose,  x^roduciug  fermentation  of  the 
lactic,  butyric  and  viscous  order.  It  is  not  crystallizable,  but 
on  the  contrary  accomx^anies  the  sugar  to  the  strike  pan,  aug- 
menting the  masse  cuite  and  restraining  the  sugar  from  crystal- 
lization. The  excess  of  dextrine  in  the  sorghum  juices,  most  of 
which,  it  is  believed,  comes  from  starch,  whose  grains  ar(‘ 
rux^tured  by  the  x^ressure  of  the  mill  ux^on  the  cane,  is  a standing 
obstacle  to  the  successful  manufacture  of  sugar  all  the  way  from 
juice  to  masse  cuite.  It  x>i’events  thorougli  clarihcation  by 
lime.  It  hinders  filtration  in  the  filter  })ress,  either  when  the 
scums  alone  or  mixed  with  lignite,  are  treated. 

It  x^i’Gvents  crystallization  in  the  x^^^^b  excex)t ' at  a 
high  vacuum  and  low  temx)erature,  and  it  almost  successlully 
resists  the  purging  of  the  sugar  crystals  after  the  masse  cuite 
gets  cold.  With  mill  juices^  therefore^  some  defecating  agent 
juust  be  discovered  whereby  these  imx)urities  can  be  removed 
before  sorghum  juices  can  be  economically  treated  for  sugar. 
Diffusion  fails  to  extract  anything  like  the  same  amount  of  im- 
Xmrities  and  its  juices  are  much  easier  worked,  exhibiting  how- 
ever the  same  marked  peculiarities,  though  in  much  lower  de- 
gree. It  may  therefore  be  asserted  that  new  and  imxtroved 
methods  of  working  sorghum  are  earnestly  desired  and  will 
doubtless  be  soon  forthcoming.  Till  then  diffusion  seems  to  be 
the  only  practicable  method  of  extracting  the  juice.  Fair  clari- 
fication may  be  done  with  Tannic  Acid  and  Lime.  Concentra- 
tion should  be  done  at  once  in  vacuo,  and  cooking  to  grain  must 
be  done  in  a high  vacuum  and  a low  temx)erature.  The  crystals 


[10] 


are  more  easily  purged  wlien  liot,  taking  even  then  twice  or 
thrice  tlie  time  required  for  cane  sugar. 

EXPEEIMENTS  IN  SORailUM  AT  THE  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT 
STATION  IN  1887. 

Seven  varieties  were  used,  viz : Honduras,  Link’s  Hy- 
luid,  Enyama,  White  ]\Iammotli,  White  India,  Early  Orange 
and  White  Seeded  variety,  from  Ephraim  Link,  of  Greenville, 
Tenn.  Last  year  a very  early  planting  gave  matured  cane  in 
July  and  August.  Accordingly  tliis  year  planting  was  deferred 
till  April  2Ist  at  which  time  also  the  following  manures  well 
mixed,  were  applied  to  the  plat  of  H acres:  v 

400  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  ^NTeal,  300  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate,  100  lbs. 
Kainite. 

A fair  stand  was  secured,  but  the  excessive  rains  in  June 
prevented  further  cultivation  than  a mere  thinning  of  the 
plants,  and  one  good  plowing.  August  1st  analyses  of  the  dif- 
ferent varieties  began,  which  continued  till  grinding.  Pesults 
are  appended. 


[11] 


ANALYSES  OF  SORGHUMS. 


Variety. 

£ 

N 

r-  'c. 

5 3 

r 

I c: 

Sucrose. 

Glnco.se. 

Purity 

Coefficient. 

Glucose 

R.atio. 

Reni.ai'ks. 

Jloiiduva.s 

Aw]*- 

1 9.6' 

i 4.8' 

50. 

ISelected  stalks 

“ 

Anjr. 

17  11.1 

1 6.6 

3.8 

59.46 

.57 . 57 

1 Cl 

u 

Alio-. 

‘23  11.7 

7.63.8 

164.95 

5(». 

Cl 

“ 

Aiifi’. 

‘24112.8 

1 8.34.88’64.84 

22.65 

Sept. 

9ill.9 

1 7.212.66  60.50 

36.94 

Cl 

ii 

Sept. 

SOilO.l 

1 5. 312.. 50 

j52.47 

49.22 

Mill  juice 

Jjink’.s  Hybrid 

Aui^’. 

lill.9 

! 5.  (5 

47.05 

n 

An  O'. 

3 11.9 

I 8.94.45 

74.79 

16.29 

cc 

i ; 

An  O'. 

9 14.4 

i 8.2 

4.70 

56.94 

20.73 

«... 

i c 

Au}>'. 

10!  1*2. 61 10. 8!  1.14 

85.71 

10.5,5 

cc 

i c 

Ang. 

12!i1.3 

8.04.33 

70.79 

16.62 

cc 

i i 

Aug. 

16115.7 

42.3 

.90 

78.34 

7.31 

«J 

Cl 

Ang. 

17llG.2;13.2 

.74 

81.48 

5.60 

cc 

Cl 

Aug. 

24115.3,12-5 

1.05 

81.69 

8.4  1 

C i 

Sept. 

944.7 

11.41 

.91 

77 . 55 

7.98 

cc 

“ 

Sept. 

24  14.1 

;10.61 

.94 

75.17 

8.86jMill  juice 

White  Mniiiiiiotli 

Aug. 

1 14.2 

8,3 

,58.45 

ISelected  stalks 

“ 

Ang. 

‘2344.6  11.0  2.00 

75.34 

18.18 

! “ 

cl 

Sept. 

944.4 

10. 8j  1.50 

75 . 

13.88! 

i Cl 

C i 

Sept. 

27  43.7 

9.64.21 

70.07 

12,C0!Mill  juice 

India 

Ang. 

114. 4 

9.7! 

67 . 36 

iSeleet^d  st.allcs 

Ang. 

20^12.21 

9.5l 

i!64 

77.87 

17.26! 

Cl 

Cl  • 

Ang. 

2442. 2* 

9.3' 

2. ‘20 

76.23 

23.65! 

c c 

cl 

Sept. 

944. 842-1  1.10 

81.75 

9 . 99l 

Cl 

“ 

Sept. 

2814.6|10.14.04 

69 . 17 

10.29  Mill  juice 

Eai'ly  OraDO'e 

Ang. 

1 1 1 7, 

6.5 

55 . 55 

. . . . . Splf^fted  Kt-alks 

* iC 

Ang. 

24|l3.5il0.5  1.40 

77.77 

1 3,33 1 

C i 

Cl 

Sept. 

9 15.842.0i2. 66 

75.95 

‘22.16 

cc 

Ci 

Sept. 

2943.71 

8.9! 

3,20 

64.96 

35.95 

Mill  juice 

E n Y a 1 M a 

An  O'. 

146.6:10.5! 

63. ‘25 

Selected  stalks 

An  O'. 

2345.8111.9 

2.70 

75.31 

22.69 

cc 

Sept. 

9 16.h113.5' 

.90' 80. 95 

6.661 

cc 

'Wiiite  Seeded 

Sept. 

943.91 

9.8‘ 

.98! 

70.. 50 

10.  i 

cl 

[12] 


From  above,  wc  lind  a great  difference  in  the  time  of  in  a- 
turity  of  tlie  varieties  used  as  well  as  in  the  content  of  sucrose 
and  glucose  at  maturity.  The  falling  off*  in  sucrose  of  the  same 
varieties  from  their  sugar  content  of  last  year  is  also  very  nota- 
Me.  This  was  very  astounding  in  the  Honduras.  Last  year  it 
polarized  as  high  as  14.2  per  cent  in  selected  stalks,  and  0.7  per 
cent  in  the  mill  juices.  Sept.  14th.  This  year  the  highest  polari- 
zation was  8.25  per  cent  in  selected  stalks,  and  only  5.3  per  cent 
m mill  juice,  Sept.  30.  AVas  this  due  to  the  late  planting  and  the 
excessive  subsequent  rains  which  quickly  pushed  them  to  ma- 
turity. 

AA'hatever  the  cause  the  fact  remains  that  the  average  sugar 
content  this  year  is  fully  33|-  per  cent  below  that  of  last  year. 

Only  small  (jiuantities  of  Enyania  and  Link’s  AVhite  Seeded 
were  planted,  and  hence  analyses  were  made  ot  these  only  on  se- 
lected stalks. 

The  other  live  varieties  Avere  each  passed  separately  through 
the  sugar  house,  AA’itli  the  folloAving  results  : 

SU( i All  HOUSE  EESULTS. 

link’s  hybriu. 

Yield  per  acre,  12  tons. 

Alill  extraction,  01  per  cent. 

Seed  tops  of  stripped  cane,  7.5  per  cent. 

Alasse  cuite  not  Aveighed. 

Masse  cuite  yielded  55  per  cent  iiuAvashed  sugar,  aaEIiOi  polar- 
ized 94  per  cent.  It  aanis  grained  in  the  strike  pan  by  withdraAA  - 
ing  the  heat,  forming  a large  number  of  small  grains. 

WHITE  MAW3IOTH. 

Yield  per  acre,  12.50  tons. 

Alill  extraction,  00.50  per  cent. 

Seed  tops  of  stripped  cane,  3.00  per  cent. 

Masse  cuite  per  ton.  143.00  lbs. 

Masse  cuite  yielded  47 .20  per  cent  of  unwashed  sugar.  Grain- 
ed in  pan  like  Link’s  Hybrid. 

INDIA. 

Y’^ield  per  acre,  11.25  tons. 

Mill  extraction,  5i)  per  cent.  ■ 

Seed  tops  of  stri})ped  cane,  7.8  per  cent. 

Masse  cuite  not  AAmighed. 

Alasse  cuite ^gave  57  per  cent  of  unwashed  sugar.  Grained 
i;i  pan  like  above. 


[13] 


EARLY  ORANGE. 

Yield  per  acre,  12.25  / 

Mill  extraction,  00  per  cent 

Seed  tops  of  stripped  cane,  8.8  per  cent. 

Masse  cuite  not  weighed. 

HONDURAS. 

Yield  per  acre,  15.01  tons. 

Mill  extraction,  05  per  cent. 

Seed  tops  of  strii)j[3ed  cane,  0.0  per  cent. 

The  sugar  was  so  low  in  this,  that  it  was  made  at  once  into 
syruj),  which  sold  at  37  cents  per  gallon. 

Our  trouble  in  the  sugar  house  arose  from  the  large  amount 
of  dextrine  and  starch  present,  which  prevented  clarihcation,  hin- 
dered filtration,  irritated  the  sugar  boiler  in  his  attempt  to  grain 
ill  the  pan,  and  almost  defied  successful  purging  in  the  cen- 
trifugal, especially  when  the  masse  cuite  became  cool.  With  the 
exception  of  the  Early  Orange,  which  was  overripe,  all  the  va- 
rieties made  into  sugar  were  exceedingly  low  in  glucose.  In- 
deed with  high  inirity  coefficients  and  low  glucose  ratios,  it  was 
almost  exasperating  to  encounter  unexpected  difficulties  all 
Xhrough  the  manufacture.  The  small  area  in  sorghum  and  the 
limited  number  of  experiments,  prevented  any  extended  eftbrts 
in  eliminating  our  difficulties.  Much  information  was  gained 
wffiich  will  be  of  iiractical  benefit  next  season.  Our  largest  yield 
"was  about  70  lbs.  sugar  to  ton  of  cane  upon  a 00  per  cent  ex- 
traction. A goodly  quantity  of  sugar  was  made  first  and  last, 
but  much  of  it  was  wasted  in  our  improvised  efibrts  to  expedite 
manufacture. 

Will  sorghum  then  be  a sugar  producing  plant?  We  an- 
swer yes.  There  are  many  varieties  of  sorghum,  some  of  them, 
quite  rich  in  sugar.  This  plant  easih’  assumes  new  varieties 
under  changed  conditions.  Let  the  best  varieties  be  selected 
and  crossbred  with  the  single  purpose  of  making  sugar,  saving 
no  seed  except  from  stalks  showing  a high  per  ceutage 
of  sugar  and  low  per  centage  of  other  solids.  Use  such 
manures  and  such  cultivation  as  will  aid  in  the  attainment  of 
our  end,  and  we  verily  believe  a true  sugar  bearing  and 
sugar  yielding  sorghum  of  fixed  habits  may  be  obtained. 
Thus  the  sugar  beet  has  and  is  being  developed. 


..'v/  ■ 

• , .' Vi- , 


f. 


•/■ 


I 


■V  •»!.'■ 


\ 


u ■ 


\ 


i - 1 


COTTON  AND  ITS  PRODUCTS. 


BULLETIN  No.  13 


OF  THE 

Ixtieriinent  Itatioii 


BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 


■\YM.  C.  STUBBS,  PH.  D.,  Dieectoe. 


ISSUED  BY 


THOMPSON  J.  BIRD, 
€ommissioner  of  Agriculture, 
Baton  Rouge,  La. 


LA.  STATE  UNIVERSITY  & A.  & M.  COLLEGE,  ? 

Batox  Rouge,  La. 


Major  T.  J.  Bird, 

Com.  of  Agriculture, 

Baton  Rouge,  La. 

Dear  Sir  : 

I hand  you  herewith  a Bulletin  on  Cotton,  covering  the 
essay  read  before  Louisiana  State  Agricultural  Society  at  its  late  meeting  in 
Shreveport,  together  with  results  of  experiments  and  some  suggestions  as  to 
the  use  of  Paris  Green  in  destroying  the  cotton  worm.  I also  include  a re- 
ceipt for  making  the  compost,  so  frequently  called  for.  The  issue  of  this 
Bulletin  as  you  know,  has  been  unavoidably  delayed. 

Respectfully  submitted. 


WM.  C.  STUBBS. 


COTTON. 


Cotton  belongs  to  a large  class  of  i^lanrs,  known  to  tbe 
botanists  as  Malvacae.  Of  this  class,  beside  cotton,  we  have  in 
cultivation  the  okra  and  the  hollyhock.  There  are  said  to  be 
many  species  of  cotton — two  of  which  only  are  cultivated  in  the 
south — the  one  upland  or  common  cotton  ; ‘-Gossipium  Herba- 
ceum,”  the  other  “Sea  Island  cotton,’’  “Gossipium  Barbadense.'” 
The  latter  is  cultivated  only  on  the  coast  or  neighboring  islands, 
while  the  former  constitutes  the  chief  staple  of  the  Southern 
States.  The  bloom  of  upland  cotton  is  white  or  cream  colored 
the  first)  day,  turning  red  on  the  next  and  falling  on  the  third,, 
leaving  a small  boll  enveloped  in  the  calyx.  This  boll  contin- 
ues to  develop  until  it  reaches  the  size  and  shape  of  an  egg,, 
when  on  maturity  it  splits  into  three  to  five  cells,  containing  the 
seed,  wrapped  in  a tomentose  wool.  This  wool  constitutes  the 
lint  or  fibre  which  clothes  the  world. 

HABITUDES. 

Cotton  is  emphatically  a child  of  the  sun  and  flourishes 
only  in  warm  latitudes.  Its  heliotropic  tendencies  are  even 
more  marked  than  the  poetical  sunflower.  Its  leaves  receive 
the  first  glow  of  morning  light  and  following  the  king  of  dny, 
dismiss  it  at  eve  in  the  west  with  dewy  regrets.  With  us  it  is 
an  annual  herb.  Further  south  it  appears  to  be  a shrub,  while 
under  the  tropics  it  is  a small  tree,  enduring  many  years.  It  is 
en  exogenous  plant,  with  two  seed  leaves  and  a long  tap  root. 
Among  our  field  crops  it  stands  w ithout  a fellow — alone — and 
peculiar  in  its  habits  and  characteristics.  Its  nearest  relation 
among  our  cultivated  plants,  as  before  mentioned,  is  the  okra, 
with  which  it  crosses,  to  form  some  of  the  many  evanescent  va- 
rieties oI‘ okra-cotton,  now'  on  the  market.  By  its  long,  deep  tap 


4 


inotj  it  is  eoabled  to  withstand  droughts  and  to  pump  up  from 
t lie  lower  layers  of  the  soil,  plant  food,  unavailable  to  fibrous 
rooted  plants,  which  is  quickly  assimilated  by  its  large  leaf  sur- 
face. Hence  it  thrives  better  on  poor  land  than  any  other  land 
than  any  other  field  crop. 

Formerly  cotton  wms  not  grown  north  of  the  isothermal  line 
30  degrees,  but  under  the  influence  of  phosphatic  manures,  its 
cuitlvatiou  in  late  years  has  been  extended  several  degrees  be- 
yond this  line.  The  region  best  adapted  to  successful  culture  is 
included  between  the  30th  and  3oth  degrees  of  north  latitude. 
>’crth  of  this  belt  the  seasons  are  too  precarious,  while  south  of 
it,  excessive  rains  and  depredations  of  the  caterpillar  greatly 
interfere  with  large  production. 

PLANTING  AND  CULTIVATION. 

The  soil  best  adapted  to  cotton  is  yet  not  fully  decided. 
( ; ay  loams,  well  drained  and  sandy  loams,  resting  upon  clay 
subsoils  are  both  highly  recommended.  Both  should  contain  a 
fair  amount  of  vegetable  matter. 

The  width  of  the  rows  and  the  distance  apart  of  the  stalks 
in  the  row^,  must  depend  upon  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  the 
rain  supply.  In  poor  lands  or  on  soils  subject  to  drouth  during 
fruiting  season,  thin  planting  must  be  practiced  to  obtain  the 
largest  results.  Mr.  David  Dickson,  the  great  cotton  planter  of 
Heorgia,  now  no  more,  always  contended  that  cotton  needed 
distance  onlj^  one  way.  If,  therefore,  the  rows  were  wide,  it 
could  be  crowded  in  the  drill  and  vice  versa. 

Deep  and  thorough  preparation  of  soil,  followed  by  pulveri- 
ization  should  always  precede  planting.  The  planting  should 
be  done  by  some  of  the  excellent  and  cheap  cotton  planters  now 
to  be  everywhere  found,  since  only  the  machine  will  give  that 
uniform  and  straight  stand,  which  so  facilitates  the  subsequent 
chopping.  It  furthermore  economizes  the  seed,  a point  of  great 
importance,  when  the  true  value  of  this  article  as  a manure  and 
feed  stuff  is  appreciated.  The  first  plowing  of  cotton  may  be  as 
deep  and  thorough  as  possible,  but  all  subsequent  workings 
ought  to  be  as  shallow  aa  the  character  of  the  land  will  permit, 


since  root-breaking  to  this  plant  is  almost  a disaster.  After 
every  heavy  rain  the  soil  should  be  stirred  and  during  drought 
a shallow  implement  run  just  deep  enough  to  break  the  coutiii- 
uit3'  of  the  pores  of  the  soil  and  to  form  an  upper  laj'er,  wliieh 
shall  act  as  a mulch  to  conserve  the  moisture  in  the  soil,  has 
often  been  found  highly'  benehcial. 

GRASS 

is  an  enemy  of  the  cotton  planter  and  should  never  be  permitted 
(if  possible  to  prevent)  to  oldain  possession  of  his  fields.  In 
cotton  as  in  all  other  crops  the  hoe  should  be  used  as  little  as 
possible.  It  is  an  element  of  cost  excessive  to  bear  and  with  this 
plant  often  causes  the  disease  known  as  sore  shin-’  bj^  break- 
ing or  removing  the  epidermis  of  the  tender  stalk  in  the  effort  of 
the  hoemen  to  remove  the  last  spire  of  grass. 

When  to  plant  must  be  decided  b}"  the  climate  and  by  tie 
character  ot  the  soil.  When  the  ground  is  warm  enough  to 
promptly  germinate  the  seed  and  give  a vigorous  healthy  plant, 
then  the  seed  can  be  wisely  trusted  in  the  earth.  This  is  usually 
the  case  in  this  latitude  in  April. 

Planting  in  May  is  often  hazardous,  on  account  of  the  delay 
in  germination,  due  to  the  prevalence  of  drouths  at  this  period. 
When  May  planting  is  i^racticed,  the  seed  should  be  covered 
rather  deeplj^  and  firmed  with  a light  roller. 

A practice  prevails  among  some  of  our  progressive  planters 
to  plant  late  and  highly  fertilize.  By  this  means  they  claim  a 
crop  of  grass,  which  so  frequently  infests  an  earlj-  planting,  is 
destro3"ed,  the  costly"  hoe  labor  avoided  and  the  plant  pushed 
quickly  into  vigor  b}^  the  underlying  fertilizer,  soon  occupies  th& 
ground  and  renders  the  after  culture  both  simple  and  inexpen- 
sive. As  a rule,  it  is  best  to  plant  poor  unfertilized  lands  earfy 
and  rich  or  highly  fertilized  lands  late. 

The  manures  for  cotton.  The  composition  of  cotton  is 
ue<arly  constant  for  all  latitudes.  If  the  same  were  true  of 
soils  nothing  would  be  easier  than  to  prescribe  defiuitel.y  a 
manure  for  cotton  adapted  to  all  soils  in  every  latitude.  But 
nature  has  designed  differently.  There  were  man^’  dynamical 


6 


iigeiicies  in  the  geological  evolutions  of  mother  earth,  and  we 
find  evidence  of  their  work  in  our  great  variety  of  soils  (some- 
times in  the  same  field.)  This  variation  in  the  composition 
of  soils  is  a source  of  great  perplexity  to  every  agricultural 
chemisf  especially  when  he  is  almost  daily  called  upon  to 
give  formulas  for  manures  for  all  crops  upon  all  kinds  of  soils, 
many  of  which  he  has,  perhaps,  never  seen.  Let  it  be  uhder- 
stood  once  for  all  that  only  by  direct  experiments  upon  each 
kind  of  soil  can  its  wants  be  told,  and  to  make  these  experi' 
inents  is  a part  ot  the  business  of  an  experiment  station. 

On  the  worn  lands  of  the  archaean  formation  of  the  Atlantic 
slope,  east  of  the  Appalachian  range  and  on  the  tertiary  soils 
immediately  on  the  coast,  extending  from  Virginia  to  Mobile, 
Ala.,  excluding  the  cretaceous  or  prairie  belt  of  Alabama,  it  has 
been  found  by  numerous  experiments  that  a fertilizer  containing 
three  i>t;r  cent,  of  ammonia,  ten  per  cent,  of  available  phosphoric 
acid,  and  two  per  cent,  of  potash  is  specially  adapted  to  cotton. 
These  ingredients  in  the  above  proportions  are  furnished  in  the 
best  form  by  a mixture  of  100  bushels  of  cotton  seed,  100  bushel^ 
of  stable  manure,  one  ton  of  acid  i^hosphate,  composted  in  the 
lo’oper  manner.  In  fact,  the  intelligent  and  i)rogressive  farmers 
of  (Georgia  and  Alabama  prefer  this  to  any  other  fertilizer. 

It  not  only  supjdies  the  above  ingredients  in  most  available 
forms,  but  restores  to  the  laud  a considerable  amount  of  humus 
so  essential  to  large  production. 

Compost,  compost,  is  the  word.  The  modern  Olympus  is  a 
oompost  heap  and  the  God  enthroned  on  it  is  called  Jupiter 
Ammoniac. 

In  the  absence  of  cotton  seed  and  stable  manure,  the  above 
ingredients  maybe  furnished  in  the  mixture  of  700  pounds  of 
<.*otton  seed  meal,  1,100  pounds  of  acid  phosphate,  200  pounds  of 
kainit,  which  is  fally  the  equal  of  the  best  guanos  on  our  market 
and  may  be  obtained  either  mixed  or  unmixed  at  any  of  the 
factories  in  New  Orleans.  Experiments  in  Louisiana,  made  at 
the  station,  and  by  planters,  under  the  direction  of  the  station, 
have  proven  the  adaptability  of  the  above  mixtures  to  our  soils. 
On  lands  badly  worn  and  very  deficient  in  vegetable  matter? 


7 


the  seed  and  meal  can  be  advantageously  doubled.  While  on 
lands,  with  a tendency  to  excessive  weed,  they  may  be  decreased 
even  to  obliteration,  using  only  ucid  phosphate  and  kainit. 

Varieties  of  cotton.  There  are  many  so-called  varieties  of 
cotton  on  our  market  and  each  year  adds  to  the  already  extended 
list.  Some  few  have  great  merit,  while  others  are  utterly  worth- 
less. Last  year  the  station  grew  twenty-two  so-called  varieties 
and  carefully  compared,  first,  the  yield  per  acre ; second,  weight 
of  100  bolls  j third,  the  per  centage  of  lint,  and  fourth,  length 
ofstaple  with  actual  market  value. 

The  utter  absence  of  merit  of  any  kind  was  the  conspicuous 
feature  of  most  of  them.  In  yield  there  was  no  decidedly  marked 
difference.  The  weight  of  100  bolls  varied  from  sixteen  to  twen- 
ty-five ounces.  The  number  of  seed  per  bushel  was  from  95,000 
to  140,000.  The  per  cent,  of  lint  varied  from  24  to  37  per  cent. 
The  valuable  lesson  of  these  experiments,  which  are  published 
in  full  at  the  end  of  tliis  Bulletin,  is  the  difference  in  the  yield 
of  lint,  showing  the  folly  of  growing  a variety  which  will  yield 
only  24  i^er  cent  of  lint,  when  a yield  of  37  per  cent  is  obtaina- 
ble by  another  variety.  In  length  of  staple  the  difference  was 
quite  small,  as  attested  by  the  New  Orleans  market,  where 
each  variety  was  carefully  sold  on  its  merits,  bringing  8|^c.  and 
lO^c.  as  the  lowest  and  highest  prices. 

CONDITIONS  FOR  A GOOD  CROP  OF  COTTON. 

Thorough  drainage,  fair  stock  of  vegetable  matter  in  the  land, 
excellent  preparation  of  the  soil,  good  seed  properly  planted, 
judicious  manuring,  both  in  quantity,  quality  and  mode  of  appli- 
cation, early  culture,  deep  and  thorough,  after  culture  frequent 
and  as  shallow  as  possible  for  good  work,  a laying  by  as  early 
as  is  consistent  with  cleanliness  and  good  condition  and  worms 
quickly  poisoned  as  they  appear.  All  these  things  being  accom- 
plished, nature  will  do  the  rest,  and  a reasonably  large  crop  may 
be  confidently  exiiected.  The  following,  taken  from  the  Atlanta 
Constitution,  shows  what  has  been  done  in  Georgia  the  past 
year.  Can’t  Louisiana  with  her  fertile  soil  do  as  well  ? 


.8 


We  print  this  morning  tJie  list  of  awards  in  the  third  annual  contest  for 
}ueininms  offered  by  Geo.  W.  Scott  & Co.  These  i)reiuiuin8  are  of  the  best 
five  acres  in  cotton,  the  besfc  single  acre  in  cotton,  and  the  best  single  acre 
in  corn — all  to  be  fertilized  with  Gossypium  Phosj)ho. 

The  awards  show  that  Mr.  Robert  G.  Kay,  of  Douglas  county,  raised 
9,G88  pounds  of  cotton  on  five  acres  ; George  W.  Truitt,  of  La  Grange,  8,666, 
and  Mr.  J.  T.  Wyatt,  of  Jasper  county,5050.  On  a single  acre  2dr.  James  W. 
Mason,  of  Palmetto,  raised  2677  pounds;  Mr.  R.  G.  Ray,  2556;  Mr.  George  W. 
Truitt,  2,087 ; Mr.  J.  H.  Widuer,  of  Coweta  county,  1,775,  and  Mr.  Small- 
price,  of  Sumpter  county,  1,682.  Mr.  Mason  and  Mr.  Ray  took  over  five  bales 
of  five  hundred  pounds  each  from  a single  acre. 

Now,  what  does  this  mean  ? 

Mr.  Ray  raised  twenty  bales  of  cotton  of  five  hundred  pounds  each,  on 
five  acres.  The  average  througdiout  Georgia  last  year  was  one  bale  to  three 
acres,  so  that  the  average  Georgia  farmer  occupied  sixty  acres  with  a crop  to 
get  what  Mr.  Ray  took  from  five  acres.  The  average  farmer  had  to  plow, 
plant  aud  cultivate  sixty  acres,  while  Mr.  Ray  cultivated  five  acres  and  got 
the  same  amount  of  cotton.  He  used  fifty-one  hundred  pounds  of  fertilizer 
on  the  five  acres,  which  cost  him  ,f70.  The  cotton  yielded  him  $970.  Not 
only  was  he  saved  the  labor  of  cultivating  fifty-five  surplus  acres,  but  those 
acres  were  either  lying  fallow  or  were  put  down  in  grass  or  other  crops. 
Mr.  Truitt,  who  this  year  took  eighteen  bales  of  five  hundred  pounds  each 
from  five  acres,  is  cultivating  less  land  than  he  cultivated  five  years  ago.  He 
got  more  cotton  from  it  this  year  than  ever  befoie,  aud  has  three  hundred 
tons  of  ]^y  for  sale  besides. 

These  farmers  have  reduced  their  cotton  acreage  from  sixty  acres  to  five, 
and  have  put  the  other  fifty-five  acres  into  other  crops.  This,  it  seems  to  us, 
is  the  secret  of  successful  farming. 

COMPOSITION  OF  THE  COTTON  PLANT. 

A five  hundred  iiound  bale  of  lint  cotton  will  require  fifteen' 
hundred  pounds  of  air  dried  seed  cotton.”  Of  the  latter  one- 
third,  or  five  hundred  pounds  is  lint,  another  third  or  five  hun- 
dred pounds  is  hulls  and  the  remaining  five  hundred  pounds  is- 
kernels.  To  produce  this  fifteen  hundred  pounds  of  seed  cotton, 
there  will  be  required  five  hundred  pounds  of  leaves,  fifteen 
hundred  pounds  of  stalks,  five  hundred  i:)ounds  of  roots  and  five 
hundred  pounds  of  bolls  and  burrs.  In  other  words  to  produce 
a five  hundred  pound  bale  of  lint  cotton,  an  acre  must  produce 
forty-five  hundred  pounds  of  vegetable  matter,  or  two  and  a 
quarter  tons. 

To  produce  this  amount  the  following  mineral  ingredients  will 
be  required  : Phosphoric  acid,  j)otash,  lime,  magnesia,  sulphuric 
acid,  oxide  of  iron,  chlorine,  soda  and  silica.  ' 


9 


lu  other  words  a soil  must  furnish  the  above  ingredients  be- 
sides a goodly  amount  of  nitrogen  to  make  a five  hundred  pound 
bale  ot  cotton. 

But  fortunately  most  soils  hold  large  contents  of  all  these  in- 
gredients and  supply  them  abundantly  to  all  plants,  except 
phosphoric  acid,  jiotash  and  nitrogen.  To  supply  these  needed 
ingredients  is  the  prime  object  of  manuring.  But  when  the  cot- 
tcm  planter  makes  the  proper  disposition  of  the  products  of  cot- 
ton, let  us  see  how  far  he  needs  the  aid  of  manure  to  maintain 
the  original  fertility  of  his  soils.  The  leaves  and  capsules  should 
be  permitted  to  fall  to  the  ground  and  not  removed,  as  is  usual, 
by  the  depredations  of  half  starved  cattle.  The  stalks  should 
be  knocked  down  and  plowed  under  instead  of  being  destroyed 
by  fire.  The  seed  should  be  returned  to  the  soil,  or  else  when 
sold  to  the  oil  mill  their  equivalent  in  a first  class  com- 
mercial fertilizer  should  be  purchased.  When  all  this  is  done 
only  the  trifling  loss  of  about  one-half  pound  of  phosphoric  acid 
and  two  pounds  of  potash  is  sustained  to  each  acre.  Theoreti- 
cally, then,  cotton  is’the  least  exhausting  crop  grown,  but  how  is 
it  in  practice!  Unfortunately  the  decennial  census  returns  cry  out 
in  thunder  tones  against  us  and  tell  the  world  in  convincing- 
figures  that  our  acre  yields  are  fast  decreasing  under  constant 
cropping  in  cotton.  Our  soils  are  being  rapidly  depicted  and 
exhaustion  will  sooner  or  later  come,  unless  we  stop  the  numer- 
ous leaks  now  found  on  many  cotton  plantations.  Wisdom  and 
economy  Avould  suggest  the  careful  return  to  the  soil  of  every 
product  of  cotton  save  the  lint.  But  there  are  two  incidents  in 
cotton  growing  which  tend  in  themselves  to  soil  depletion,  which 
are  usually  overlooked  by  the  agricultural  chemist,  ^and  rarely 
appreciated  by  the  planter.  First.  Cotton  is  planted  in  early 
spring  and  harvested  in  late  fall,  its  period  of  growth  extending 
through  the  entire  summer  and  much  of  the  fall.  During  this 
period  of  growth  with  clean  culture  under  hot  suns,  nitrification 
is  most  intense  and  with  it  a rapid  oxidation  of  the  vegetable 
matter  of  the  soil.  This  partially  explains  why  cotton  is  the 
most  profitable  crop  on  poor  land,  but  it  also  tells  in  plainer 
language,  that  the  vegetable  mould  ^‘humus,”  so  essential  to 
fertility,  is  fast  disappearing  and  with  it  soil  nitrogen.  Even 


10 


onr  rich  alluvial  lands  once  thought  inexhaustible,  from  this 
cause,  coupled  with  the  baneful  practice  of  selling  cotton  seed, 
are  now  responding  in  gratifying  returns  to  the  well  directed 
use  of  nitrogenous  manures.  A croi^  of  pea  vines  turned  under 
every  second  or  third  year  would  aid  materially  in  restoring  this 
lost  humus. 

Second — Cotton  is  removed  in  late  fall  and  our  lands  are 
left  naked,  unoccupied  and  exposed  to  the  drenching  rains  of 
our  semi-tropical  winters,  and  much  of  the  finer  material,  which 
furnishes  the  plant  food  in  all  soils  is  washed  away,  and  a good- 
ly quantity  of  plant  food  is  carried  so  far  down  into  the  soil  as 
to  be  forever  beyond  the  reach  of  plants,  even  the  tap  root  of 
cotton.  The  first  loss  is  very  severe  in  rolling  or  hilly  lands,  as 
is  shown  by  the  numerous  furrowed  hillsides  which  everywhere 
meet  the  eye  of  the  traveller  through  the  South  Atlantic  States. 
The  second  loss  is  greatest  in  sandy  lands  and  least  in  clay.  It 
has  been  clearly  demonstrated  that  a loss  of  soil  fertility  will 
always  occur  whenever  lands  are  left  in  bare  fallow.  A i^lant 
suitable  for  occupying  the  ground  between  the  gathering  of  one 
crop  and  the  planting  of  another,  would  be  an  inestimable  boon 
to  the  cotton  planter.  Oats  sown  in  the  cotton  in  August  or 
September  and  lightly  harrowed  in  ; or  planted  in  October  and 
November,  after  the  cotton  has  been  harvested  affords  only  a 
partial  remedy. 

UTILIZATION  OF  THE  PRODUCTS  OF  COTTON. 

The  cotton  fibre  can  be  bred  up  just  as  a breed  of  horses 
can  be  improved,”  says  Mr.  Thomas  Pry,  who  has  been  for 
eleven  years  studyiug  the  cotton  fibers  in  the  cotton  fields  of 
China,  India,  Arabia,  Egypt,  Mexico  and  America,  and  there  is 
no  apparent  reason  why  our  staple  should  not  improve  each  year. 
Instead  of  that,  little  or  no  effort  is  made  at  improvement,  and 
dirty  cotton,  badly  packed,  is  to-day  as  common  as  years  ago. 
This  should  not  be.  Care  is  necessary  all  through  a cotton 
crop,  and  will  pay  here  as  everywhere  else.  Perhaps  this  indiff* 
erence  arises  from  a knowledge  of  the  vast  amount  of  specula- 
tion between  the  planter  and  consumer.  A rehearsal  of  a few 


11 


may  be  apropos  to  this  occasion  : First,  our  compulsion  to  use 
the  patent  heavy  iron  bands  made  by  a monopoly  stock  compa- 
ny, with  millions  of  capital,  upon  which  they  pay  enormous  div- 
idends, when  neat  steel  wire  bands,  at  one-fourth  the  cost  would 
secure  our  cotton  ; second,  putting  up  our  cotton  in  loose,  large, 
and  ungainly  bales,  that  every  factor  in  every  city  through 
which  it  passes  may  get  his  pound  or  two  of  sample,  and  the 
compress  its  fee  for  compressions.  Follow  a bale  of  cotton  from 
the  planter  to  the  consumer,  through  the  number  of  rings  which 
fatten  on  it,  drag  it  through  the  mud  and  slush  with  an  ignorant 
careless  drayman,  expose  it  to  rain  on  rail  and  boat,  dump  it  on 
a muddy,  unsheltered  wharf,  store  it  in  some  dirty  warehouse 
until  the  call  of  the  inspector  of  some  factory,  who  takes  it  in 
hand,  cuts  the  coverings,  removes  the  outside  soiled  cotton  until 
all  is  as  white  and  clean  as  lint  from  the  gin,  and  samples  again 
this  much  sampled  bale  5 then  the  cotton  is  weighed,  the 
weight  of  covering,  ties  and  soiled  cotton  deducted,  and  the 
consumer  buys  at  this  weight. 

Be  not  deceived  farmers  and  planters,  when  you  think  you 
are  getting  paid  for  your  bagging  and  ties  and  mud  and  water 
on  your  cotton.  Far  from  it ; the  middle^men  know  too  well  the 
shrinkage  and  peculation  in  which  they  share,  to  pay  just  enough 
for  your  cotton  to  cover  all  deductions  and  leave  them  handsome 
profits,  Mr.  Edward  Atkinson  who  has  carefully  studied  the 
subject,  declares  that  there  is  a loss  of  10  per  cent,  in  waste 
between  the  planter  and  consumer,  in  the  manner  of  handling 
our  crop,  or  upon  our  present  crop,  over  $30,000,000.  Were 
political  carpet-baggers  robbing  us  of  ten  i)er  cent,  of  our  pro- 
ducts, a howl  of  indignation,  followed  by  a i^olitical  revolution, 
would  spread  over  this  State.  Yet  we  submit  to  this  extensive 
loss,  with  scarcely  a murmur  of  complant.  Great  reforms  are 
needed  in  the  improvement  of  the  lint,  the  proper  preparation  of 
it  for  market,  and  more  than  all,  the  proper  marketing  of  it. 

COTTON  SEED. 

Each  500  pound  bale  of  cotton  gives  1,000  pounds  of  cotton 
5eed.  Estimating  our  present  crop  at  6,000,000  bales,  gives  us 
3,000,000  tons  of  seed.  Formerly  these  seed  were  permitted  to 


12 


rot  at  the  ginhonse,  till  au  accident  revealed  their  mauurial 
qualities.  Later,  oil  mills  sprang  into  existence  and  the  oil  was 
expressed  from  the  kernels.  These  oil  mills,  while  they  have 
been  bonanzas  of  i:>rofit,  have  yet  been  in  the  past  the  only  in- 
structor of  the  farmer  as  to  the  value  of  seed.  Deprecating 
their  value  for  home  purposes,  they  have  managed  to  obtain  seed 
at  prices  far  below  their  value.  However,  the  value  of  the  pro- 
ducts of  cotton  seed  are  now  so  well  known  that  the  time  seems 
near  when  the  seed  shall  equal  the  lint  in  price.  Every  ton  of 
seed  yields  22  pounds  of  short  lint  at  8 cents,  81.32 ; 35  gallons 
of  oil  at  32  cents,  811.20  • 700  pounds  of  meal  at  81.00,  87.00  j 
1,000  pounds  of  hulls  at  83.00  5 total  per  ton,  822.52 ; cost  of 
seed  in  Xew  Orleans,  812.00,  or  nearly  810.52  for  each  ton  man- 
ufactured. To  a mill  working  100  tons  per  day,  surely  a hand- 
some profit.  The  mills  in  New  Orleans  pay  812.00  per  ton  for 
seed  delivered.  What  the  farmer  receives  depends  upon  his  lo- 
cation and  accessibility  to  market.  But  what  are  they  worth  to 
him  as  a manure?  Cotton  seed  contains  3 per  cent  of  nitrogen, 
1.4  i^er  cent  phosphoric  acid,  and  1.14  per  cent  of  potash.  Ap' 
Ijlying  the  commercial  tarifi'  adopted  by  the  association  of  offi- 
cial chemists  in  the  South,  we  have  a mauurial  value  of  811.01 
per  ton.  In  other  words,  if  he  sells  his  seed  and  buys  commer- 
cial fertilizer  he  would  have  to  pay  this  much,  by  this  tariff,  for 
the  ingredients  contained  in  it.  But  the  seed  contains  about 
30  per  cent,  of  oil  which  is  of  no  value  as  a manure,  and  when' 
ever  they  are  used  as  such,  the  oil  is  simply  lost.  True  patri- 
otic economy  would  therefore  suggest  that  the  oil  be  extracted. 
In  doing  so  however,  two  conditions  should  be  imperatively  ob- 
served. First,  that  the  farmers  should  share  in  the  heretofore 
enormous  profits  of  the  mills,  and  second,  an  equivalent  in  plant 
food  to  the  seed  sold,  should  be  annually  replaced  in  a good 
commercial  fertilizer.  Observing  these,  875,000,000  could  an. 
nually  be  added  to  the  wealth  of  our  country  by  the  sale  of  five- 
sixths  of  our  seed,  after  reserving  one  sixth  for  planting,  and  na 
detriment  would  accrue  to  our  soil  fertility.  The  large 
amount  of  oil  in  the  seed  makes  it  objectionable 
as  a cattle  food,  and  no  combination  with  other  foods  can  reduce 
it  to  the  amount  required  for  a perfect  ration,  w^hile  one  of  its. 


15 


products,  cotton  seed  meal,  is  the  l>est  supplement  known  for 
foods  deficient  in  x)rotein  and  fats.  This,  our  English  farmers 
have  long  known,  and  the  ];)rice  of  our  oil  cake  is  regulated  by 
the  demand  of  English  stock  raisers.  Highh'  instructive  to  the 
thoughtful  planter  is  the  seemingly  paradoxical  lesson  taught 
us  across  the  ocean,  that  the  manure  from  a ton  of  cotton  meal 
is  worth  more  than  the  meal,  the  distinguished  English  chemist 
giving  the  value  to  the  farmer  of  827.G0  per  ton,  while  the  latter 
is  delivered  at  $25.00.  The  cattle  have  added  nothing  to  the 
meal,  on  the  contrary,  they  have  extracted  what  was  necessary 
to  make  flesh  and  blood,  and  voided  nearlj^  all  of  the  fertilizing 
ingredients  in  a form  easily  assimilated  by  plants.  True  econo- 
my Avould  therefore  suggest  the  use  of  cotton  meal  first  as  a feed 
stuff’  and  then  as  a manure.  When  the  cotton  planter  realizing 
what  a bonanza  of  wealth  there  is  in  his  seed,  shall  add  to  his 
X)lanting  the  more  profitable  business  of  stock  raising,  there  will 
come  that  day  of  i^rosperity  which  the  poet  in  fancy  has  painted 
and  which  the  true  student  of  agriculture  has  i:)redicted  as  the 
legitimate  natural  inheritance  of  a land  so  peculiarly  blessed  as 
ours. 

Cotton  seed  meal  is  largely  used  as  a fertilizer,  either  alone  or 
mixed  with  phosphate  and  potash.  Experiments  have  demon- 
strated that  the  nitrogen  of  meal  is  fully  the  equal  of  that  in 
any  other  form,  and  to-day  thousands  of  tons  of  commercial  fer- 
tilizers are  vended  with  meal  as  their  only  source  of  nitrogen, 
Neither  as  a manure  or  as  a food  stuff  should  it  be  used  alone, 
but  in  proper  combinations  it  is  a specific  almost  without  a rival. 
There  are  now  nearly  one  hundred  oil  mills  in  the  South  turning 
out  annually  about  30,000,, 000  gallons  of  oil.  The  query  arises, 
what  are  they  doing  with  this  vast  amount  ? The  recent  move- 
ment against  the  great  corporation  which  a year  ago  bought  up 
nearly  all  the  oil  mills  in  this  country,  have  thrown  a world  of 
light  on  this  interesting  subject.  The  pork  packers  of  the  West 
have  loaded  this  monopoly  with  invectives,  and  thrown  the  in- 
fluence of  their  great  w^ealth  against  it,  because,  forsooth,  they 
made  them  pay  five  cents  per  gallon  more  for  their  oil  with  which 
they  adulterated  their  lard.  Messrs.  Armour  & Co.  are  reported 
as  using  annually  as  much  as  8,000,000  gallons  alone  in  their 


14 


business.  The  result  to  us  is  a large  number  of  rival  oil  mills  ^ 
increased  prices  for  our  seed  and  cheap  lard.  Cotton  seed  oil  is 
almost  identical  in  composition  with  olive  oil,  and  is  largely  used 
to  adulterate  it.  So  great  has  been  this  adulteration  that  the 
Italian  government  a year  or  two  ago  levied  a heavy  tariff  on  the 
importation  of  cotton  seed  oil ; since  which  time  our  olive  oil  has 
been  made  in  New  York.  This  oil  is  largely  used  in  the  South 
and  West  as  a substitute  for  lard.  Only  prejudice  can  object 
to  it  since  it  is  pure  as  olive  oil  and  much  purer  than  lard  from 
hogs  which  have  been  unnaturally  fed  for  adipose  tissue.  It  iSy 
however  consoling  to  know  that  those  whose  refined  tastes  and 
delicate  stomachs,  will  not  tolerate  cotton  seed  oil  in  their  foods 
will  have  hereafter  to  raise  their  own  hogs  in  order  to  obtain 
pure  lard,  and  such  a prejudice  may  after  all  transfer  our  smoke 
houses  from  the  West  to  the  South,  where  they  ought  always  to 
have  been.  This  adulteration  of  Northern  lard  with  Southern 
oil  has  aroused  Northern  indignation,  and  already  petitions  have 
been  presented  to  Congress,  for  a law  to  prevent  it,  while  their 
righteous  souls  can  find  no  harm  in  mixing  Northern  glucose 
with  Louisiana  molasses  and  sugar,  and  vending  the  mixture 
under  the  name  of  the  latter. 

Cotton  seed  oil  is  used  as  a burning  oil  in  mines  and  as  a 
lubricant.  After  treatment  it  is  used  as  a paint  oil,  its  drying 
properties  equaling  linseed  oil.  It  is  also  successfully  used  in 
replacing  olive  oil  in  i^harmaceutical  preparations. 

Hulls,  which  constitute  one-halt  the  seed,  are  burned  under 
the  boilers  and  furnish  more  fuel  than  is  needed.  Used  with  cotton 
seed  meal  they  furnish  a complete  ration  for  cattle  and  stockmen 
assert  that  the  two  properly  combined  will  add  two  to  four 
pounds  a day  to  a full  grown  beef.  They  are  also  used  as  a 
litter  in  stables.  As  a fertilizer  they  are  inferior,  containing  a 
small  amount  of  nitrogen  and  large  excess  of  woody  fibre,  which 
prevent  early  decay  in  the  soil-  When  burnt,  they  give  an  ash 
rich  in  ijotash,  and  with  a fair  proportion  of  phosphoric  acid. 
These  ashes  are  in  considerable  request  as  a fertilizer  upon  the 
soils  of  New  England  and  New  Jersey,  where  potash  manures 
are  badly  needed.  Upon  the  tobacco  fields  of  Connecticut  they 
are  eagerly  sought  and  highly  prized.  They  are*  little  used  in 


15 


the  South,  our  supply  going  mainly  to  the  Korth  at  low  prices. 
The  cotton  plant  produces  other  valuable  materials  besides 
those  already  mentioned.  The  bark  of  the  stalk  makes  a fibre  of 
great  beauty  and  high  tension.  The  stalk  makes  an  excellent 
pulp  for  coarse  paper.  Even  the  plant,  after  the  seed  has  been 
picked  might  be  cured  into  a rough  hay.  It  has  been  proposed 
to  ensilage  the  ground  stalk  with  green  fodder,  with  the  expec- 
tation of  the  latter  dissolving  the  former.  The  root  yields  a 
medicine  described  in  the  Pharmacopoea,  well  known  to  our 
untutored  negroes.  A dye  has  also  been  obtained  from  the 
same  source,  which  is  said  to  be  of  great  promise.  And  now,  in 
conclusion,  permit  me  to  say  that  no  other  crop  has,  within  it  so 
much  promise  and  potency  as  that  which  we  of  the  South  have 
so  long  deified  as  king  cotton.  It  clothes  the  world  with  the 
cheapest  and  best  garments;  it  furnishes  the  lard  for  our 
kitchen,  the  oil  for  our  salad,  the  butter  for  our  bread,  the  soap 
for  our  toilet,  and  the  candle  for  our  bed-room.  It  feeds  our 
Jersey  cow,  it  fertilizes  our  garden  and  field-crops.  It  paints 
our  houses,  dyes  our  hosiery  and  makes  our  ointments.  It  fur- 
nishes us  with  paper,  delicate  enough  to  receive  the  sweetest 
strains  of  whispered  love,  or  strong  enough  for  the  wheels  of  the 
ponderous  locomotive.  It  gives  us  thread  as  fine  as  the  spider’s 
silken  web,  or  strong  enough  to  lash  the  navies  of  the  world 
together.  Such,  now,  is  this  wonderful  plant,  and  who  can  deny 
the  magnificent  possibilities  of  its  future  ? 

MANURES  FOR  COTTON. 

The  experiments  begun  in  1886  have  been  continued  with 
slight  modification  through  1887,  though  not  with  the  success 
expected.  The  excessive  rains  of  June  destroyed  the  cotton  on 
some  plats  which  were  badly  drained  and  prevented  an  accurate 
comparison  of  results.  The  following  were  the  questions  pro. 
pounded  to  our  experiments  : 

1st.  What  ingredients  of  commercial  manures  do  our  soils 
need  for  the  successful  production  of  cotton.  Having  determined 
this  we  have. 

2nd.  What  form  of  these  ingredients  was  most  beneficial 
to  cotton. 


16 


3rd.  What  quantity  produced  the  best  results. 

The  first  question  is  asked  directly  in  plat  5 and  incidentally 
in  them  all.  The  second  and  third  questions  are  answered  as  to 
nitrogen  in  plat  5,  as  to  phosphoric  acid  in  plat  6,  and  as  to  pot- 
ash in  plat  7. 


Plat  5 was  devoted  to  nitrogenous  manures,  using  the 
following  as  sources  of  nitrogen,  viz : Nitrate  of  soda,  15  per 
cent,  nitrogen ; sulphate  of  ammonia,  21  per  cent,  nitrogen  ; 
dried  blood,  10  per  cent  nitrogen  *,  cotton  seed  meal,  7 per  cent, 
nitrogen  j fish  scrap,  10  per  cent,  nitrogen,  and  tankage,  7 per 
cent  nitrogen.  The  first  and  second  are  minerals,  the  fourth 
vegetable  and  the  rest  animal  forms. 

Besides  the  above,  a mixture  of  nitrate  of  soda,  sulphate  of 
ammonia  and  cotton  seed  meal,  called  mixed  nitrogen  ” is  also 
used. 

Such  quantities  of  each  are  used  alone  and  in  combina- 


tion as  to  represent  equal  quantities  of  nitrogen  and  each  are 
used  alone  and  in  combination  in  quantities  representing  lOJ  and 
21  pounds  of  nitrogen  per  acre.  The  following  are  the  experi* 

PLAT  Y. 


NITROGENOUS  MANURES  (calculated  to  the  acre.) 
No  raauure. 

140  lbs.  Nitrate  of  Soda. 

100 lbs.  Sulphate  of  Ammouia. 

210  lbs  Dried  Blood. 

300  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

210  lbs  Fish  Scrap. 

280  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

80  11)S  Muriate  potash. 

300  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 
280  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

300  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

80  lbs  Muriate  Potash. 

No  Manure. 

280  lbs  Acid  Phosphate  ? 

80  lbs  Muriate  Potash  ^ 

70  lbs  Nitrate  Soda. 

' Mixed  Minerals. 

140  lbs  Nitrate  Soda. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

( 50  lb  Sulphate  of  Ammouia. 

I Mixed  Minerals. 

100  lbs.  Sulphate  of  Ammouia. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

Mixed  Minerals.. 

No  Manure. 


ments : 

Expt. 

No. 

1. 

Expt. 

No. 

2. 

Expt. 

No. 

3. 

Expt. 

No. 

4. 

Expt. 

No. 

5. 

Epxt. 

No. 

6. 

Expt. 

No. 

7. 

Expt. 

No. 

8- 

Expt. 

No. 

9. 

Expt. 

No. 

10. 

Expt. 

No.  11. 

Expt. 

No. 

12. 

Expt. 

No. 

13. 

Expt. 

No. 

14. 

Expt. 

No. 

15. 

Expt. 

No. 

16. 

Expt. 

No. 

17. 

Expt. 

No. 

18 

Expt. 

No. 

19. 

'Mixed  Minerals  (see  page  22) 


17 


Expt. 

Expt. 

Kxpt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

Efc:pt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 


Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 


No.  20. 


No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 


21.  ' 
( 

'M. 

23. 1 

i 


24. 

25. 

2G. 


No.  27. 


No. 

No. 


28. 

22. 


r 

No.  30. 

(■ 


105  11)R.  Dried  Blood. 

Mix  d Minerals. 

210  ibs  Dried  Blood. 

Mix(  d Minerals. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

1.50  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Mix  si  Minerals. 

300  lbs  Ccrtton  Seed  Meal. 
Mix  d Minerals. 

Mixt'd  Idinerals. 

105  bs  Eisli  Scrap. 

;Mix»  d Minerals. 

210  bs  Fish  Scrap. 

Mix  d Minerals. 

Mixed  Minerals. 

No  Man  nr© . 

24  lbs  Nitrate  Soda  ^ 
Iti  ll'.s  Sulphate  Aaiimonia 
.50  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal  ( 
Mix;  d Minerals  j 


Mixed  Nita’ogcn, 


f 47  1 bs  Nitrate  Soda 
-,yr  I 33  os  Sulphate  Ainmoiiia 

J\o.  oi.  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

[Mix  'd  rdinerals 
No.  32.  Mix  d Minerals. 

^ .,o  S 150  bs  Taukag'o. 

iMO.  .)0.  ^ -gQ  bs  Muriate  Potash. 

.1  I 3(K)  bs  Tankage. 

INO.  ^ Muriate  potash. 

No.  35.  300  1 ,)s  Tankage. 

No.  36.  No  I aunre. 


] 

) Mixed  Nitrogen, 

J 


The  d estruct  on  of  a iiortiou  of  the  above  experiments  by 
the  excess  ive  rail  s,  prevented  an  accurate  comparison  of  the 
seemingly  discort  ant  results.  lienee  the  latter  are  not  given. 
It  was  quite  evident  however,  that  the  organic  nitrogen  gave 
better  results  the  a the  mineral  forms  on  this  soil  and  crop.  The 
excessive  rains  st  em  to  have  leached  the  latter  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  roo:  s in  tli*  early  growth  of  the  plant.  Dried  Blood  and 
(’otton  Seed  31  ea  fsppe’ared  to  have  pTOdneed  slightly  better  re- 
sults tliaii  the  otl  er  forms  of  Organic  Nitrogen.  The  present 
year,  plats  better  d ained  have  been  selected  for  a continuation 
of  these  experime  its,  and  they  will  be  repeated  both  at  Baton 
Bongo  and  Oallioan. 


There  yere  slightly  increased. ix^snlts  where  doubh^  (piantities 
of  Hitrogen  were  used  j iierliaps  not  enough  to  justify  increased 
expeilse. 

'^Mixed  Minerals  aboye  always  mean  280  lbs.  Acid  ITiosphatc,  80  lbs. 
Muriate  I’otasli. 


18 


PLAT  VI. 

niospiiORic  ACID  MANURES,  (calciilateil  to  the  acre.) 


No  Manure. 

280  11)8.  Dissolved  Bone  Black. 

280  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

280  lbs.  Bone  Meal. 

280  lbs.  Charleston  Floats. 

300  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  ^ ^ nr-  i.  « 

80  lbs.  Muriate  Potash, _ ] > Mixture. 

140  lbs.  Dissolved  Bone  Black. 

Basal  Mixture. 

280  lbs.  Dissolved  Bone  Black. 

Basal  Mixture. 

Basal  Mixture. 

No  Manure. 

140  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

Basal  Mixture. 

280  lbs.  Acid  I’hosphate. 

Basal  Mixture. 

Basal  Mixture. 

140  lbs.  Precipitated  Dis.  Bone  Black. 

Basal  Mixture. 

280  lbs.  Precipitated  Dis.  Bone  Black 
Basal  Mixture. 

Basal  Mixture. 

140  lbs.  Precipitated  Acid  Phosphate. 

Basal  Mixture. 

280  lbs.  Precipitated  Acid  Phosphate. 

Basal  Mixture. 

Basal  Mixture. 

No  Manure. 

140  lbs.  Bone  Meal. 

Basal  Mixture. 

280  lbs.  Bone  Meal. 

Basal  Mixture. 

Basal  Mixture. 


bs.  Charleston  Floats. 
1 Mixture. 

Basal  Mixture. 

90  lbs.  Gypsum. 

Basal  Mixture. 


Basal  Mixture. 

No  Manure. 

The  phosphalic  nianui’es  used  above  were  represented  by  Dissolved  Bone 
Blatk,  Acid  Phos))hate,  Precipitated  Dissolved  Bone  Black,  Precipitated  Acid 
Phosphate,  Bone  Meal  and  Charleston  Floats. 

The  same  quantities  of  each  were  used. 

* Basal  mixture  in  this  plat  always  means: 

300  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

80  lbs.  Muriate  Potash. 

Here  too  results  we're  seriously  vitiated  by  excessive  rains,  but  there  was 
quite  an  amount  of  evidence  showing  the  superioi  ity  of  the  soluble  forms  of 
I’hosphoric  Acids  over  all  others.  There  was  no  ai)preciable  difference  be- 
tween the  results  from  Dissolved  Bone  Black  and  Acid  Phosphate. 


Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

Expt. 

No.  1. 
No.  2. 
No.  3. 
No.  4. 
No.  5. 

Expt. 

No.  6. 

Expt. 

No.  7.  j 

Expt. 

No.  8. 1 

Expt. 

Expt. 

No.  9.  ^ 
No.  10. 

Expt. 

No.  11. 1 

Expt. 

No.  12. 1 

Expt. 

Expt. 

No.  14. 1 

Expt. 

No.  15. 1 

Expt. 

No.  16. 

Expt. 

No.  17.  1 

Expt. 

No.  18. 1 

Exi>t. 

Ex]d. 

No.  19. 
No.  20. 

Expt. 

No.  21. 1 

Exi>t. 

No.  22. 1 

Expt. 

No.  23. 

Exjff. 

No.  24.  1 

Expt. 

No.  25.  1 

Expt. 

No.  26. 

Expit. 

No.  27.  j 

Ex]it. 

No.  28. 1 

Expt. 

Expt. 

No.  29. 
No.  30. 

19 


PLAT  vir. 


PoTA.Sisrc  Manures.  (Ciilculated  to  the  Acre.) 


Expt.  No.  1.  No  Manure. 

Expt.  No.  2.  230  lbs.  Kainite. 

Expt.  No.  3.  00  lbs.  Muriate  Potash. 

Expt.  No.  4.  120  lbs.  bulphatd  Potash. 


Expt.  No. 
Expt.  No. 


Expt.  No. 


( meal  i uospuai/C. 

Expt.  No.  11.  No  Manure. 
Expt.  No.  12.  Meal  Phosphate. 


Expt.  No.  13 
Expt.  No.  14. 


Expt.  No.  15  Meal  i ao&pha  e. 

Expt.  No.  16  No  M anure. 

■^Meal  Ph(  ■sphate  i \ this  PI  it  is  always  300  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  uc  0 lbs. 
Acid  Phosphate. 

Here  potash  is  fiirnishcl  in  the  form  of  Kaiiiite  (1.2  per  ;eiit. 
potash),  sulphate  (24  per  uenfc.  potash)  and  muriate  (oO  pei  . eiit. 
potash). 

Kesults  here  show  that  no  form  of  potash  has  appreciably  hen- 
eflted  cotton  ou  this  soil. 


\ ARIET1ES  OF  COTTON. 


Twenty-two  varieties  w ere  '^rown  as  nearly  under  like  i: edi- 
tions as  possible.  These,  were  separately  picked  and  wek  hed. 
At  the  close  of  the  seasoi.  they  were  again  weighed  and  gi  nied 
upon  an  excellerd  gin,  an  1 tl  e lint  and  seed  careful  y vrei;riied. 
The  varieties  neare.st  alike  b staple  were  baled  together  and 
each  bale  was  sent  to  'New  O-  leans  and  sold  on  its  merits.  Be- 
sides the  above,  each  membe  ’ of  my  agricultural  class,  car  ? 'ally 
selected  fifty  bobs  from  both  the  middle  and  top  of  each  variety, 
weighed  them  carefully,  gin ned  them  by  hand  and  weighi  * re- 
sulting lint  and  seed.  In  this  wmy  the  percentages  of  line  and 
seed,  weight  of  erne  hundred  seed  and  number  of  seed  per  l iishel 
were  calculated.  The  same  experiments  were  duidicated  by  my- 
self and  farm  superintendent.  The  results  obtained  varied 


20 


^^reatly  with  some  varieties,  while  nearly  constant  wirh  others. 
It  was  curious  to  note  the  differences  in  weight  betwee  i one  hun- 
dred bolls  picked  from  top  and  middle,  also  i i yield  of  lint  of 
some  varieties,  while  on  the  other  hand  the  re  ailts  which  eacdi 
experimenter  obtained  on  a few  varieties,  were  surprisingly  con- 
cordant. I append  results  results  of  sixteen  vi  rieties  : 


Per  Cent, 
of  Lint. 

Per  Cent, 
of  Seed. 

Weight  .)f 
100  BolL. 

Ntwiios  of  Yaxiety. 

s 

«E’ 

K 

O 

pq 

By  Hand. 

C 

>1 

fQ 

p. 

o 

H 

-i 

rr^ 

3 

.Number  of  ®ee4  t>o 
the  Busbel  of 

3i  pounds. 



.37.63 

37.30 

62.37 

02.70 

Oz*. 

20 

Ozs. 

’0 

140.320 

31 

38.70 

62  ^*9! 

|03.30 

71.50; 

24 

23 

IS  1.830 

137.180 



iktyd’s  ProHtSe 

31.17 

28.fi0 

08. 

23 

.?2 

Alienas  Staple. ... 

3:^.9! 

S^LIO 

67.09 

07.rK> 

S5 

24 

118.20.5 

Teiuwiese^  Silk 

'i9.62 

2S.40 

70.38 

71.00 

17 

JO 

119.200 

MaIUiir  Prolifir 

:13.90 

32.30 

mi. IQ 

67.70 

194 

18 

0 

115.420 

Ileiion<>: 

1^3.30 

32.60 

00.70 

07.40' 

lO" 

12  .500 

Jones’  ijuproved 

34.10 

3.3.. 30 

0o.9() 

oti.no 

17 

>2 

9. .970 

.lowers  Improved 

S.  li,  Maxey’s 

:3r).9i 

34.40 

o4.(>9 

05.00 

\Q 

12. .890 

31.00 

:^2.oo 

08.40 

08.10 

17 

8 

119.790 

Cherry’s  Long  Staple... 

3i.‘>9 

31.36 

07.71 

08.44 

14 

13.  *-810 

Slime’s  Early 

■27.24 

28.50 

72.70 

7l.5(» 

24 

.12 

114.350 

Griflin’s  Improved 

31.70 

30.50 

08.30 

69.50 

22 

20 

95. 100 

Taylor’s  Improved 

31.00 

29.00 

09.  oe 

70.40 

20 

19 

li:.920 

Bancroft’s  Her  ong 

:I3.42 

32.80 

r)t)..58 

67.20 

17.^ 

18 

122.590 

Sea  Island 

22.74 

23.00 

77.20 

70.40 

12 

10- .750 

The  above  cottons  brought  in  the  Xew  Orleans  market  from 


SJ  to  lOJ  cents,  per  pound. 

THE  COTTON  WORM. 

llow"  to  destroy  it.  Paris  gre.en^  London  purple  and  white 
arsenic,  all  compounds  of  arsenic  are  used  for  he|des  Tuction  of 
this  pest.  Since  all  of  the  above  are  poisoi  ous  to  man  and 
best,  they  must  be  handled  with  great  care  aiic  caution. 

The  almost  unanimous  opinion  of  far..teisaud  planters  is 
that  of  the  above,  Paris  green  is  by  far  the  1 3St  poit  on.  It  is 
used  in  three  wniys,  first,  in  liquid  suspensior  ; mix  one  pound  oi’ 
pulverized  Paris  green,  with  forty  gallons  of  water  an  1 put  this 
on  one  aei'e,  by  and  with  a large  w atering  po  ; or  from  the  bar- 
rels placed  in  a wagon,  by  use  of  spray  pump  5.  In  either  case 
the  mixture  must  be  kept  well  stiived,  since  Paris  green  is  not 
soluble  in  wniter,  but  is  held  mechanically  suspended^  a little  ffour 


21 


just  soured  in  a bucket  of  water  and  then  added  to  the  mixture, 
gives  it  greater  adhesive  power. 

Second,  dry,  mixed  with  some  deluent  as  cheap  hour,  j^ellow 
ochre,  fine  clay,  plaster  or  ashes.  A little  dextrine  is  sometimes 
added  to  increase  adhesiveness.  One  pound  of  Paris  green  is 
mixed  with  twenty-five  pounds  of  the  deluent. 

This  mixture,  used  during  showery  weather  is  sifted  over 
the  plants  by  hand,  through  coarse  sieves. 

Third.  The  finely  ground  Paris  green  is  dusted  from  an 
oblong  sack,  made  of  course  muslin,  attached  to  the  end  of  a 
long  pole,  carried  by  a man  on  horseback.  In  this  way  it  is 
easily  and  cheaply  distributed  f the  only  objection  is,  that  as 
ordinarily  performed,  more  Paris  green  is  used  than  is  necessary. 
Care  should  be  taken  to  keep  man  and  beast  on  the  side  from 
which  the  wind  is  blowing,  so  as  to  avoid  inhalation  of  arsenical 
dust. 

Either  of  the  above  methods  can  be  used  with  certainty  of 
success,  if  proper  care  in  following  directions  be  exerted. 

HOW  TO  MAKE  A COMPOST. 

“ Compost  and  compost,  again  is  the  word.  The  modern 
Olympus  is  the  compost  heap  and  the  God  enthroned  on  it  is 
called  Jupiter  Ammoniac.” 

Below  is  appended  the  formula  best  suited  for  cotton. 

100  bushels  Cotton  Seed. 

100  bushels  Stable  Manure. 

1 ton  Acid  Phosphate,  high  grade. 

If  the  above  is  to  be  used  on  very  sandy  lands,  one-half  ton 
of  Kainite  may  be  advantageously  added.  Dissolve  in  water  and 
use  the  latter  to  wet  the  compost. 

Since  the  success  of  a compost  depends  materially  upon  the 
proper  manner  of  preparing  it,  full  directions  are  here  inserted: 

DIRECTIONS  FOR  MA.KING  COMPOST. 

Take  an  equal  part  of  the  Stable  IVtanure,  say  ten  bushels, 
and  spread  it  out  in  a level  place,  under  shelter,  to  the  depth  of 


22 


three  inches.  Sprinkle  over  it  100  pounds  of  Acid  Phosphate. 
Next  spread  over  this  ten  bushels  of  Cotton  Seed,  made 
thoroughly  wet.  Then  another  sprinkle  of  100  pounds  of  Acid 
Phosphate.  Continue  this  rotation  till  the  quantities  are  ex- 
hausted and  then  cover  with  a rich  earth,  from  the  fence  corners, 
five  inches  deep.  Permit  it  to  remain  until  ready  for  use,  four 
to  six  weeks  will  do,  and  cut  vertically  down  with  a mattock. 
Mix  well  and  apply  from  300  to  1000  pounds  per  acre  in  the 
drill  at  the  time  of  planting. 

Be  careful  to  wet  the  Cotton  thoroughly  and  buy  only  a first- 
class  Acid  Phosphate. 


SUGAR  CANE. 

( F 1 E LI ) E XP EP I .Al ENTS. ) 


BULLETIN  No,  14, 

OE  THE 


■Wm.  C.  .Stubbs,  Ph.  D., 

1 > ll^KC  a^OH 


KEXXKK 


LA„  JAXIXVRV,  1888. 


ISSUED  r.Y 

HHIOZMl^SOTST  .J.  1511^0, 

tCoMMis.^ioxr.ij  OK  AouiorLTriJi:,  B.vtox  Kot'ge,  la. 


BATON  BOrOE : 

^PRINTED  HY  I-KOX  JASTUTUL^KI.  STATE  PRIXTER, 


SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  f 
Kenner,  La,  % 

Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — I Land  yon  herewith  for  publication  Bulletin  No.  14 — coTejinis: 
experiments  in  Sugar  Cane,  made  during  the  past  year  on  this  Station. 

Respectfully, 


WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


ERRATA. 


On  page  8,  in  table  3,  under  the  head  of  No.  of  Sprouts,  omit  all 
decimal  poiuts. 

On  page  39,  line  I,  read  primaril-y  for  permanently. 

On  page  .51,  line  3,  after  table,  37  and  44,  should  read  37  to  44. 

On  page  52,  5th  line  from  bottom,  read  time  instead  of  vines,  and 
on  same  page,  2d  line  from  bottom  read  tap  instead  of  top. 

On  page  60,  line  11,  read  germination  instead  of  fermentation. 

On  page  61,  18  should  be  19  and  19  should  be  18. 

On  page  66,  9th  summary,  24  amd  48  should  read  24  to  48. 

On  page  69,  in  the  lower  table  of  No.  of  parts  of  cane,  the  second  next 
to  lower  fourth,  should  read  lower  fourth. 

On  page  71,  Milladeu  should  read  Milladon,  Posey  & Jones  should  read 
Pusey  &.  Jones. 

On  page  72,  line  6,  read  purgery  instead  of  purging. 


Field  Experiments 


In  cane  during  the  past  year  were  of  four  kinds,  viz  : 

1.  Germination  questions. 

2.  Physiological  questions. 

3.  Varieties  best  adapted  to  Louisiana. 

4.  Manurial  requirements. 

These  are  but  the  continuation  and  in  many  instances  the 
enlargement  of  the  work  of  the  previous  year. 

GERMINATION  QUESTIONS. 

The  following  from  Bulletin  ^^o.  7,  explanatory  of  our  ob- 
ject, is  herein  inserted : 

^‘It  has  long  been  a question  among  planters  whether  to 
plant  the  tops,  the  entire  stalk,  or  only  the  matured  part.  The 
practice  of  planting  the  green  iiumatured  tops  is  the  one  sug- 
gested by  economy,  since  these  contain  little  or  no  sugar,  and 
are  frequently  thrown  away.  This  practice  is,  however,  severe- 
ly criticised  by  some,  upon  reasons  drawn  from  known  princi- 
ples of  vegetable  physiology.  The  cane,  say  they,  has  only 
sterile  flowers,  and  consequently  give  no  seed  or  grains.  There- 
fore the  eyes  of  the  cane  are  intended  to  replace  the  true  seed 
or  grain.  In  all  seed  bearing  plants,  those  seed  germinate  and 
fruitify  best,  which  are  permitted  to  reach  perfect  maturity. 
Therefore  in  imitation  of  this  natural  law,  we  must  seek  that 
part  of  the  stalk  which  contains  the  largest  and  best  developed 
eyes,  in  order  to  secure  seed  which  will  produce  the  most  vig- 
orous plants.  It  is  further  claimed  that  w'here  tops  are  univer- 
sally used  as  seed  that  a degeneracy  of  the  cane  will  follow, 
since  the  latter  is  always  reproduced  with  those  parts  of  the 
cane  where  the  juices  are  the  poorest  in  nourishment  (sugar) 
and  the  eyes  tht^  most  imperfectly  developed.  Hence  it  is  a 
practice  with  some  of  our  planters  never  to  plant  fall  cane  until 
the  polariscope  .•^hows  at  least  10  per  cent,  sugar  in  the  eane. 
Per  contra  there  are  others  who  claim  that  the  planting  of  the 


tops  is  justifiable  -froui  purely  scientific  reasons,  besides  the 
economy  involved.  They  regard  tlie  cane  planted  as  ‘^cuttings’’ 
rather  than  true  seed,  and  the  eyes  as,  buds  to  be  developed 
under  x)roper  conditions.  They  say  that  the  fiorist  when  he 
wants  to  root  new  plants,  never  uses  the  old  or  mature  wood, 
but  rather  the  young  and  succulent  portions.  Therefore  in 
planting"  cane  the  youngest  and  most  succulent  portions  will 
secure  the  best  results.  Which  is  right  has  not  yet  been  decided 
by  science.  Experiments  in  the  field  have  demonstrated  that 
eyes  from  both  the ‘mature  and  immature  parts  of  the  stalk  will 
germinate.  But  which  are  the  best,  i.  e.  which  will  insure  the 
best  aud  surest  results  under  the  varying  conditions  of  our  sea- 
sons, soils  and  rainfall  ! ” 

To  determine  this  question,  the  following  experi- 
ments were  instituted  with  a Aiew  of  continuing  them 
through  a series  of  years  in  order  to  eliminate  as  far  as  possible 
all  the  modifying  factors,  incident  to  one  year’s  experiment. 
Great  pains  were  taken  to  select  healthy  stalks  of  uniform 
length.  These  Avere  cut  up  into  short  pieces  beginning  with  the 
green  immature  top.  Two  eyes  were  left  upon  each  cutting  and 
each  stalk  was  selected  so  as  to  give  eleA"en  cuttings.  ScA-enty 
five  of  these  cuttings  containing  130  eyes  were  devoted  to  each 
experiment. 

The  land  Avas  in  excellent  order,  haAing  had  a large  crop  of 
l^ea  vines  turned  in  early  in  the  fall  with  a four  horse  ploAv.  The 
cuttings  Avere  carefnll}-  deposited  in  each  row  and  coA^ered  by  a 
hoe.  The  following  are  the  experiments  : 


PLAT  (1— GKPMIXATION  QrESTIOXS. 


Experiment  No. 

u a 

U i i 

ii  LC 

- 

ii  ii 

ii  i i 

c.  a 

a a 

ti  a 

a a 


1 —  75  white  imniatnre  joints  of  2 eyes  encli. 

2 —  75  joints  next  to  No.  1 partially  wliite,  2 eyes  each. 

3 —  75  “ “ “ 2 full  red  “ “ “ 


4— 75 

5 —  7 5 
(5 — 75 

7 —  75 

8 —  75 
a— 75 

]U— 75 
11—75 


<(  U i(  U O (, 

ti  ((  t .-  .(  (< 

.1  f(  i I (I  ."j  ti 

1 1 li  ii  ii  i( 

ii  ii  i.  ii  i, 

ii  ii  ii  ii  g ii 

ii  ii  ii  i.  9 u 

bntts.  2 eyes  each. 


a ii  a 

a ii  a 

U U iC 

iC  ii  ii 

ii  ii  i. 

ii  ii  U 

i.  ii  ii 


These  experiments  were  planted  February  9th,  and  occa- 
:sional  obseiw-ations  Avere  made,  and  the  stalks  upon  each  row 


[5] 


carefully  counted,  until  suckeriiig  begau.  At  liarv’est  eacli  row 
was  weiglied,  the  stalks  counted,  the  juice  separately  expressed 
and  carefully  analj^zed.  Table  Xo.  1 contains  the  number  ot 
stalks  up  at  each  observation,  the  number  harvested  with 
weights,  the  average  weight  of  each  stalk,  the  yield  and  number 
stalks  per  acre.  Table  Xo.  2 gives  the  chemical  analyses  of  the 
juices,  with  coeflicient,”  ‘^glucose  ratios*'  and  availal)le 

sugar  x^er  ton. 


TAllLE  1. 

PLAT  O— GERMINATION  QUESTIONS 
Plniitiii}'’  ] littfieiit  I’arfs  (U*  the  St.ilU.s  of  Cane  Feljruaiy  Otli,  1887 


Nuin1)er  of  stalks  from  150  eyes  planted 
counted. 


Part  of  tl)C  Stalk 
Planted. 

1-  i 

i 

f\ 

01  d-hW 

<2 

?? 

c: 

71 

At 

Harvest 
Nov.  3 

AVeigbtlAverngv 
of  1 V riglit 
Stalks,  of  each 

1 

1 o 

* 

1 l"x)per  white  joints 

“71 

Oi 

24 

24 

24 

20 

34 

97 

247  Ihs. 

2.54  lbs. 

18.14 

14.287 

*2  Next  to  “ 

12’ 39 

41 

41 

45 

45 

140 

407 

2. 91  “ 

32.00 

21.050 

3 “ “ No.  2. 

10145148 

54 

(53 

09 

105 

485 

n 

2.94 

38.1s 

■25.987 

1 “ 3. 

4 

271 

34 

39 

45 

51 

1.52 

428 

u 

2.82 

33.75 

23.940 

5 4. 

1 

27 

30 

15 

51 

53 

154 

442 

u 

2.87  “ 

34.80 

24.255 

0 “ “ 5 

1 

25 

35 

43 

52 

58 

149 

420 

iC 

2.86  “ 

33.50  253.407 

7 “ (). 

0 

19 

20 

125 

33 

10 

i47 

•lOO 

a 

2.72  “ 

31.4^123.152 

8 “ “ 7. 

0 

13 

18 

23 

27 

3,2 

133 

320 

21 1 “ 

25. 24 120. 947 

1'19 

23 

l28 

514 

39 

130 

340 

2.01  “ 

20.82' 

20.552 

lb  “ “ 9. 

0il2 

14 

120 

2(5 

30 

97 

214 

a 

2.21  “ 

10.88  15.270 

11  Butts'^ 

Olll 

15 

120 

4li41 

73 

100 

n 

2!i9  “ 

1 12. 02!  11. 520 

This  row  was  seriously  injured  in  the  suininer  hy  X)roxiniity  to  a Fig  Tree. 


TABLE  2. 


PLAT  O.— FIELD  AND  SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS  NOV.  3. 


Number  aud  kind  of 
Exx)eriments. 

Yield  per 
acre  in  tons. 

ANALYSES. 

-4— 

= sE 
Ph  ® 

6 

j 

Iba.  available  su^ar 
upoQ  '0  1>  c.  extiac. 

P - 

7/d  B 

Total 

Solids. 

c 

Glucose 

o ^ 

Per  ton 

Per  acre 

1 Upper  white  joints 

18.14 

7.4 

13.31 

10.3  1.24 

77.38 

12.04 

118 

2141 

2 Next  “ ' “ 

532.00 

7.8 

14.01 

11  2 

11.35 

79.94 

12.05 

128 

4104 

3 “ to  No.  2 

538.18 

7.0 

13.71  10.3 

11.28 

75.12 

12.42 

117 

4107 

(t  K ‘ < 3 

33.75 

7.3 

153.21 

TO.O 

1.00 

75.70 

10. 

99 

3341 

5 “ “ ‘<4 

514.80 

7.5 

153.01 

ilO.O 

l.OO 

73.47 

10. 

99 

53445 

0 “ “ 5 

33.50 

7.8 

14.01110.9 

1.535 

77.80 

12.38 

124 

4101 

7 “ 0 

31.48 

7.3 

13.11 

110.5 

1.28 

80.09 

12.19 

120 

3777 

8 “ “ “ 7 

25.24 

7.8 

14.01110.0 

1.35 

75.  ()5’, 

12.73 

120 

53029 

q u i<  u 

20.82 

8. 

14.41 

10.5 

1.515 

72.80 

12.85 

119 

3192 

io  “ “ “ 9 

B>.88 

7.9 

14.31111.5 

1.535 

81.530 

11.753 

1,353 

2245 

11  Biitts*^ 

12.02 

8.4 

15.01 

112.0 

1.21 

79.94 

10.08 

1453 

1805 

^Injured  hy  shade. 


[6] 


One  fact  was  apparent  early  in  the  season,  viz,  that  the 
upper  half  of  the  cane  germinates  much  more  quickly  than  the 
lower  half.  The  dry  weather  which  prevailed  during  March  and 
Ai)ril,  also  demonstrated  the  incapacity  of  the  young  sprouts 
from  the  green  immature  part  of  the  caiie,  to  withstand  severe 
drouths  since  many  on  this  row  i^erished  during  these  months, 
while  on  no  other  row  was  there  any  loss.  This  fact  led  us  to 
investigate  the  dead  jdants  seen  occasionally  in  our  fields,  and 
in  nearly  every  instance  they  were  found  to  be  shoots  from  im* 
mature  tops.  These  green  immature  joints  were  the  i^arts  of 
the  cane  usually  thrown  away  in  the  tops,  and  contained  only 
partially  developed  eyes — which  early  sent  forth  shoots— many 
of  which  perished  during  the  drouth  for  want  of  sustenance 
which  the  joints  did  not  contain,  and  which  the  dry  weather 
prevented  the  young  and  very  tender  roots  from  absorbing  from 
the  earth.  Whether  these  sprouts  would  have  lived  had  a fa- 
vorable season  prevailed,  or  had  the  joints  not  been  detached 
from  the  stalk,  are  questions  at  present,  only  of  conjecture. 

Barring  the  upi)er  immature  tops,  our  experiments  clearly 
show  that  the  upper  portion  of  the  stalk  is  the  equal  if  not  the 
superior  of  any  other  portion  for  seed,  so  far  as  germination, 
tonnage  and  available  sugar  are  concerned.  Experiment  No.  3 
— the  first  full  red  joint  gave  the  largest  number  of  sprouts,  ma- 
tured canes,  tonnage,  and  available  sugar  on  the  plat.  The 
butts  in  No.  11  give  by  analyses  the  largest  sugar  content; 
how  far  this  is  due  to  the  butts,  per  sc,  or  to  the  interference  of 
the  tree  is  unknown.  Tho  experiments  to  be  described  further 
on  also  throw  light  on  this  interesting  subject,  and  a recurrence 
to  this  question  will  then  be  made. 

HOW  MANY  STALKS  OF  CANE  TO  PLANT  ? 

Another  question  of  equal  importance  to  the  one  just  dis- 
cussed, was  made  the  basis  of  a serie<s  of  experiments  during  the 
past  year.  What  number  of  stalks  of  cane  shall  we 

plant  to  secure  the  best  results  ? This  question  is  variously  an- 
swered in  practice ; one  to  four  stalks.  If  plant  in  seven 
foot  rows  (the  usual  width)  and  use  canes  five  feet  long,  weigh- 
ing pounds  each,  there  will  be  required  to  plant  an  acre,  one 


[7] 

stalk  and  a ^ood  lap,  about  two  tons  of  cane ; two  and  a lap, 
4 tons ; tliiee  and  a lap,  G tons ; and  four  and  a lap,  8 tons. 
‘Cane  was  worth  in  Louisiana  during  the  past  season,  from  $3' to 
per  ton.  If,  therefore,  it  can  be  shown  that  one  stalk  and  a 
lap  or  even  two  and  a lap,  furnish  an  abundance  of  seed,  it  is 
a serious  loss  of  money  to  plant  three  and  lour. 

WHICH  IS  liEST  FOR  SEED  PLANT  OR  STUBBLE  CANE. 

Whether  it  is  best  to  use  plant  or  stubble  cane  for  seed  was 
^rombined  with  the  above,  so  as  to  make  the  experiments  answer 
5ioth  questions  simultaneously.  Accordingly  a plat  of  ground 
one  acre  deep  was  laid  oif  tor  the  experiments,  and  divided  per- 
pendicular to  its  depths  into  two  equal  parts,  the  front  was 
planted  with,  first  year  stubble,  and  the  rear  with  plant  cane, 
tlnis  duplicating  each  one  of  the  questions  with  both  kinds  of 
seed. 

In  the  same  ifiatt  were  also  tried  a few  experiments  con- 
firmatory of  those  already  described,  ^iz  : What  part  of  the  cane 
Ls  best  for  seed  '?  Good  canes  were  selected  and  cut  first  into  two. 
equal  parts,  the  tops  planted  in  one  experiment  and  the  butts  in 
the  next;  and  second  into  three  equal  i^arts,  the  tops  given  to 
>one  experiment,  tlie  middles  to  another,  and  the  butts  to  a third. 

There  being  ground  enough  left  in  this  plat  for  another  ex- 
periment, the  following  was  tried,  duplicated  alike  with  plant 
and  stubble  seed  : Unslaked  lime  at  the  rate  of  three  tons  per 
acre  was  spread  evenly  over  the  top  of  the  row,  after  the  cane 
was  planted  and  covered,  to  see  if  the  heat  generated  by  the 
natural  slaking  of  the  lime  would  not  induce  early  germination 
and  ultimately  to  test  the  value  of  large  applications  of  lime  to 
our  soils. 

The  following  are  the  experiments  in  full : 

No.  1 — One  cane  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 

2 — Two  canes  with  a lap,  cut  in  tlie  row. 

“ 3 — Three  canes  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 

4 — Four  canes  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 

“ 5 — One  cane,  no  hi]),  uncut. 

“ 6 — Upper  halves  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 

‘‘  7 — Lower  halves  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 

“ 8 — Upper  thirds  of  canes,  two  and  a laj). 

“ 9 — Middle  thirds  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 

10 —  Lower  thirds  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 

11 —  Unslaked  lime,  three  tons  per  acre. 


[8] 


These  experiiueuts  were  planted  Feb.  10th,  and  the 
plants  carefully  counted  twice  before  suckering  began.  At 
liarvest,  each  experiment  was  weighed,  stalks  counted.  Jiaiee 

separately  extracted  and  carefully  analyzed.  Tables  3 and  4 
give  the  results. 


TABLE  3. 


PLAT  O,  GERMINATION  QUESTIONS,  GATHERED  NOVEMBER  4, 


Number  and  kind  of  Ex- 
periments. 

March  13 

Ma^ 

r 25 

Noveui  her 

4 

No.  of 
Sprou  ts. 

•No.  of 
Sprouts. 

Plant 

Stthhle 

No  of 

Stalks 

CO 

Tons  per 

Acre 

No  of 

Stalks 

02 

\ 

o 

t 32 
i ^ 

8-3 

Plant 

o 

3 

m 

1 

1 cane  (cut) 

.35 

.50 

.89 

.77 

371 

1114 

33.42 

420 

1109 

33.27 

2 

2 ‘‘ 

.87 

.83 

1.72 

1.54 

409 

1232 

36.96 

413 

1338 

40.14 

3 “ “ !!!!!!!! 

1.36 

1.44 

2.20 

2.14 

430 

11144 

34.32 

440 

1336 

40.  OB 

4 

4 “ 

1.2U 

1.58 

2.. 50 

*2.79 

409 

129() 

38.88 

479 

14,10 

42.30 

5 

1 “ uncut  

.30 

.48 

.53 

1 .77 

357 

1146 

34.33 

413 

1132 

3;L96 

() 

Upper  halves 

1.08 

1.06 

1.48 

b.54 

421 

1360 

40.80 

436 

1292 

1 38.76 

■ 7 

Lower  halves 

.53 

.57 

1.23 

1.09 

38-i 

1334 

40.02 

402 

980 

29.40* 

8 

Upper  thirds 

1.39 

1.01 

1.68 

1.47 

420 

1278 

38.34 

344 

918 

'27.54^ 

9 

Middle  thirds 

1.00 

1.09 

1.65 

1.80 

385 

1276 

38.28 

310 

860 

,25.80* 

10 

Imwer  thirds 

1.17 

.46 

1.77 

1.04 

407 

1134 

34.02 

296 

740 

i22.20* 

11 

Unslaked  lime. . . . ! , 

1.14 

1.03 

1.65 

1.55 

396 

1184 

35.. 52 

273 

605 

118.15*- 

^Injured  more  or  less  Iby  sliade  of  a live  oak  tree. 


/ 


ro] 

TABLE  4. 


PLAT  O— GERMINATION-QUESTIONS  CONTINUED. 


Number  and  kind  of 
Experimemt. 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

ANALYSES.  - 

Co-efficieut  Purity. 

Gliu'ose  Ratio  | 

lbs.  available  siieai- 
□1)011  70  p.  c.  extrac^ 

be  p 
r-i  ^ 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose.  j 

1 

Per  ton. 

Per  acre. 

1 1 Cane  cut,  ])lant 

33.42 

7.05 

12.71 

9. oil. 77 

77 . 89 

17.87 

101.5 

3392. 

11  “ “ .stubble 

33.27 

7.3 

13.24 

11. 3| 1.57 

85.35 

13>.88 

125.30 

4169. 

2 2 “ “ ])]ant 

36.96 

7.4 

13.39 

10.2 

1.84 

76.17 

18.03 

104.16 

3850. 

2 2 “ “ stubl)le 

40.14 

7.4 

13.49 

10.2 

2.24 

75.61 

U .96 

95.76 

3844. 

a 3 “ “ plant 

34.32 

7.3 

13.19 

10.1 

1.92 

76.57 

19.00 

101.08 

3469. 

3 3 “ “ stubble 

40.08 

7.5 

13.69 

10. 3| 

1.90 

75.23 

18. 4i 

104.30 

4180. 

4 4 “ “ ])]ant 

38. 8S 

7.5 

13.r.9 

9.9! 

2 04 

73.58 

>0.60 

95.76 

3723. 

4 4 “ stultble 

42.30 

7.5 

13.59 

10.9T.90 

80.21 

17.43 

112.70 

4767 . 

5 1 “ uncut  plant 

34.33 

7.3 

13.24 

10.8*1.90 

81.57 

17.59 

111.30 

3821. 

5 1 ‘‘  “ stubble 

33.96 

7.4 

13.49 

10.4 

2.00 

77.83 

19.23 

103.60 

3418. 

()  Up’rbalves  i)lant 

40.80 

7.3 

13.24 

10.8 

1.90 

81.57 

17.59 

111.30 

4541. 

()  “ “ stubble 

38.76 

7.5 

13.69 

10.2!2  00 

74.50 

19.60 

100.80 

.3907. 

7 Lower  “ i)lant 

40.02 

7.3 

13.19  10.8 

2.14 

81.88 

19.51 

106.26 

42.53. 

7 “ “ stubble 

29.40^ 

7.4 

13.49 

10. 3 1 

2.00 

7().  64 

19.41 

102  20 

2004 . 

8 Up’r  Thirds  plant 

38.34 

7.3 

13.14 

10.41 

1.90 

79.90 

18.26 

105.70 

4053- 

H “ “ stubble 

27.54^ 

7.6 

13.89 

10.6 

2.00 

77 . 03 

18.86 

106.40 

2930. 

9 Middle  i)lant 

38.28 

7.4 

13.44 

10.5 

1 90 

78.12 

18.09 

107.10 

4100. 

9 ‘‘  “ stubble 

25.80-^^i 

7.6 

13.89 

10. L 

2.0G 

75.59 

19.04 

105.00 

2709. 

10  Lower  “ idant 

34.02  1 

7.6 

12.74 

10.0 

1 .86 

78.49 

18-60 

101.00 

3436. 

10  ‘‘  ‘‘  stulible 

22.20'^ 

7.9  i 

14.29 

11.2 

1.82 

78.37 

16.25 

118.58 

2521. 

11  un’kd  lime  plant 

35., 52 

8.4  1 

15.24 

12.4 

1.40 

81.36 

11.29 

144.20 

5122. 

11  ‘ “ stubble 

18.15^^ 

8.3  1 

15.09 

12.9 

1.74 

85.42 

13.48 

144.05 

2615. 

*Iiijiirod  by  proximity  of  Live  Oak. 


The  cane  used  in  the  above  experiments  was  excellent,  and 
the  subsequent  seasons  were  all  that  could  be  desired.  The  re- 
sults secured  may  not  be  obtainable  every  season.  However, 
these  experiments  strongly  point  to  the  coi  elusion  that  with 
good  cane  in  well  prepared  soil  and  with  good  seasons,  two 
canes  and  a lap  furnish  an  abundance  of  seed,  and  the  largest 
profits.  This  will  be  more  itlainly  seen  by  deducting  from  the 
tonnage  made,  the  tonnage  required  to  plant  as  follows  : 


Plant. 

Stubble. 

Tonnage  made 
per  Acre. 

5 

tf.  p, 

« 

a 

if. 

c g 

pH 

i) 

V 

? P 
® 8 

P 0 

' 1 

Tonnage  | 

planted,  j 

Net  Tonnage 
per  Acre. 

1 stalk. . . 

33.42 

2.00 

31.42 

33.27 

2.00 

31.27 

2 stalk. . . 

36.96 

4.00 

32.96 

40.14 

4.00 

36.14 

3 stalk. . . 

34.32 

6.00 

28-32 

40.08 

6.00 

34.08 

4 stalk . . . 

.38.8^ 

8.00 

32.88 

42.30 

8.00 

32.. 30 

[10] 


H'ere  two  stalks  and  a lap  give  the  largest  net  yields  both 
with  plant  and  stubble,  omitting  entirely  the  expense  and  labor 
of  handling  the  extra  cane  necessary  in  planting  four  stalks* 
True  economy  would  therefore  x>oint  to  a concentration  ot  en- 
(‘igy  in  a careful  preservation  of  seed,  thorough  preparation  of 
soil,  and  planting  not  over  two  stalks  and  a lap. 

It  was  a source  of  pleasure  'while  growing  to  watch  the  con- 
trast in  the  raiiidity  and  number  of  suckers  between  the  thinly 
and  thickly  planted  exj)eriments.  One  stalk  grew  and  matured 
282  suckers  upon  jilant.  and  343  ux)on  stubble,  against  159  and 
tin  respectively,  with  four  stalks.  The  sugar  content  was 
about  the  same  in  each. 

Another  fact  is  noticeable  in  these  experiments,  viz  : That 
the  “one  stalk  uncut’’  has  in  both  instances  proven  the  equal  of 
“one  stalk  cut.” 

These  exx^eriments  show  little  or  no  difference  in  the  yields 
from  x:)lant  or  stubble  cane.  In  fact,  contrary  to  expectation, 
where  the  experiments  were  not  modified  by  the  x^i’^sence  of 
trees,  the  stubble  seed  shows  a slight  superiority  both  in  ton- 
nage and  sugar  content. 

An  inspection  of  the  tables  will  further  confirm  the  experi- 
uients  described  elsewhere,  that  the  nx^per  x^^^rt  of  the  cane  is  as 
good  if  not  better  than  any  other  portion  for  seed.  Elsewhere 
will  be  found  evidence  of  their  inferiority  in  sugar  to  the  lower 
X)ortion  of  the  cane.  Theory  would  then  suggest  the  utilization 
of  the  ux)X>eT  thirds  ot  all  of  our  cane  as  t.eed,  and  the  lower 
two-thirds  for  the  making  of  sugar.  It  is  well  known  that  at 
least  one-fifth  of  the  entire  cane  croxi  is  now  devoted  to  seed,  an 
immense  loss  to  the  sugar  xfianter.  Cannot  some  feasible 
be  adopted  whereby  the  tox:>s  only  shall  be  xfianted  and  the  re- 
mainder so  much  richer  in  sugar,  be  sent  to  the  mill 

The  lime  in  the  last  exx^eriment  has  given  an  increased 
sugar  content  and  a larger  amount  of  available  sugar,  without 
seriously  effecting  the  tonnage.  This  is  a suggestion  well  Avorth 
further  investigation. 

PHYSIOLOGICAL  Ql^ESTIONS. 

Influence  of  Sucl'ers. — A very  great  diversity  of  opinion  pre- 
vails as  to  influence  of  suckers  “side  shoots,”  which  spring  up 


iiround  the  base  of  the  original  sprout.  This  opinion  has  been 
based  partly  upon  poorly  conducted  experiments^  and  partly 
upon  the  erroneous  impression  which  this  wrongly  used  term 
-•sucker’^  has  produced  upon  the  mind.  Some  think  it  an  ab- 
normal growth,  a live  i)arasite  i)reying  upon  the  nutriment  of 
the  main  stalk  and  thus  depriving  the  latter  temporarily  ot  its 
vigor,  at  a time  when  rapid  growth  is  so  desirable,  and  there- 
fore thej’  should  be  removed.  It  has  been  found  on  the  other 
hand  however,  that  these  suckers,  if  permitted  to  grow,  reach 
maturity  almost  as  soon  as  the  iiarent  stalk,  is  equally  as  large, 
and  quite  as  rich  in  sugar.  They  also  add  largely  to  the  crop, 
and  when  a thin  stand  is  obtained,  the  multiplication  of  suckers 
rapidly  closes  the  gaps  and  gives  in  the  end  fair  yields.  Some 
planters  thus  ascribe  to  suckers  the' greater  part  of  their  crop, 
and  encourage  their  growth  b^^  awaiting  for  their  full  develop- 
ment in  the  spring  before  lu’oceediiig  to  a vigorous  cultivation 
of  their  crop.  They  further  claim  that  the  suckers  give  stubble 
the  next  year,  while  the  original  or  central  stalks  do  not  ratoon 
well,  if  at  all. 

All  these  discrepancies  of  opinion  arise  from  a misunder- 
standing and  misuse  of  tlie  term  ‘^sucker.”  The  habit  usually 
denominated  siickering  in  cane,  is  not  suckering  at  all,  but  a 
process  common  to  all  graminaceous  plants  and  known  usually 
as  ‘^tilleriiig.’^  It  is  a natural  means  of  increase  and  of  pre- 
serving its  own  existence  in  the  battle  of  life.  By  this  means, 
grasses  and  small  grains  are  enabled  to  occupy  the  entire  ground 
to  the  exclusion  ef  other  plants,  and  thus  secure  increased  har- 
vests. This  “tillering^^  is  an  underground  development  charac- 
teristic of  cane  and  wheat,  and  springs  from  underground  buds 
specially  prepared  for  this  process.  Simultaneous  with  the  de- 
velopment of  the  sucker  is  a set  of  roots  of  it  own,  springing 
directly  from  it  and  in  no  way  interfering  with  the  roots  of  the 
•original  plant.  The  extent  of  tillering  or  suckering  depends 
therefore  upon  the  healthy  growth,  the  thickness  of  the  stand, 
and  the  time  it  has  to  sucker  in.  Abundant  tillering  is  an  evi- 
dence of  thriftiness  and  an  index  to  increased  root  develoi)ment 
The  cane  however  truly  “suckers’^  but  fortunately  such  occur- 
rences are  rare.  By  true  suckers,  is  meant,  the  development  of 


[12] 


(jyes  above  ground,  Avhicli  produce  stalks  liviug  at  the  expense 
of  the  parent  stalk.  This  occurs  whenever  the  upward  growth 
of  the  plant  is  checked,  or  the  stalk  is  bent  down  from  any 
cause,  followed  by  very  damp  weather  etc.  This  process  is  very 
common  to  some  varieties  of  sorghum  after  its  main  stalk  has- 
reached  maturity.  It  is  also  found  in  oats,  which  frequently 
send  forth  branches  from  the  axils  of  leaves  Avhich  bear  grain. 
In  both  instances  the  seed  unequally  ripens.  True  suckers  in 
cane  are  therefore  very  objectionable  and  should  be  prevented 
if  possible. 

The  above  from  Bulletin  Xo.  7,  prefaces  the  results  of  at- 
tempting to  ‘^desucker”  cane.  The  experiments  therein  given 
were  so  conclusiA^e  against  any  attempt  to  prevent  cane  from 
suckering  that  the  following  suggestions  were  offered  which 
are  here  repeated. 

From  the  aboA^e  it  is  perfectly  plain  that  the  “tillering’’ 
[suckering]  of  cane  is  a natural  process  of  great  benefit,  and 
should  be  restricted  Avith  great  care.  To  Avhat  extent  and  when 
a too  great  a tendency  to  this  process  sliould  be  corrected  is  a 
question  for  the  individual  planter  to  decide.  Cane  planted  too 
thick,  in  thin  soils,  iu  badly  broken,  or  poorly  tilled  land,  and 
very  late  in  season,  tiller  but  little.  The  tendency  iieAxrtheless 
exists,  but  root  groAvth  is  checked  and  AAfitli  it  the  prosi)ects  of  a 
crop.  Hence  the  aim  should  be  to  attain  the  healthiest  and 
richest  type  of  the  plant,  and  such  is  to  be  found  only  when  the 
conditions  exist  for  its  freest  and  fullest  deA^elopmeut  of  all  it? 
parts  in  a manner  devised  by  nature.  This  suggests  then,  care 
in  ifiantiug,  not  to  secure  too  lieaA^y  a stand  in  the  beginning 
for  the  fertility  of  the  soil ; i)roper  manuring,  iji  quantity,  qual- 
ity, and  mode  of  application  ; deep  plowing  in  the  preparation  of 
land,  and  early  culti\^ation  of  crop,  and  shalloAv  culture  there- 
after to  1) revent  disturbance  of  increased  root  groAvth,  early 
planting  Avith  Avell  selected  seed,  and  iq)on  inelloAV  well  drained 
soil.  A close  attention  to  the  above  and  the  process  of  sucker- 
ing can  be  encouraged  Avith  hope  of  highest  results. 

Whether  the  stubble  comes  only  from  the  suckers,  can  be 
positively  determined  next  year,  since  these  plats  Avill  be  re- 
served for  that  purpose. 


[13] 


These  plats  were  preserved  aiul  watched  through  the  sea 
sou  with  considerable  interest.  Tlie  plat  upon  which  no  suckers 
were  permitted  to  grow,  presented  a few  stripped,  straggling, 
scattered,  sugarless  stalks,  long  after  the  regular  crop  Avas  har- 
vested. These  were  cut  down  and  throAvn  on  the  bagasse  pile- 
late  in  January.  Early  in  February  suckering  began,  and  in  a 
few  weeks  the  best  stand  of  cane  on  the  Station  was  to  be  seen 
upon  this  plat.  It  seemed  as  if  all  the  energies  of  the  plant,;  re- 
strained for  an  entire  year  by  artificial  iirocesses,  Avere  suddenly 
let  loose  and  concentrated  upoi\  suckering.  So  successfully  did 
it  accomplish  its  purpose,  that  a yield  of  over  30  tons  per  acre 
AA'as  obtained,  yielding  a juice  containing  12.4  per  cent  of  sugar. 

It  is  therefore  conclusiA^ely  ])roven  that  stubble  comes  from 
the  original  stalks  as  aa^cII  as  from  the  suckers. 

VARIETIES  OF  CANE. 

In  1880  the  Station  received  and  planted  Avhat  Avas  thought 
to  be  17  A^arieties  of  cane.  Upon  gathering  and  carefully  com- 
paring, these  AA’cre  reduced  to  five  distinct  a arieties,  which  aa  cic 
again  planted.  ^Mention  AAvas  iuade  in  our  last  report  of  the 
courteous  request  of  Commissioner  Coleman,  at  'Washington, 
upon  the  IT.  S.  Consuls  in  the  various  sugar  groAving  countries, 
to  send  to  this  Station,  samples  of  all  obtainable  A^arieties  of 
sugar  cane.  This  request  has  been  liberally  complied  AA'ith  and 
since  last  April  this  Station  has  receiA’ed  dd  samples  of  sugar 
cane  from  10  difierent  countries.  The  folloAAing  is  a complete 
list  of  the  cane  receiA^ed. 


FOREIGN  VARIETIES  RECEIVED. 


Name  of  Cant 

. by  Whom  Sent 

J.  Where  Froii 

D Receivec 

1 Color. 

Oonditioi*. 

1 Not  given. 

. R 0 Williams 

Havana 

Apiili 

Green 

Good 

2 Not  given. 

u 

n 

YelloAv 

46 

3 Not  given. 

66 

it 

•Red 

66 

1 Cristalliua 

stubble .... 

. Dr  Alvaro  Rey 

noso 

11 

ii  22 

White 

Excellent. 

2 Cristalliua 

plant 

it 

66  1 

a 

li 

a 

3 Blanca 

D’Otaite  . . 

46 

it 

it 

66 

■ it 

^ PoTtie 

H 

i 6 

it 

66 

il- 

5 Louc’  r . . . 

<< 

66 

a 

66 

i (. 

6 Bambu 

n 

t( 

it 

7 Caven  ciiie 

it 

66 

a 

Red 

1 Plant  cane 

W F Fuqua 

Lhnngston 

Guataniala 

May  23 

Green 

Dea^di 

2^  Stubb  e . . . 

ii 

<< 

ii 

6^ 

6f 

1 Batavian . . . 

U S Consul 

Antigua 

June  18 

Striped 

6 6- 

2 Bourb  n . . . 

66 

it 

White 

6 6. 

3 Caledonian 

it 

Queen 

it 

66 

Green 

66‘ 

4 Batavian 

i' 

purple  violet 

66 

K 

ii 

Purple 

6 6- 

1 Violet 

Jamaica 

July  2 

66 

*2  Mont  Blanc 

i 6 

a 

White 

66 

3 Ribbon  

66 

66 

1 Not  given  . . 

66 

St.  Domingo 

“ 6 

Green 

6 6 

1 Native  Cre- 

ole 

a 

Gnadaloni)e 

July  13 

Green 

Fail- 

2 Batavian 

cane 

66 

it 

Striped 

66 

3 Salanger  . . . 

66 

6 4 

1 White 

transparent 

Moses  11  SaAvyer 

Trinidad 

White 

66 

2 Green  Rose 

Ribbon 

Green 

Poor 

3 Otiiheite 

(plants) 

66  ) 

( { 

Striped 

66 

4 Bourbon  . . . 

" 1 

“ 

White 

66 

5 Otaheite  ra- 

toons   

‘‘  i 

( f 

Striped 

Good; 

6 Congo  

6 6 

66 

7 Giant  scar- 

let   

66 

it 

8 Not  named. 

O < i i 4 

66 

6 6 

‘‘ 

Red 

If 

1 “ 

UnknoAvu  j 

2 “ “ , 

Steamship  Bar- 

ITukiioAvn 

July  13 

Dead 

3 “ “ J 

aconta  to  N Y & 

^ < ( 

foi-Avarded  by 

1 “ “ ' 

rice  &.  Lynch  J 

Port  an 

2 “ “ 1 

K W Thompson 

Prince  1 

i)ec.  1887 

66 

3 “ “ |1 

[J  S Consul  :i 

FTayti 

1 Kanio t 

1 H Putnam  ;] 

ilouolnlu  t 

lug.  25  1 

Light 

Excellent 

2 Amakea  .... 

< < 1 

“ J 

Hark 

3 Caledonia  . . 

a 

6 6 

1 

^alc  Yel. 

u 

4 Ottamatre.. 

66 

“ ] 

^ed 

il 

5 Rose  bam- 

boo   

1 

66 

I 

h’ukish 

li 

6 Elephant. . . 

(< 

6 6 

“ 1 

!*iir.  str’p 

1 i 

7 Uwala 

u 

66 

“ 1 

iose 

li 

S Ohia 

ft 

i 6 

“ I 

led 

li 

9 Pupnba 

f( 

6 6 

“ E 

Tukish 

il 

10  Akilolo  .... 

n 

66 

“ . G 

r’n  & pur 

il 

It  Mannlete. . 

il 

66 

1 

’urple 

il 

12  Honuaula  . 

u 

66 

“ I 

)ark  red 

il 

13  Papaa ..... 

i( 

66 

il 

ii 

14  Eabaina. . . 

(( 

66 

li  Y 

'elloAV 

il 

15  Not  named. 

it 

66 

II 

il 

19  Kok»*a ' 

t( 

il 

li 

[15] 

Some  of  these  reached  the  Station  in  excellent  order', 
Others  in  execrable  condition,  in  fact  every  eye  perfectly  dead. 
However,  of  the  55  varieties  shipped,  29  are  living  and  ten  have 
furnished  seed  for  another  year.  The  Station  is  under  grateful 
obligations  to  Hon.  T.  F.  Bayard,  Secretary  of  State.  Hon.  N. 
J.  Colman,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Dr.  Alvarez  Keynoso 
of  Cuba,  the  U.  S.  Consuls  who  have  forwarded  the  cane,  and 
the  generous  planters  in  the  various  countries  who  have  furnish- 
ed it.  Out  of  this  large  number  of  varieties  received,  it  is  hoped 
that  some  may  prove  beneficial  to  the  sugar  industry  of  the 
State. 

The  following  letters  and  extracts  may  be  interesting  to  our 
readers : i 


COPY— TRANSLATION. 

Experimental  Field  of  Dr.  Alvaro  Keynoso. 

Ramon  O.  Williams,  Lsq^.,  Havana  : 

My  Dear  Sir — In  the  desire  to  please  you,  I beg  these  re- 
marks, informing  you  that  I have  complied  with  your  request 
for  the  furnishing  of  the  sugar  canes,  and  then  amplify  them 
under  the  belief  that  you  are  desirous  of  the  increase  of  the  cul- 
tivation of  that  plant  in  Louisiana. 

1st.  A^ariety  of  canes  cultivated  in  the  Island  of  Cuba. 

The  only  canes  cultivated  on  a large  scale  are  those  of  Ota- 
haiti,  known  as  the  white  and  crystalline  [blancay  cristalina.] 

The  white  cane  is  planted  in  virgin  soil,  and  the  crystalline 
in  all  other  lands. 

At  first  Creole  cane,  [cana  criolla]  was  cultivated  in  Cuba 
to  make  sugar,  and  its  planting  was  continued  afterwards  for 
eating.  But  for  severul  years  past  it  has  not  even  been  pre- 
served for  this  purpose,  and  that  now  sold  in  the  market  for  eat- 
ing is  the  white  cane  of  Otahaiti. 

The  purple  and  yello’w  ribbon  canes  [cana  de  ciiitas  morada 
y amarilla]  were  formerl}^  much  cultivated  here,  but  were  after- 
wards abandoned  because  it  was  discovered  that  in  dry  and 
not  very  fertile  lands  they  yielded  little  juice  and  were  ver}^ 
woody.  Xevertheless,  these  canes  when  well  cultivated  are  of 
excellent  (jualities.  Green  ribbon  cane  of  the  same  variety  was 
also  cultivated  but  it  was  abandoned  on  account  of  being  too 
delicate. 

Alany  varieties  of  cane  have  been  introduced  in  Cuba  from 
Porto  Kico,  Jamaica,  Trinidad  and  Mauritius,  but  of  these  little 
remain,  none  of  them  having  been  cultivated  on  a large  scale. 
The  elephant  cane  [cana  elefante]  was  somewhat  cultivated  but 
afterwards  abandoned  because  of  its  brittleness,  and  not  ripen- 


[16] 


iiig:  well,  being  besides  too  tbiek  to  grind  it  with  regularity  in 
the  sugar  mill.  • IMany  persons  have  uprooted  it. 

The  crystalline  cane  in  its  normal  state  is  of  a green  apple* 
color.,  but  gives  many  varieties  according  to  soil,  exposure, 
methods  of  cultivation  or  atmospheric  influences.  The  most  no- 
table variations  in  this  cane  are  that  of  acquiring  a peculiar  yel- 
low'Colordn  certain  soils  which  makes  it.  resemble  the  white- 
cane  of  Otahaiti ; and  another  variation  is  that  taking  a more, 
or  less  purple  color  which  makes  it  resemble  other  canes  of  dif- 
ferent colors  or  shades,  above  all  that  of  the  purple  ribbon  cane' 
[cana  de  cinta  morada].  IS'evertheless  those  canes,  notwith- 
standing their  variations  recover  their  genuine  original  charac- 
ter if  planted  in  pro])er  lands.  The  number  of  different  varieties 
of  cane  supposed  to,  do  not  exist  5 but  their  variations  are  nu- 
merous. 

I send  you,  marked  A three  crystalline  canes  the  ends  of 
which  have  been  dipped  in  heated  wax.  This  cane  is  the  result 
of  an  experiment  which  I will  further  describe  in  treating  of  the 
multiplication  of  canes  through  their  subterranean  shoots,  [rat- 
toons]. 

B Are  three  wliite  canes  of  Otahaiti  whose  ends  are  also 
covered  with  melted  wax. 

I would  have  desired  to  have  been  able  to  send  you  better 
samples;  but  the  canes  I have,  are  not  yet  well  matured.  It  will 
be  easy  for  me  further  on  to  furnish  you  beautiful  samples  of 
cane  cultivated  in  cleared  forest  soil: 

So  far  your  recpiest  has  been  complied  with,  and  I will  now 
make  a few  remarks  : 

2nd.  Cane  tho  most  fitter  for  cultivation  in  Louisiana. 

The  canes  that  I consider  best  for  this  purpose,  owing  to 
their  great  precocity  for  rattooning,  are  those  called  ^‘Cavenge- 
rie-’,  Portii,  ‘^Loncier”,  ‘‘Bambu  ’’’’  and  ^^Black  cane  from  Java’’ 
[Xegra  de  Java].  1 do  not  send  the  latter  because  I know  it 
exists  in  great  quantity  in  Louisiana  and  that  it  is  being  expe- 
rimented upon. 

A.  The  ^^Oavengerie’’  comes  from  Mauritius;  it  grows  rap- 
idly, rattoons,  and  matures  extremel.y  well.  In  order  that  this 
cane  may  be  fully  oppreciated,  I will  say  that  I cut  thirty  canes, 
leaving  numerous  rattoons.  From  these  thirty  canes  I sepa- 
rated three  useless  ones,  and  the  other  27  are  put  up  in  a pack- 
age well  prepared.  It  will  be  noticed  that  these  canes  have 
grown  from  one  only  eye  [una  sola  yema]  which  was  put  in  the 
ground  on  the  1st  of  October,  188.7.  I ought  to  have  cut  these 
canes  in  the  month  of  November  or  December,  of  the  year  188(1, 
because  they  were  already  comjiletely  mature,  and  they  have 
lost  in  quality  and  growth  by  leaving  them  standing  too  long. 
The  27  canes  mentioned  weigh  186  pounds. 

B.  Is  ‘^Portii”  cane  from  the  Mauritius  Island;  it  was 
highly  praised  b}’  the  manager  of  the  botanical  garden  when  he 
sent  it  here.  In  effect  it  is  an  admirable  cane.  It  grows  rap- 


[17] 

idly,  rattoous  well  and  its  juice  Aveiglis  more  than  12^  Baiime. 
■One  bunch  grown  from  a single  root  gave  me  28  beautiful  canes, 
weighing  238  pounds.  I have  here  to  state,  as  before,  that  I 
should  have  have  cut  these  canes  in  December  of  last  year  but 
having  left  them  standing  they  have  lost  much  of  their  merit  on 
account  of  having  shed  their  upper  sprouts.  This  bunch  of 
■canes  was  also  iiroduced  from  one  single  root.  Of  these  I send 
yon  5 canes  weighing  59  pounds. 

€.  Is  the  ‘‘Loucier”  cane  from  Mauritius,  and  possesses  the 
same  excellent  qualities. 

This  bunch  gave  me  34  canes,  weighing  188  pounds.  I 
.should  have  cut  it  last  year.  Of  these  I send  5 canes  weighing 
41  pounds. 

D.  Is  the  ^‘Bambu’’  cane.  It  came  from  Mauritius.  In  my 
•opinion  this  cane  grows  and  rattoous  faster  than  any  other. 
1^^'eyertheless,  I do  not  dare  to  give  it  preference  over  the  others 
above  mentioned,  until  after  it  shall  have  been  experimented 
upon  for  the  reason  that  its  shoots  are  much  developed  forming 
many  upper  sprouts  which  tend  to  diminish  the  yield  of  sugar, 
at  least  for  some  time 

You  have  observed  the  difficult  conditions  under  which  I 
'experiment,  and  you  will  readily  understand  that  under  better 
circumstances  the  results  would  have  been  extremely  more  fa- 
vorable. 

Should  it  be  determined  to  experiment  upon  these  varieties 
in  Louisiana,  I can  send  you  a quantity  of  them,  particularly  in 
.January  of  next  year,  to  plant  there. 


3d.  multiplication  or  canes  through  their  subterran- 
ean ROOTS. 

This  matter  is  treated  of  in  a general  manner  in  the 
three  numbers  of  the  “Journal  des  Fabricants  de  Sucre’’  which 
aeeompany  herewith.  The  French  translation  is  not  altogether 
correct,  but  is  sufficiently  so  to  give  a fair  understanding  of  the 
-iniportauce  of  this  subject. 

All  the  experiments  which  I have  made  confirm,  in  the  most 
positive  manner,  the  merit  of  subterranean  roots  over  the  eyes 
of  the  cuttings  taken  from  the  upper  part  of  the  cane.  In  other 
words  the  subterranean  stalk  as  a multiplier  is  as  good  as  the 
%'eiy  best  eyes  that  can  be  obtained.  One  single  experiment 
will  suffice  to  prove  this.  On  Thursday,  the  25th  of  February, 
1880,  I washed  a crystalline  cane  well  in  water  to  clean  oft  the 
earth  and  then  cut  the  small  roots  with  a pair  of  scissors.  I 
then  separated  the  roots  dividing  them  into  small  pieces  having- 
only  one  root,  and  planted  them. 


[18] 


On  Monday,  the  22d  of  March,  of  the  same  yenr,  I took  up 
one  shoot  from  the  plantings  and  put  it  into  the  best  place  I 
could  find. 

I  did  not  expect  to  obtain  a very  favorable  result,  because 
the  conditions  under  which  I operate  are  by  no  means  favorable^ 
having  been  obliged  to  proceed  in  an  incorrect  manner.  I was 
pleased,  however,  to  a certain  extent,  because  its  results  were 
better  than  could  have  been  expected,  under  such  unfavorable 
conditions. 

On  Tuesday,  the  12th  of  April,  1887,  1 cut  all  the  shoots  on 
a level  with  the  ground  and  obtained : 

1 More  or  less  developed  canes 22 

2 Sprouts  of  different  sizes 21 

3 Small  sprouts 6 

4 Canes  damaged  by  accident 5 


Total 


54 


The  above  mentioned  22  canes  weighed  112  pounds. 

After  cutting  off*  the  bunch  of  canes  I pulled  up  the  stock  of 
roots,  leaving  the  earth  around  them,  and  placed  into  the  box  in 
which  I send  it  to  you  for  forwarding  it  to  Louisiana. 

As  soon  as  this  box  arrives  at  Xew  Orleans,  and  in  order  to 
study  and  appreciate  tlia  foregoing  statements  it  will  be  neces- 
sary to  take  this  stock  of  roots  out  of  the  box  and  remove  all  the 
earth  from  it  with  any  sharp  instrument  and  put  it  into  water. 
The  roots  should  be  cut  off  so  as  to  permit  of  an  examination  of 
each  of  the  subterranean  stalks  and  the  condition  of  the  roots. 

This  examination  will  completely  prove  that  it  suffices  to 
plant  one  subterranean  stalk  to  obtain  an  excellent  bunch  of 
canes  equal  to  the  best  to  be  obtained  by  planting  the  most  se- 
lect upper  eyes. 

After  experiments  shall  have  been  made  of  the  foregoing 
method  I would  desire  that  a complete  statement  of  the  same  be 
sent  me  and,  if  possible,  also  photographs  to  add  to  my  collec- 
tion of  observations,  in  order,  thus  to  complete  the  history  of 
this  trial,  which  I consider  very  important,  in  every  respect,  and 
Avhich  has  only  now  been  made  for  the  first  time. 

After  all  this  has  been  done  the  subterranean  roots  may  be 
separated  the  one  from  the  other,  and  planted. 

I will  finish,  by  saying  that  this  experiment  has  been  made 
under  unfavorable  auspices  for  the  development  of  the  stalks,, 
and  if  I had  had  a better  opportunity  for  operation  the  result 
would  have  been  far  superior  respecting  the  growth  and  weight 
of  the  cane.  However,  the  fact  of  having  obtained  112  pounds^ 


[19] 

of  cane  from  one  root  alone,  at  this  season  of  vegetation,  is  sat- 
isfactory enough. 

I would  have  desired,  Mr.  Williams,  to  have  been  able  to 
serve  you  better  in  this  matter,  but  trust,  however,  that  I have 
manifested  my  good  will  to  attend  to  it.  Should  you  desire 
further  details  respecting  the  cultivation  of  cane  and  the  manu- 
facture of  sugar  I shall  take  great  pleasure  in  furnishing  them. 

I have  the  honor  to  be. 

Your  obedient  servant. 

Dr.  Alvaro  Reynoso. 

Havana,  April  14,  1837,  Cabzada  de  Buenos  Ayres  No.  11. 

The  above  letter  was  not  received  until  after  the  stubble 
mentioned  above  had  been  planted  in  the  usual  way  j too  late  to 
be  disturbed. 

Extract  from  a letter  from  U.  S.  Counsel  Moses  H.  Sawyer, 
Trinidad  B.  W.  Indies  : 

“They  are  numbered  and  named  as  follows  : 

No.  1 — 3 canes,  Otaheite,  plant. 

“ 2 — 3 canes,  Otaheite,  ratoon. 

“ 3 — 3 canes.  White  Transparent,  ratoon. 

“ 4 — 3 canes,  (xieen  Rose  Ribbon,  i^laut. 

“ 5 — 3 canes.  Red  Giant  Scarlet,  plant. 

“ G — 3*  canes,  Congo,  plant. 

“ 7 — 2 canes.  Bourbon,  plant. 

“There  are  six  varieties,  and  none  others  are  generally 
planted  on  this  Island.  Of  all  the  many  kinds  that  have  been 
tried  none  others  have  done  well  and  only  two  of  these  are  gen- 
erally planted.  Otaheite  is  the  king  cane  of  this  Island  and 
Bourbon  comes  next.  Indeed  tliej'  are  much  alike. 

“Planters  generally  idough  up  for  Otaheite  once  in  10  or  12 
years,  but  in  good  soil  this  extraordinary  cane  has  rattooued 
here  successfully  for  23  years.  The  Transparent,  Giant  Scarlet 
and  Congo,  are  hardy,  and  the  Rose  Ribbon  grows  straight  up 
which  entice  the  planter  to  plant  them  in  some  quarters  ; but 
the  great  cane  fields  of  Trinidad  are  mostly  covered  with  Ota- 
heite and  Bourbon.  It  should  be  remembered  that  Trinidad  is 
drenched  in  profuse  rains  for  two-thirds  of  the  year,  making  the 
soil  very  wet,  which  is  not  the  case  in  Louisiana  j so  that  the 
canes  that  dp  so  well  in  Trinidad  might  not  do  well  in  Louisi- 
ana, or  vice  versa.” 


[20] 


The  following  letter  to  Consul  J.  H.  Putnam,  from  Mr.  W. 
(Jr.  Irwin,  of  Spreckles  Co.,  who  undertook  the  task  of  collection 
describes  the  varieties  sent : 


Honolulu,  H.  I.,  Aug.  I,  1887. 

Sir — In  accordance  with  your  request  we  have  obtained 
from  one  of  our  plantations,  thirteen  varieties  of  sugar  cane. 
The  canes  are  carefully  packed  and  will  go  forward  per  steam- 
ship Australia,  to  morrow. 

The  iLackage  labelled  Xo.  12  contains  four  varieties  of  cane 
imported  by  us,  from  Queensland,  Australia,  viz  : 

Ottamatie,  red  with  faint  dark  stripes. 

Rose  Bamboo,  pinkish  yellow. 

Yellow  Caledonia,  pale  yellow. 

Elephant,  purple  with  pale  green  stripes. 

These  four  canes  do  very  well  with  us,  more  especially  the 
first  mentioned.  The  canes  labelled  Pupuha,  Manulele,  Uwala, 
Ohia,  Akilolo,  Ilonuaula  and  Papaa  are  indigenous  to  these 
Islands.  These  canes,  on  lands  situated  at  any  altitude  between 
1,500  and  2,000  feet,  are,  trom  the  fact  of  their  being  exceeding- 
ly hardy,  the  hxvorite  varieties  of  our  planters  for  such  lauds. 
The  twm  packages  labelled  respectively,  Kanio  and  Ainakea, 
came  originally  from  IMauritius,  where  they  are  as  the  light  and 
dark  Bourbon  canes.  These  two  canes  yield  well  on  our  high 
lands.  Lahaina  cane,  Yo.  II,  Avas  brought  here  by  Capt.  Par- 
don Edwards,  from  the  Marquesas  Islands;  and  was  iirst  plant- 
ed at  Lahaina,  whence  its  name.  This  cane  is  preferable 
to  all  others  on  lauds  near  the  sea  level  to  an  altitude  of  1,500 
feet.  Its  introduction  into  this  Kingdom  has  increased  the 
yield  of  sugar,  at  least  50  per  cent.  Inconsequence  of  its  heavy 
stooling,  this  cane  should  be  planted  not  less  than  six  feet  be- 
tw^een  the  hills.  Kokea,  Ko.  13,  does  fairly  Avell  on  side  hills 
and  dry  lands,  but  is  not  a fa^mrite. 

AVe  are  sir, 

, Yours  truly, 

AAAi.  G.  Iraa^in  a Co. 

To  J.  IT.  Putnam,  II.  S.  Consul  Gen’l.,  Honolulu,  H.  I. 

Besides  the  above  foreign  Avarieties,  the  Station  also  re- 
ceived the  folloAA  ing : 

One  hogshead  of  cane  from  Air.  Raphael  Beltran,  Kew  Or- 
leans. 

One  bundle  of  cane  from  Air.  H.  Le  Sassier,  Kew  Orleans. 

One  bundle  of  cane  from  lion.  L.  B.  Claiborne,  Poiute 
Coupee,  La. 


[21] 

One  bundle  of  Creole  caue  from  3Ir.  E.  L.  Perkins,  Jef- 
ferson, La. 

The  following  analyses  were  made  of  such  sanii)les  as  at- 
tained before  frost  a size  large  enough  to  justify  planting.  The 
samples  from  Cuba  were  planted  in  Ai^ril  and  attained  a very 
hue  size  by  Xov,  14,  at  which  time  they  were  cut.  The  Caven- 
gerie  i^articularly,  gives  luoinise  of  a line  yield,  and  special 
adaptation  to  our  soil  and  climate,  so  far  as  growth  is  concerned, 
but  is  rather  low  in  sugar.  The  Crystallina  and  Louder  which 
are  the  highest  in  sugar,  did  not  reach  a large  tonnage. 


I 


TABLE  5. 

PLAT  I— VARIETIES— HARVESTED  NOVEMBER  14. 


•uora 

!^a80  J9(I 

0^  nodn  uo;  jad  jtjS 
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0 50coiOLOt>.r^coi-it^05!X'3'  oc  -^Looioieo 

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•oryna;  asoonyj^ 

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coiHcococoaococooco-^oox)  oo  loot^co^rr 

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J?; 

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rHi— It— (i— It-Ht— (i-Hi— (i-Hr-l  t— 1 r-ii— 1 

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OOGOl^  05  05  00QOOOOOJ^t'-O^CO  CO  COl>icOCOJ> 

ANALYSIS  OCT.  27. 

’9SOIOllg 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 

O O CO  CO  oo  00  00  CO  CO  uo  05  rH  O CO  O -T  »0  05  05 

•spiyog  iKcyoj, 

05  05  05  05  05  05  cr.  c:5  05  05  05  05  05  05  Hf  t-  o 05 

C000C000OOJC0C0  01OvJ0OlC0OCC00'^rH05  01 

iOlCuO-rHlOCO-hOJCOCOoioOrH,—  .-iCOC^rHCOrH 
tH  rH  rH  tH  rH  rH  rH  rH  tH  rH  tH  rH  rH  rH  tH  rH  rH  rH  rH 

•aranng  saaiSaQ 

lO  00  05  o 05  HTi  ..V  OC'  CO  OI  CO  J>  05  0>  00  CO 

OOOOOOt^XOOOCOr>-CO>tHCO’cOCOCOi>COCOt^CC 

noqA 

i 

CC  rH  rH 

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> ^ ^ ^ ^ - fH- 

Q V.  s.  Ci  OIh'T  V.  V.  V.  » >.  ^ S.  C3 

^ ^S<t3  Hjj  § 

1 

i 

•pnix 

Purple 

u 

striped 

White 

n 

Yellowish 

White. 

n 

u 

(1 

u 

tl 

Red 

Green 

Grn’sh  red 

White 

Yellow 

White 

Green 

White 

Striped 

[23] 

MANURIAL  REQUIREMENTS. 

It  is  desired  to  find  a fertilizer  that  will  give  a maximum 
tonnage  with  a maximum  sugar  content  with  cane  upon  the 
soils  of  Louisiana.  The  Station  continued  last  summer  its  work 
iii)on  the  soils  of  lower  Louisiana.  It  has  already  made  analy- 
ses of  sixty-six  samples  from  18  i)arishes.  In  a few  years,  after 
a full  investigation,  it  is  designed  to  classify  the  soils  of  the 
sugar  belt,  and  to  designate  the  fertilizers  adapted  to  each  class. 

Unfortunately  there  is  no  sandy  soil  on  this  Station.  Be- 
ginning at  the  levee,  the  soil  is  a mixture  of  sandy  and  black, 
the  latter  largely  predominating.  It  shades  gradually  into  stitf 
black  lands  as  you  recede  from  the  river.  These  analyses  of 
of  the  soil  of  this  Station,  taken  at  ditferent  distances  from  the 
river,  are  here  appended : 


ANALYSES  OF  SOILS  OF  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION. 


1 

4-> 

s-  = rz 

^ % 

Si 

a 

c .C 

o ^ 

^50 

c 2 

'5  7 

^ c o 

0 CO 

? 

1 .r  C2, 
^ o.  1 

it- 

|J.S 

Insoluble  Matter. 

79.87 

77.52 

74.21 

Soluble  Silica 

.(»! 

.01 

.01 

potasli  

.31 

.20 

.13 

.23 

Soda 

.48 

.19 

Liiiio 

.46 

. 57 

.52 

.03 

Magnesia 

.04 

.03 

V i rl  p,  of  T roii  — A 1 n m i n n 

6.37 

6.74 

6.63 

Phosphoric  Acid 

.12 

.11 

.10 

.03 

Sulphuric  Acid 

.04 

.04 

Organic  Matter 

10.50 

14.50 

16.24 

Carbonic  Acid — Chlorine  and  Loss 

2.30 

.09 

1.87 

100.00 

100.00 

100.00 

An  examination  of  above  shows  that  so  far  as  the  mineral 
ingredients  are  concerned,  that  these  soils  are  almost  identical. 
The  organic  matter  increases  as  we  go  from  the  river.  These 
soils  are  deficient  in  physical  qualities  rather  than  chemical  in- 
gredients. The  former  limiting  the  available  supply  of  the  lat- 
ter, and  requiring  the  application  of  manures  for  large  crops. 
To  test  the  kinds  and  quantities  required,  has  been  the  object  of 


[24] 


tlie  series  of  experiments  which  follow.  It  should  be  remem- 
bered  that  any  physical  amendment  to  a soil,  such  as  imder^ 
draining,  deep  plowing,  subsoiling,  etc.,  is  in  itself  a manure, 
since  it  enables  the  roots  of  a plant  to  forage  over^an  increased 
area  and  thus  obtain  larger  supplies  of  available  food. 

The  Station  had  7 plats  devoted  to  manurial  requirements, 
three  of  Avhich  may  be  designated  as  strictly  scientilic,  and  the 
rest  as  popular.  The  three  scientific  plats  were  devoted,  1st,  tO' 
Nitrogenous;  2d,  to  Phosphoric  Acid;  3d,  to  Potassic  manures^ 

The  objects  of  these  plats  are  : 

1.  To  tell  the  requirements  of  these  soils  for  each  ingre- 
dient. 

2.  To  tell  the  form  best  adapted  to  cane. 

3.  To  tell  the  quantity  most  profitable  for  cane. 

Accordingly  all  the  available  forms  of  these  ingredients 

have  been  used  in  varying  quantities.  To  test  the  requirements 
of  a soil  for  any  particular  ingredient,  every  other  ingredient 
must  be  T)resent  in  excess.  Hence  each  particular  ingredient 
tested  has  been  combined  with  an  excess  of  other  ingredients. 
The  first  ground  Avas — 

PLAT  VI — Nitrogen  Manures 

first  year  stubble;  oft-barred  March  5th,  with  4-horse  plowi. 
hoed  April  1st ; manures  applied  and  middles  broken  out ; sub- 
sequent cultivation  with  disk  cultivator ; laid  by  with  4-h  orse 
plow. 

The  ^‘nothing’’  experiments  AA’ere  given  the  centre  of  the 
idat,  an  advantageous  position  in  every  instance,  especially  m 
black  lands,  but  no  better  arrangements  could  be  made,  and  it 
Avas  preferable  to  err  in  favor  of  no  manure,  rather  than  in  the 
fertilizer  used. 

The  object  of  this  plot  AAms : 1st,  to  test  the  requirements  of 
this  soil  for  nitrogen ; 2d,  the  form  of  nitrogen  best  adapted 
for  cane;  3d,  the  quantity  of  nitrogen  most  desirable. 

Accordingly  all  the  available  forms  of  nitrogen  haA^e  beeist 
used,  both  alone  and  in  combination  with  phosphoric  acid  and 
potash.  A full  ration  of  nitrogen  has  been  taken  at  72  lbs.  t© 
the  acre,  and  it  has  been  furnished  under  each  form  in  siidh 


[251 


quantities  as  to  give  24,  48  and  72  lbs.  to  the  acre,  or  one- third, 
two-thirds  and  three-thirds  rations.  The  plat  was  four  acres 
deei>,  the  soil  increasing  in  tenacity  and  stiffness  from  the  front. 
All  of  it  was  black  land.  It  was  divided  into  eight  groups  of 
five  experiments  each,  the  former  running  across  and  the  latter 
with  the  plat.  Each  groui^  consisted  of:  First,  an  experiment 
with  the  normal  amounts  of  phosphoric  acid  and  potash  (mixed 
minerals)  without  nitrogen;  second,  of  an  exjieriment  with  no 
manure;  third,  fourth  and  fifth,  of  mixed  minerals,  with  one- 
third,  two-thirds  and  three-thirds  rations  respectively  of  nitrogen. 

In  the  above  ‘buixed  minerals”  means  always  450  lbs.  acid 
phosphate  and  120  lbs.  muriate  potash. 

Eesults  are  ai)pended. 

Kesults  are  appended.  A diagram  of  the  plat  with  manures 
usedj  yield  of  cane,  analyses  and  available  sugar,  is  also  given. 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  NO.  ()— NITROGENOUS  MANURES— STUBBLE  CANE. 


Remarks. 

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(M  (M 


NAMES. 


[ Forms  of 
Nitrogen 
alone. 


Nitrate  of 
Soda  Group 


Sulphate  of 
Ammonia 
Group. 


I>ried  Blood 
Group. 


Cotton  Meal 
Group. 


Fish  Scrap 
Group. 


Mixed 

Nitrogen 

Group. 


Forms 

Nitrogen 

alone. 


PLAT  No  G. — Forms  of  Nitrogen. 

FHOIVT. 


(1) 

(Q) 

(3) 

(4) 

(S) 

Nitrate  Soda. 

Sulphate  of 
Ammonia 

Nothing, 

Dried  Blood. 

Cot.  Seed  Meal. 

2S.51 

28.14 

20.44 

22.82 

19.81 

11.90 

13.00 

13.20 

12.50 

9.00 

9.00 

10.10 

10.20 

9.00 

2.:50 

2.27 

2.20 

2.15 

2.40 

2192  lbs. 

2209  lbs. 

1946  lbs. 

2228  lbs. 

1498  lbs. 

«5)  1 

{7) 

(8) 

(O) 

(lO) 

Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerals 

Nothing. 

Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerals 

Nitrate  Soda  i 

Nitrate  Soda  f 

Nitrate  Soda  3-3 

20.16 

27.40 

18.00 

21.77 

26.50  ’ 

i:i.2o 

1.3.40 

13.20 

12.30 

13.40 

9.90 

10.60 

9.60 

8.80 

10.10 

2.:i5 

2.00 

2.50 

2.42 

2.15 

1798  lbs. 

2913  lbs. 

1474  lbs. 

1576  lbs. 

2550  lbs. 

(11) 

(la) 

<i=.) 

(14) 

(1^5) 

Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerals 

Nothing 

Mixed  Mineral!^ 

Mixed  Minerals 

Sul.  Ammonia  ^ 

Sul.  Ammonia  j 

Sul.  Ammou.  3-3 

16.72 

21.31 

15.22 

29.00 

27.16 

13.60 

13.70 

13.00 

13.00 

12.30 

11.40 

11.60 

10.80 

10.40 

9.60 

2.80 

1.85 

1.80 

2.00 

2.15 

1967  lbs. 

2633  lbs. 

1726  lbs. 

3004  lbs. 

2442  lbs. 



(1«) 

(17) 

(18) 

(1I» 

(J20.) 

Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerals 

Nothing 

Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Miuerals 

Jjjied  Blood  i 

Dried  Blood  j 

Dried  Blood  3-3 

16.09 

26.00 

17  46 

26.84 

25.20 

13.20 

13.70 

13.20 

12.50 

12.30 

11.00 

11.50 

11.00 

10.40 

9.00 

1.95 

1.80 

> 1.90 

1.60 

2.32 

1809  lbs. 

3203  lbs. 

1992  lbs. 

3006  lbs. 

1912  lbs. 

(Sil) 

(^a) 

(•-23)  j 

(^24) 

Mixed  Mineral.^i 

Mixed  Minerals 

Nothing. 

(Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerals 

Cotton  Meal  J 

1 Cotton  Meal  § 

Gotten  Meal  3-3 

13.19 

19  18 

15. .57 

22.40 

22.36 

14.00 

14.60 

14.30 

13.70 

13.60 

11.10 

12.20 

12.00 

11.60 

10.90 

1.80 

1.45 

1.66 

1.82 

2. 00 

1552  lbs.  j 

j 2695  lbs. 

2074  lbs. 

2780  lbs. 

2473  lbs. 

(SG)  ! 

! 

(S8) 

(30) 

Mixed  Minerals  iMixed  Minerals 

Nothing, 

Yixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerals 

Eisb  Scrap 

Fish  Scrap  § 

Fish  Scrap  3-3 

12.40 

17.70 

12.77 

20.33 

22.70 

14.80 

15.50 

14.80 

14.60 

14.00 

12.20 

13.10 

12.40 

12.70 

11.50 

1.56 

'l.ll 

1.60 

1..56 

1.66 

1719  lbs. 

2816  lbs. 

1788  Ib.s. 

2948  lbs. 

2^65  lbs. 

(31) 

(3:2) 

(33) 

(34) 

(325) 

Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerahs 

Nothing. 

Mixed  Minerals 

Mixed  Minerals 

m'd  Nitrogen 

m’d  Nitrogen  || 

u’d  Nitrog’n  3-3 

13.12 

16.69 

12.71 

18.60 

24.60 

14.80 

15.30 

14.60 

14.80 

14. .50 

12.50 

12.90 

12.30 

12.. 30 

11.70 

1.35 

1 .25 

1.46 

1.50 

1 56 

1920  lbs. 

2575  lbs. 

1798  lbs. 

2621  lbs. 

3235  lbs. 

(3<>) 

(3r) 

(38) 

(39) 

(40) 

Fish  Scrap  J- 

Fish  Scrap  J 

Nothing. 

Mx’d  Nitrog’u 

Mx’d  Nitrog’u  J 

12.60 

18.21 

13  33 

14.70 

17.01 

15.10 

15.10 

15.30 

15.30 

15.00 

12.30 

12  10 

12  60 

12.80 

12.10 

1 80 

1.60 

1.84 

1.50 

1.84 

1663  lbs. 

2450  lbs. 

1835  lbs. 

2171  lbs. 

2223  lbs. 

N'o.  of  Experiment. 
Manures  per  acre. 


Viehl  in  tons  per  acre.. 
L'otal  Solids. 


Available  Sugar  per 


No.  of  Experiment. 


Yield  in  tons  per  acre, 
i'otal  Solids. 


Xo.  ot  Experiment, 


Yield  in  tons, 
i'otal  Solids, 


Xo.  of  Experiment. 


Y’'ield  in  tons  per  aci’e. 
total  Solids. 


Xo.  of  Experiment. 


Yield  in  tons  per  acre, 
total  Solids. 


Xe.  of  Experiment. 

Manures  per  acre. 

Yield  in  tons, 
total  Solids. 


tons  per  atve. 
total  Solids. 


Xo.  of  Experiment 

Mautires  per  acie. 

tons  per  acre, 
t otal  Solids. 


[29] 


Comparison  of  results  will  answer  tlie  tliree  questions  asked. 
1st.  Does  this  soil  need  l^itrogeu  ? 


Taking  the  plat  as  a whole  we  find  the  following  averages  : 


Yield  per  acre  in 

tons. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

lbs  available  sugar 

per  acre  upon  70 

p c extraction. 

No  manure 

15.02 

11.35 

1.81 

1828 

3Iixed  minerals  

15.27 

11.30 

1.83 

1794 

Nitrogen  alone 

20.17 

10.80 

1.99 

2088 

Mixed  minerals  with  ^ Nitrogen 

21.37 

12.00 

1.57 

2800 

3Iixed  m.nerals  with  § Nitrogen 

23.13 

11.30 

1.81 

2050 

3Iixed  minerals  with  3-3  Nitro. 

24.70 

10.40 

! 1.97 

2579 

l^xcess  of  Nitrogen  alone  over 

1 

No  manure 

4.55  ! 

1 

255 

Mixed  minerals 

4.90  i 

289 

Excess  of  mixed  minerals  Avith 

^ Nitrogen  over 

1 

1 

No  manure 

5.75- ' i 

978 

Mixed  minerals 

0.10  i 

1012 

Nitrogen  alone 

• 1.20 

723 

Excess  of  Mixed  minerals  Avitk 

f Nitrogen  over 

1 

No  manure 

7.51 

828 

Mixed  minerals 

7.80  • 

802 

Nitrogen  alone 

2.90 

573 

Excess  of  mixed  minerals  with 

3-3  Nitrogen  over 

No  manure 

9.14  i 

751 

Mixed  minerals 

9.49  i 

785 

Nitrogen  alone 

4.59  ! 

490 

Doth  Nitrogen  alone  and  coinhined  with  mixed  minerals 
have  increased  the  tonnage  and  available  sugar,  the  largest  in- 
crease coming  from  Nitrogen  combined  with  mixed  minerals. 

The  2nd  question  must  be  answered  by  comparing  each 
group  with  its  own  ‘‘nothing”  and  “mixed  minerals.”  By  taking 
■the  mean  of  the  three  experiments  of  nitrogen  in  each  group  and 


[30] 


subtracting  from  it  first  the  “nothing’^  and  then  the  ‘hnixed  min- 
erals,” and  comparing  results,  we  have  the  following : 


Excess  of  mixed  minerals  with  nitrate  soda  over — 

Nothing 

Mixed  minerals 

Excess  ot  mixed  minerals  with  suljjhate  of  ammonia 
over — 

Nothing 

Mixed  minerals 

Excess  of  mixed  minerals  with  dried  blood  over — 

Nothing 

Mixed  minerals 

Excess  of  mixed  minerals  with  cotton  seed  meal 
over — 

Nothing 

Mixed  minerals 

Excess  of  mixed  minerals  with  fish  scrap  over — 

Nothing 

Mixed  minerals 

Excess  of  mixed  minerals  with  mixed  nitrogen  over- 

Nothing 

Mixed  minerals 

Average  of  above  increases  over — 

Nothing 

Mixed  minerals 


<v 

!-l 

O 

cS 

t-t 

m 

a 

o 

H 


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bX)  ?-i  a 

le.2 

w ^ 
a cs 

o g 

sc  a 


7.23 

872 

5.02 

548 

10.56 

967 

9.06 

726 

8.57 

715- 

10.04 

89a 

5.74 

620 

8.12 

1142 

7.50 

108a 

7.81 

1157 

7.11 

1011 

6.69 

889' 

7.78 

879 

7.79 

893 

It  is  evident  from  above  that  no  form  of  nitrogen  on  this- 
soil  has  any  great  advantage  over  another  either  in  increased 
tonnage  or  available  sugar.  It  is  also  evident  that  phosphatic 
manures  without  nitrogen  are  of  no  avail,  and  that  to  produce 
the  best  eifects  both  phosphates  and  nitrogen  must  be  present. 

3d — The  quantity  of  nitrogen  most  desirable  per  acre  has 
been  incidentally  answered  under  our  first  question,  treating  the 
plat  as  a whole. 


We  then  found  that  the  tonnage  was  larger  with  heavier 
doses  of  nitrogen,  but  the  available  sugar  per  acre  was  less, 
Eecapitulating  we  have  the  average  as  follows  : 


21.37  2773 
23.14  2656* 
24.76  2579 


Average  of  1-3  rations 
Average  of  2-3  rations 
Average  of  3-3  rations 


Each  group  taken  separately  will  show  but  slightly  dilfer- 
ent  results.  The  one-third  ration  shows  largest  sugar  yield  in 
the  nitrate  soda  and  dried  blood  groups  j the  two-thirds  ration 
in  sulphate  ammonia,  cotton  seed  meal  and  fish  scrap  ; the 
three-thirds  ration  in  mixed  nitrogen.  The  last  however,  shows 
but  a slightly  increased  quantity  over  the  one-third  ration. 

Seasons  have  much  to  do  with  results,  and  only  by  the  elim- 
ination of  their  influence  through  a series  of  years  can  positive 
deductions  be  made  from  field  experiments.  However,  this  plat 
with  a good  stand  and  fair  season,  suggests  strongly  the  fol- 
lowing conclusions : 

1.  That  our  soil  needs  nitrogen  badly,  and  that  the  best  ef- 
fects are  produced  when  it  is  mixed  with  phosphoric  acid. 

2.  That  no  particular  form  of  nitrogen  has  a decided  ad- 
vantage over  others — a conclusion  most  gratifying,  since  it  per- 
mits us  to  use  our  own  cotton  seed  meal,  instead  of  some  of  the 
more  costly  imported  forms  of  nitrogen. 

3.  That  excessive  quantities  of  nitrogen  are  not  product- 
ive of  the  best  results — 24  to  48  j)ounds  equivalent  to  400  to  700 
pounds  of  cotton  seed  meal  per  acre  are  the  limits,  suggested  by 
these  experiments  of  maximum  sugar  imoduction — when  proper- 
ly combined  with  mineral  manures. 

^Leaving  out  the  nitrate  of  soda  wliich  was  unaccountably  low  we 
have  as  average  of  tbe  rest  2872. 


[32]- 


PHOSPHORIC  ACID  MANURES— PLAT  7— STUBBLE  CANE. 

The  object  of  this  plat  is  to  test  the  form  aud  quantity  of 
phosphoric  acid  best  adapted  to  cane  ; using  it  in  a soluble  form 
in  dissolved  bone  black  and  acid  phosphate,  in  a precipitated 
form  as  precipitated  bone  black  and  precipitated  acid  phosphate, 
and  in  an  insoluble  form  as  bone  dust  and  finely  ground  Charles- 
ton phosphate,  called  ^^floats”;  also  in  the  natural  form  of  Or- 
chilla  guano.  Each  used  in  1-3,  2-3  and  3-3  rations.  Off  barred 
A\  ith  4-horse  plow  March  3d  ; dug,  manures  applied,  and  mid- 
dles split  out  March  31st ; subsequent  workings  with  disk  cul- 
tivator j laid  by  with  4-horse  plow. 

There  is  appended  a table  with  list  of  manures  and  results  ; 
also  a diagram  of  the  plat  with  explanation.  Basal  mixture  in 
this  plat  means  540  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal,  540  lbs.  kainite. 


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PLAT  VII.— Phosphoric  Acid  Manures. 
Ground  October  14th. 


No.  of  Experiment 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

27.05 

27.96 

18.02 

28.42 

31.95 

Total  Solids  

14.20 

13.70 

13.90 

13.70 

14.20 

Sucrose 

10.50 

10.00 

10.00 

10.50 

11.00 

Glucose 

1.60 

1.95 

2.00 

1.85 

1.65 

lbs  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . . 

3067 

2768 

1766 

3069 

8812 

No.  of  Experiment 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

22.89 

28.88 

19.49 

24.99 

30.90 

Total  c-olide 

15.20 

13.60 

14.10 

13.70 

13.90 

Sucrose. 

12.50 

11.00 

11.20 

10.50 

10.80 

Glucose 

1.50 

2.00 

2.04 

1.61 

1.72 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre . . . 

3285 

3230 

2220 

2823 

3584 

No.  of  Experiment 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

25.36 

26.36 

19.07 

24.99 

24.81 

Total  Solids 

14.90 

14.60 

14.20 

14.20 

14.40 

Sucrose 

12.60 

12.40 

11.30 

12.00 

11.90 

Glucose 

1.23 

1.36 

1.66 

1.56 

1.43 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . 

3802 

3794 

2365 

3379 

3386 

No.  of  Experiment 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

23.31 

23.94 

18.65 

23.62 

27.23 

Total  Solids 

14.80 

14.50 

14.50 

14.89 

14.89 

Sucrose 

12.40 

11.90 

10.50 

11.20 

12.50 

Glucose 

1.47 

1.37 

1.69 

1.46 

1.52 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre... 

3326 

3303 

2076 

2976 

3893 

No.  of  Experiment 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

Yield  per  acre  tons. ..... 

25.27 

25.02 

15.36 

23.27 

26.68 

Total  Solids 

14.80 

14.80 

14.40 

14.40 

14.90 

Sucrose 

12.50 

12.30 

12.30 

12.30 

12.20 

Glucose 

1.04 

1.08 

1.27 

1.42 

1.08 

lbs.  av,  sugar  per  acre. . . 

3870 

3740' 

2242 

3313 

3849 

No.  of  Experiment 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

Yield- per  acre  tons 

19.21 

19.63 

12.37 

22.05 

26.24 

Total  Solids 

15.50 

15.40 

15.50 

15.30 

15.30 

Sucrose 

13.70 

14.00 

14.10 

12.70 

13.10 

Glucose. 

1.01 

1.02 

1.05 

1.35 

1.17 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . 

3270 

3335 

2173 

3307 

4171 

No.  of  Experiment. ..... 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

14.84 

22.19 

12.28 

17.22 

20.79 

Total  Solids 

15.70 

15.80 

15,10 

16  00 

15.80 

Sucrose 

12.50 

13.20 

12.90 

13.40 

13.80 

Glucose 

1.00 

1.18 

1.10 

1.00 

.80 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . 

2285 

3550 

1940 

2876 

3659 

No.  of  Experiment 

36 

37 

38 

39 

40 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

15.96 

16.59 

11.34 

15.33 

12.07 

Total  Solids 

16.20 

15.40 

12.90 

15.30 

14.80 

Sucrose 

12.70 

12.50 

10.60 

12.10 

11.60 

Glucose 

.80 

.83 

.88 

.91 

.84 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . 

2570 

2621 

1474 

2300 

1581 

Dissolved  Bone  Black 
Group. 


Acid  Phosphate  Group. 


Precipitated  Dissolved 
Bone  Black  Group. 


Precipitated  Acid  Phos- 
phate Group. 


Bone  Dust  Group. 


Rock  Phosphate  or 
Floats  Group. 


Orchilla  Group. 


Gypsum  Group. 


^ a 


[36] 


Ey  compariDg  iu  each  group  the  ^^basal  mixture”  with  the 
^ ‘basal  mixture  mixed  with  the  phosphate”  we  obtain  the  benefit 
derived  from  the  phosphoric  acid,  and  by  comparing  them  with 
the  unfertilized  experiments,  we  obtain  the  increase  due  to  the 
manure.  It  must  be  noted  however,  that  the  “nothings”  occu- 
pied the  center  of  the  plat  and  from  their  location  were  natu- 
rally better  than  the  rest  of  the  plat.  This  natural  advantage 
was  recognized  before  planting,  but  no  better  arrangement 
could  be  devised. 

By  insjDecting  the  diagram  it  will  be  found  that  the  basal 
mixture  occupied  the  extreme  left  of  the  plat,  adjoining  the 
“tiled  drained  plat.”  In  fact  the  tiles  ran  within  a few  feet  of 
the  row  and  some  of  the  results  of  this  basal  mixture  must  be 
assigned  to  tiles.  We  thus  account  for  the  unusually  small  dif- 
ferences which  occur  here  but  not  elsewhere  on  the  Station, 
between  the  use  of  basal  mixture  and  basal  mixture  and  phos- 
phates. 

Taking  each  group  up  separately  we  have  for  Group  1 Dis- 
solved Bone  Black. 


GROUP  1. 


50 

C 

o 

H 

'S 

S - 

si52 

Yield  of  iiotliiug  per  acre 

18.02 

1766 

Yie]d  of  Basal  Mixture 

27.05 

3067 

Yield  of  1.3  ration  Dissolved  Bone  Black  

27.96 

2768 

Yield  of  2-3  ration  Dissolved  Bone  Black 

28.42 

3069 

Yielfl  of  3-3  ration  Dissolved  Rone  Black 

31.95 

3812 

Increase  due  to  1-3  ration  over  Basal  Mixture 

.91 

Increase  due  to  2-3  ration  over  Basal  Mixture 

1.37 

2 

Increase  dne  to  3-3  ration  over  Basal  Mixture 

4.90 

745 

Increase  Basal  Mixture  ovei*  nothin e* 

9.03 

1301 

Increase  1 -3  ration  over  nothing 

9.94 

1002 

Increase  2-3  ration  over  nothing 

10.40 

1303 

Increase  3-3  ration  over  uothino- ’ 

13.93 

2046 

[37] 


Cemparing  each  group  iu  this  way  we  have : 

GROur  2. 


' 

Tons. 

tk 

Increase  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing  

3.40 
9.. 35 
5.50 
11.40 

1065 

lOlO 

603 

1364 

Inerease  1-3  ration  Acid  Phosphate  over  nothing 

Increase  2-.3  ration  Acid  Phospliate  over  nothing 

Increase  3-3  ration  Acid  Pliosphate  over  nothing 

GROUP  3. 


Iiicrease  Rasal  Mixture  over  iiothinjx 

Increase  1-3  ration  Free.  Dissolved  Bone  over  nothin?; 

Increased  2-3  ration  Free.  Dissolved  Bone  over  nothing 

Increased  3-3  ration  Dissolved  Bone  over  nothing 


6.2R 

7.29 

5.92 

5.74 


1437 

1429 

1014 

1021 


GROUP  4. 


Increase  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 

Increase  1-3  ration  Free.  Acid  Fhosphate  over  nothing 

Increase  2-3  ration  Free.  Acid  Fhosphate  over  nothing 

Increase  3-3  ration  Free.  Acid  Fhosphate  over  nothing 


a 

o 

2 2 

4.66 

1250- 

5.29 

1227 

4.97 

900 

8.58 

1817 

GROUP  5. 


Tons. 

— CZ 

^ '-o 

.o 

Increase  of  Basal  Mixture  over  nothin 

9.91 

1628 

Increase  of  1-3  ration  Bone  Dust  over  nothing 

9.36 

1498 

Increase  of  2-3  ration  Bone  Dust  over  nothing 

7.91 

1071 

Increase  of  3-3  ration  Bone  Dust  over  nothing 

11.32 

1607 

[38] 


GROUP  6. 


Tone. 

lbs.  availa- 

ble sugar. 

Increase  of  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 

6.82 

1105 

Increase  of  1-3  ration  Floats  over  nothing 

7.24 

1262 

Increase  of  2-3  ration  Floats  over  nothing 

9.66 

1134 

Increase  of  3-3  ration  Floats  over  nothing 

13.85 

1998 

GROUP  7. 


Tons. 

lbs.  availa- 

ble sugar. 

Increase  of  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 

2.56 

345 

TrTr,rp,a,sft  of  1-3  ra.tion  Orohilla  over  nothing 

9.91 

1610 

Increase  of  2-3  ration  Orchilla  over  nothing 

4.94 

936 

Increase  of  3-3  ration  Orchilla  over  nothing 

8.51 

1719 

GROUP  8. 


Tons. 

lbs.  availa- 
ble sugar. 

Tnerea.so  of  Basal  Mixture  over  nothing 

4.62 

1096 

Tnerea,se  of  1-3  ra.tion  Gypsnm  over  nothing 

5.25 

1147 

Increase  of  2-3  ration  Gvpsum  over  nothing 

3.99 

826 

Increase  of  2-3  ration  Gypsum  over  nothing 

.73 

107 

It  is  evident  from  above  that  phosphates  have  increased 
the  tonnage,  but  the  sugar  content  is  not  increased  proportion- 
ately as  was  to  be  expected.  The  tiled  draining  assisted  doubt- 
less the  maturity  of  the  basal  mixture.  This  plat  was  ground 
Oct.  14th,  most  too  early  for  large  sugar  contents.  Large  quan- 
tities of  phosphates  have  again  not  proven  remunerative.  Of 
the  forms  of  phosphoric  acid  used  the  soluble  in  dissolved  bone 
black  and  acid  phosphate,  and  the  insoluble  in  floats  and  or- 
chilla  have  given  best  results.  That  in  bone  dust  has  given  no 
increase  over  basal  mixture  alone.  Gypsum  too  seems  to  be 
without  effect. 


, [39] 

PLAT  7III— POTASSIC  MANURES. 

STUBBLE  CANE— HARVESTEB  NOVEMBER  1-3. 

This  plat  was  designed  to  test  permanently  the  require- 
ments  of  this  soil  for  potash,  and  then  to  determine  the  form  and 
•quantity  best  adapted  to  cane.  There  has  been  used  the  muri- 
ate, sulphate,  nitrate,  carbonate  and  kainite,  and  such  quanti- 
ties of  each  have  been  taken  as  to  represent  60,  120  and  180  lbs 
of  pure  potash  per  acre,  or  1-3,  2-3  and  3-3  rations.  These  are 
excessive  quantities,  but  they  are  used  with  the  hope  of  deter- 
mining whether  potash  in  any  form  or  quantity  effected  the  ton- 
nage or  sugar  content  of  cane.  This  plat  was  off  barred  with 
4-horse  plow  March  2d,  hoed  March  28th  and  29th,  and  fertil- 
izers applied  March  31st,  1887,  and  middles  split  out.  Subse- 
quent treatment  with  disk  cultivator.  Laid  by  with  4-horse 
plow. 


TABLE  .8 

RESULTS  OF  PLATNO.  8— POTASSIC  MANURES 


p9!^S9AJ'BH 

uaqAV | | 


A d 

0 ^Pi 

ZG 

p;  ® 

® 

_o  0 

-2 

2'S 

s 

g Pi 

P ® 

§£;=■ 

'B  "3 

‘5 

^-£1 

'So® 

1 ^ 

cS 

p P 

W PL| 

c3  i-i 

0 0 

> ^ 
o 

12;  - 


c5  y " g 
z:  bc^.2 
o , 


■ao'B 

J9J 


Cl  lO  'T 

uo  cq 

(M  O O 


CO  tH  CO 
CO  o 
O CD  1-1 
rr  oq 


Tt  ^ CD  CD 
Cl  O CO  00 
Cl  CO  Oi  uo 
CO  'Tfi  OJ 


lO  CO  OD 
CD  TT  LO 
tH  Tf  lO 
CO  O# 


;>  X 

P 

L-  0 

(-<  C 

TI04 

0 

CD 

lO 

kO 

X 

0 

CD 

CO 

rH 

CD 

CO 

CO 

CD 

Cl 

kD 

GC  ^ 

c t 

J9J 

tH 

0 

Dl 

CD 

rf 

c: 

CO 

cx 

ci 

X 

Cl 

d 

CD 

Cl 

d 

lO 

J> 

p 

^■'^J 

CD 

ID 

kO 

CD 

10 

CO 

lO 

X 

CD 

CD 

CD 

CD 

CD 

X 

kD 

PP  ce 

C Cl 

T-^ 

tH 

t-H 

rH 

1— 1 

rH 

t-H 

1— 1 

rH 

rH 

rH 

•OUL'H 

Oi 

t- 

X 

t- 

CD 

t>. 

kO 

X 

kO 

'Tin 

DT 

CD 

8 

9scoiim 

CO 

CO 

L'- 

CO 

CD 

''H 

CO 

LO 

CD 

t- 

0 

X 

rH  ' 

‘ rH 

CD 

Cl 

Cl 

0 

Cl 

X 

0 

p 

(M 

ci 

d 

CD 

Cl 

QO 

0 

d 

d 

CD 

0 

l-H 

r-i 

rH 

’-H 

!^n9T0lJJ900 

0 

Cl 

(M 

-rr 

CD 

Cl 

0 

0 

0 

lo 

CO 

Oi 

X 

CD 

O' 

Dl 

oq 

CO 

rH 

0 

0 

0 

■'3< 

0 

CD 

0 

CD 

Cl 

CO 

X 

kO 

0 

DJ 

A'4TIllc[ 

CO 

lO 

»o 

'-H 

Ol 

ID 

X 

r-H 

CM 

0 

X 

X 

d 

LO 

Cl 

kO 

GO 

X 

X’ 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

Cl 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

ID 

10 

0 

Di 

X 

DJ 

0 

8 

0 

X 

(M 

kO 

qr 

(Oi 

(OJ 

oi 

rH 

01 

oq 

rf 

CM 

Cl 

CM 

CM 

CO 

CO 

0 

a 

X 

9so9n{D 

T— i 

-4 

,-1 

rH 

rH 

rH 

rH 

rH 

r4 

rH 

w 

•gsoiouQ 

CO 

LO 

CD 

•<*1 

05 

X 

X 

kO 

kO 

kD 

i- 

X 

0 

cc 

CO 

CO 

CO 

CO 

CO 

d 

X 

rH 

on 

on 

CO 

CO 

CO 

CO 

CO 

T— 1 

1-H 

■*-H 

rH 

rH 

r-i 

T-^ 

rH 

rH 

rH 

rH 

rH 

rH 

r-< 

C3 

t: 

t- 

}> 

t- 

rH 

rH 

rH 

5 ' 

spnog 

00 

0 

CM 

X 

X 

Dl 

CD 

CO 

Oi 

CD 

■rr 

X 

CD 

10 

uO 

LO 

0 

CD 

lO 

ID 

10 

kO 

0 

kO 

16 

>0 

kD 

10 

CD 

LO 

1-H 

T— ^ 

tH 

rH 

rH 

rH 

rH 

i-H 

rH 

rH 

rH 

rH 

rH 

•gmii'ug 

0 

00 

CD 

Cl 

-rf* 

kO 

DT 

CD 

0 

X 

CD 

kO 

kD 

X 

X 

899J.o9n 

QO 

QO 

00 

06 

x 

X 

X 

X 

cxi 

c» 

Cl 

X 

X 

cxi 

06 

00 

Cl 

X 

snoT 

Cl 

00 

0 

uO 

1 

(M 

X 

kO 

kO 

Cl 

0 

0 

ni  9.1  DV 

CO 

D1 

0 

CD 

i> 

CD 

cq 

CO 

0 

0 

Cl 

(M 

tPiT 

•CD 

06 

rH 

d 

1 

LO 

ci 

rH 

LO 

CO 

d 

d 

CO 

CD 

<Oi 

oq 

O) 

CO 

1 

OJ 

i—H 

<M 

* 

CM 

D1 

<M 

1—^ 

O ® 
_ es 

t»  S 

® Og 
'^■^  . 
Ph  ^ 


® O O Cl 

2 -t- 

§•2  5-5  S J 

D-g'" 

P-i  2 


O 1=0 

fcc^  . 


D Cl 

■ .3 

Ph 

M '•c  M 
O 


O O 


rt  c3  ^ 
® © O 

Sg3 


Ijdxajo  -OJJ  I “ 


01  ® ® ® 

^ 4^  ^ CS 

j'sJ;! 

P-  Pi  PiPP^ 
00  k > cc  tc  c 
o*^  0,0  cc 
_ 3:3  . bJD^  . ^Ch  03  ,DJ  ,a  . 
p,P4®a 

..  rts!'~'zScbT'eiOcSe^T' 

'o®0®0®®Oq®0®'^®®0 

cod  Ot— iCqCO'':?'  LOCO 


rd 

t» 

c5 

-4-J 

o 

pH 

d 

® 4i 

CS 


l-P  Zp  ■“  r^.  '~'  ' 


-P  P 

P-'5 

CO  C 

o 

brg^  • 

c.pui  ^ 

■3  ^ 

00  Cl 


rP 

00 

rt 

4- 

o 

Ph 

o 

C3^  g 

«-Pi  P^-^ 

W 9 g 

O OQ  O 

pu  mP-i 

I— I f— I 

p Z'  p 

® o ® 


® I 

^1 

cn  Cv 

O O 
^ . bC 

p^  j.s- 

® ^ o 


'Meal  Phosphate  ) ' 

,165  lbs.  Carbouate  Potash  \ ^25. 10 


o. 

©o 


—I  o 
12;  P^ 


:: 

:: 

- 

X) 

'cr 

“CD^ 

‘^co’^ 

»H 

CO 

o 

c- 

GTi 

CO 

X 

CO 

CO 

co_ 

_co_ 

Ci 

X 

tH 

05 

t- 

o 

(oi 

o 

05* 

CO 

lO 

CO 

t- 

CD 

o 

CO 

LO 

<— 1 

1— ( 

1— c 

»— 1 

1— ( 

rH 

1-H 

»-0 

X 

LO 

o 

CO 

CO 

'JT 

o 

D1 

X 

C5 

x 

05 

o 

X 

1— ( 

rH 

<X) 

o 

lO 

05 

lO 

J> 

CO 

(M 

CO 

05 

O 

CD 

i> 

CD 

lO 

Oi 

i> 

rH 

X 

X 

X 

X 

00 

1'- 

X 

Oi 

X 

X 

LO 

LO 

T— i 

(Gi 

{>» 

Ol 

DI 

CO 

o 

rH 

l-H 

rH 

-H 

1-H 

1-1 

ri 

t- 

uO 

t- 

lO 

CO 

CO 

CO 

OJ 

oi 

1—1 

rH 

rH 

t-H 

1— ' 

1-H 

tH 

rH 

rH 

1— ( 

cc 

X 

CO 

lO 

CO 

lO 

lO 

CD 

iO 

ID 

lO 

LO 

t-H 

1— i 

rH 

X 

i> 

O 

X 

»C 

CD 

LO 

X 

x' 

05 

x 

X* 

X 

x 

« 

a ® 


CO  ^ 


-M  O 

-a  ^ 'T  j 
g'p,^ 
o“=gz 

fl  cog^  . CCJ  . 

PWra>-Hp^  CO  afL(  CO 

^'~''-Hr-i;2!a'— 
ce^ic«  c3'^:3 
<Dt>  ® ®iOq  ®0 

gss_s2^afe 

o ca  j'.  oc  ci 
5^  <7>  !M 


-S  ® 

CO  • 
On  CO 

« 'T 
® 55 
>»!-(  o 


bo 


V, 


[42] 


PLAT  VIII. — PoTAssic  Manures. 


No.  of  Experiment.. .... 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons. . . 

Total  ^lids 

Sucrose  

Glucose. 


No.  of  Experiment. 


Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

Total  Solids 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

lbs.  available  sugar  70  per 


No.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons. . . 

Total  Solids  

Sucrose 

(xlucose 


No,  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons. . . . 

Total  Solids 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

lbs.  available  sugar  70  per- 


No.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons. . . . 

Total  Solids 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

lbs.  available  sugar  70  per 
cent  extraction  per  acre 


6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

26.39 

28.28 

21.26 

30.65 

* 

15.97 

15-57 

15.17 

15.17 

16.07 

13.40 

13.30 

13.00 

13.00 

13.50 

1.25 

4259 

1.25 

4525 

1.40 

3044 

1.22 

4778 

1.17 

11 

13 

13 

14 

15 

35.62 

19.78 

14.87 

27.65 

15.27 

* 

15.27 

15.37 

15.67 

12.60 

13.10 

11.70 

12.40 

12.90 

1.28 

1.22 

4043 

1.47 

1631 

1.20 

4103 

1.00 

16 

17 

18 

19 

30 

21.21 

25.45 

13.34 

27.09 

* 

16.37 

15. 91 

15.61 

15.41 

15.41 

14.80 

14.00 

13.80 

13.50 

13.. 50 

.90 

3994 

1.28 

4304 

1.22 

2236 

1.37 

4586 

1.37 

31 

33 

33 

34 

35 

19.00 

23.90 

16.24 

25.10 

* 

15.81 

16.41 

15.61 

15.91 

15.71 

13.50 

14.70 

13.30 

13.90 

13.70 

1.07 

3165 

.95 

4443 

1.37 

1558 

1.17 

3918 

1.28 

36 

37 

38 

39 

30 

19.00 

22.85 

16.41 

27.51 

* 

16.31 

15.81 

15.31 

15.57 

15.31 

14.10 

13.50 

12.70 

12.00 

12.50 

1.22 

3364 

1.28 

3704 

1.28 

2476 

1.35 

3843 

1.05 

Muriate  Potash  Group. 


Eainite  Group. 


Sulphate  Potash  Group 


Group 


Nitrate  Potash  Group 


[43] 

By  combining  as  we  did  under  Plat  7,  we  have 
GROUP  1. 


Tons. 

[43  & 

.2 

Increase  of  Meal  Phosphate  over  nothing 

5.13 

1215- 

Increase  of  1-3  ration  of  Muriate  over  nothino" 

7.02 

1481 

Increase  of  2-3  ration  of  Muriate  over  nothing 

9.29 

1734 

GROUP  2. 


Increase  of  Meal  Phosphate  over  nothing  . . . 
Increase  of  1-3  ration  of  Kainite  over  nothing 
Increase  of  2-3  ration  of  Kainite  over  nothing 


5.84  1412 

7.87  1472 


GROUP  3. 


Tons. 

lbs.  availa' 
ble  sugar- 

Increase  of  Meal  Phosphate  over  nothing 

7.87 

1758 

Increase  of  1-3  ration  Sulphate  over  nothing 

12.11 

2068 

Increase  of  2-3  ration  Sulphate  over  nothing 

13.75 

2350 

GROUP  4. 


- 

Tens. 

lbs.  availa- 
ble sugar. 

Increase  of  Meal  Phosphate  over  nothing 

2.76 

607 

Increase  of  1-3  ration  Carbonate  over  nothing 

7.66 

1885 

Increase  of  2-3  ration  Carbonate  over  nothing  

8.86 

1360 

GROUP  5. 


oo 

a 

o 

H 

lbs.  availa- 
ble sugar. 

Increase  of  Meal  Phosphate  over  nothing  

2.59 

888 

Increase  of  1-3  ration  Nitrate  over  nothing 

6.44 

1228 

Increase  of  2-3  ration  Nitrate  over  nothing 

11.10 

1367 

[44] 


From  the  aboA^e  it  will  be  seen  that  every  form  of  potash 
has  increased  the  tonnage  more  or  less  over  meal  i^hosphate 
Avithout  enhancing  the  sugar  content.  This  will  readily  be  seen 
by  inspecting  the  columns  of  ‘^yield  per  acre”  and  ‘^available 
sugar  i)er  ton.”  It  will  be  seen  too  that  increased  quantities 
have  given  increased  yields.  This  is  decidedly  perplexing,  for 
our  experiments  elsewhere  this  year  and  last  year  shoAA  ed  no 
increase  due  to  potash.  The  results  are  also  contrary  to  those 
obtained  at  the  Barbadoes  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  for 
1886.  In  the  summary  of  conclusions  arrived  at  on  the  action 
of  the  manures,  in  the  report  of  this  Station  for  1886  we  find ; 

6.  ^^The  addition  of  potash  to  manurings  of  superphosphate 
and  nitrogen  may  not  increase  the  yield  of  total  produce  to  any 
very  marked  extent  but  from  its  tendency  to  increase  the  deA^el- 
opment  of  the  cane  causes  a large  increase  in  the  amount  of 
of  available  sugar  in  the  juice. 

7.  The  presence  of  potash  in  the  manures  in  rather  high 
relative  i)roportions  apparently  tends  to  increase  the  amount  of 
sucrose  in  the  canes.  This  point  is  Avorthy  of  further  investi- 
gations. 

8.  The  presence  of  an  excess  of  potash  in  the  manures  does 
not  injuriously  effect  the  purity  of  the  juice  by  increasing  the 
glucose  or  appreciably  the  amount  of  potash  salts  contained  in  it. 

An  inspection  of  our  results  will  show  that  potash  has  in- 
creased the  tonnage  to  a marked  extentj  in  one  instance  I7o.  29 
as  much  as  8J  tons  over  No.  26  meal  and  phosphate,  and  the  lowest 
No.  7,  1.89  tons  over  No.  6 meal  and  phosphate,  but  there  is  no 
large  increase  in  aAmilable  sugar  per  ton,  where  potash  was  used 
Again  increased  quantities  of  potash  have  not  given  increased 
amounts  of  sucrose  in  the  canes. 

This  Station  concurs  in  the  first  part  of  the  8th  conclusion, 
Adz.,  that  excess  of  potash  has  not  increased  the  glucose  in  the 
juice,  but  dissents  for  the  present  from  the  last  part.  Our  lab- 
aratory  experiments  in  the  analyses  of  ash  from  juices  from  this 
plat  for  this  year  are  not  yet  complete.  They  Avill  be  ready  for 

our  Bulletin  on  the  Sugar  House”,  Avhich  will  appear  later* 
But  our  experiments  of  last  year  indicated  that  excessive  quan- 
tities of  potash  in  manures  are  probably  detrimental  to  the  yield 
of  sugar.  See  Bulletin  No.  10,  pages  71  and  72. 


[45] 


Oar  conclnsiou  from  tliis  plat  is  that  potash  has  simply  iu- 
creasecl  the  tonuage  of  cane  without  effecting  the  sucrose  or  glu- 
cose. Whether  this  increase  is  due  to  the  potash  per  se’^  or  to 
its  indirect  action  as  a solvent  of  plant  food  already  in  the  soil 
is  yet  an  unsolved  i)rohlem.  It  is  known  to  all  agriculturists 
that  certain  manures  stimulate  only,  i.  e.  act  as  a reagent  to 
disintegrate  and  bring  in  solution  the  plant  food  already  con- 
tained in  the  soil.  Under  this  head  come  gypsum,  lime,  salt, 
etc.  These  excessive  doses  of  potash  were  applied  to  these 
identical  plats  in  188G  and  1887.  They  were  without  appreciable 
effect  in  1880.  It  may  be  that  these  good  effects  in  1887  are  to 
be  ascribed  entirely  to  their  solvent  influences  upon  this  stiff 
black  land,  acting  through  nearly  two  years,  bringing  in  solu- 
tion large  quantities  of  nitrogen  from  the  organic  matter  i)res- 
ent,  which  has  given  an  increased  growth  to  the  cane.  This 
subject  Avill  receive  full  iuA'estigation  in  the  future.  For  the 
present,  it  suffices  to  know  that  potassic  manures  used  in  large 
quantities  upon  these  black  lands,  did  produce  an  increased 
tonnage. 

PLAT  XY— PLAlS'T  CANE. 

In  the  spring  of  1880  this  plat  was  sown  broadcast  in  cow 
peas.  A luxuriant  growth  of  vines  was  obtained.  In  September 
the  plat  was  divided  into  two  equal  parts.  The  pea  vines  on  the 
west  side  were  removed,  cured  into  hay,  and  fed  to  the  stock. 
The  entire  plat  was  then  turned  over  with  a 4-horse  plow. 
There  was  thus  presented  a basis  for  an  experiment  with  and 
without  pea  vines,  to  test  the  value  of  first,  the  roots  alone,  and 
second,  the  roots  and  Aunes.  A portion  of  this  plat  was  planted 
with  plant  and  the  rest  with  stubble  cane.  It  was  also  divided 
into  5 groiq^s  of  4 experiments  each. 

First  and  second  groups  next  to  the  river  were  fertilized  at 
the  time  of  planting,  the  fourth  and  fifth  groups  furthest 
from  the  river,  in  the  spring,  and  the  third  or  middle  group  was 
not  fertilized  at  all.  Each  group  had  thus  two  experiments  with 
l^ea  vines  turned  under,  add  two  with  vines  removed.  The  ma- 
nures were  duplicated  on  both.  In  group  1,  cotton  seed  meal, 
acid  phosphate  and  kainite  were  used  as  manure.  In  experi- 


[46] 

ment  1,  the  meal  and  phosphate  were  combined  in  proportion  of 
2 to  1.  In  experiment  2,  in  equal  quantities.  The  kainite  was 
constant  in  both. 

Group  2 was  manured  like  Group  1,  except  the  kainite  wa& 
omitted. 

Group  3 was  unmonured. 

In  Group  4 experiment  1,  the  nitrogen  was  supplied  in  form 
of  nitrate  soda,  sulphate  ammonia  and  cotton  seed  meal.  Of  the 
whole  amount  of  nitrogen  supplied  f was  in  form  of  nitrate 
soda,  f in  sulphate  of  ammonia,  and  2-8  in  cotton  seed  meal.. 
This  was  combined  with  acid  phosphate  and  kainite. 

Experiment  2 of  same  group,  had  all  its  nitrogen  in  form  of 
nitrate  of  soda,  which  was  also  combined  with  acid  phosphate. 

In  Group  5,  experiment  1,  dried  blood  and  sulphate  of  am- 
monia supplied  the  nitrogen,  while  sulphate  of  ammonia  alone 
was  used  in  experiment  2.  Both  had  also  acid  phosphate  and 
kainite.  The  following  are  manures  used  : 


[47] 


PLAT  XV— PLANT  CANE. 


Experiment  1- 


Experiment  2- 


Experiment  3- 
Experimeut  4- 
Experiment  5- 
Experiment  6- 


Experiment  7- 


Experiment  8 — 


Experiment  9- 


r 300  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 
I 150  lbs  cotton  Seed  Meal 
^ 100  lbs  Kainite 
I 200  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 
1 100  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 
f 300  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 
I 300  lbs  Acid  Thosphate 
<{  100  lbs  Kainite 
1 200  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 
[200  Ibe  Cotton  Seed  Meal 
Like  (1)  without  Kainite. 

Like  (2)  without  Kainite. 

No  manure. 

No  manure, 
f 100  lbs  Nitrate  Soda 
I 70  lbs  Sulphate  Ammonia 
I 300  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 
\ 300  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 
I 100  lbs  Kainite 
( 100  lbs  Nitrate  Soda 
t 70  lbs  Sulphate  Ammonia  ^ 


Applied  Oct.  18th. 
Applied  June  3d. 
Applied  Oct.  18th. 


I Applied 


June  3d. 


Applied  March  18. 


■ Apjdied  June  3d. 


C 300  lbs  Nitrate  Soda 
] 300  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 
] 100  lbs  Kainite 
[300  lbs  Nitrate  Soda 
100  lbs  Sulphate  Ammonia 
200  lbs  Dried  Blood 
300  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 
100  lbs  Kainite 
100  lbs  Sulphate  Ammonia 

{200  lbs  Sulphate  Ammonia 
300  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 
100  lbs  Kainite 
200  lbs  Sulphate  Ammonia 


I March  18th. 
Applied  June  3d. 

March  18th. 

Applied  June  3d. 


Experiment  10 — 

The  following  is  the  table  of  results,  and  diagram  of  plat. 


^ Applied  March  18th. 
Applied  June  3d. 


PLAT  NO.  XV. 


•pnnoif) 


d;  rt  " 

c3 

t>  c ^ -S 

eg  ao  O 
. ® O ^ 
^ O) 


giDU  I 

JQJ  I 

r 

no;  I 

J9J  1 


(M  OJ  CO  O CO  CO 

CO  CO  GO  CC  CO  CQ 

TJI  Oi  O t-  CO  CO 

VO  CO  ■<^<  CO  CO  CO 


o o 

05  X) 
X X 
CO  CO 


iH  X 
O VO 
rH  CO 

CO  CO 


•OTJ-BJI 

0SOOU|0 

C5 

X 

22 

lO 

11.60 

12.50 

21.85 

13.33 

iH  X (M  05  X 

CO  CO  X rf  G<f 

d 00  X x‘  d 

O)  ^ T-l  ^ l-J 

29.50 

23.69 

21.66 

•i:;iinj  JO 
;n9i:opj903 

o 

X 

CO 

•g« 

rf 

74.43 

177.24 

78.77 

•g* 

X 

77.02 

05  CO  O)  o o>. 
rH  Tf  X X X 

-gi  'gi  X 'g^  -g* 
t-  t- 

62.64 

71.48 

74.59 

c- 

o 

o 

o 

CO 

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X O X X X 

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X 

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4 


[50] 


PLAT  XV.— Plant  Cane. 


Pea  Vines  Turned 
under 

Pea  Vines  Removed. 

Ho.  of  Experiment... 

1 

2 

1 

2 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

38.60 

40.60 

38.88 

1 *?  /IQ 

41.38 

J-O  . ^0 

1 f\(\ 

J.U  • , 

1 d AA 

14.50 

xu.uu 

1 Ad 

lU . uu 

11 .20 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre 

4825 

1 . 4U 

4507 

1 •ol 

4160 

1 .30 
5462 

Ho.  of  Experiment.. 

3 

4 

3 * 

4 * 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

39.07 

40.91 

1 Q AQ 

35.14 

33.30 

lo  • Oo 

1 A f^d 

14.43 

15.23 

Glucose 

1 AC\ 

lU . ou 

1 Ad 

10.80 

0 OA 

11.30 

2.33 

3630 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre 

1 • 

4962 

1 • 4U 

4746 

y .00 
3584 

Ho.  of  Experiment . . 

5 

6 

5 

6 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 
Tntsl  Anlifl.si  ....... 

33.92 

36.36 

33.59 

.33.45 

Snp.rnsft  

14.37 

14 .17 

13 .91 

15.07 

11.20 

Glucose. 

10  70 

10.60 

10  20 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre 

2.00 

3663 

1 .96 
3890 

1 .93 
3426 

1.93 

3880 

Ho.  of  Experiment  _ 

7 

8 

■ 7 

8 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

Total  SoHfls  ......... 

37.97 

12.77 

8.00 

2.36 

2354 

39.45 

37.36 

38.39 

SlIP.f’fVftA - 

12  87 

12.87 

13.17 

Glucose 

9 .60 
2.08 
3353 

9.20 

2.18 

3101 

9.20 

2.30 

3110 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre 

Ho.  of  Experiment  . . 

9 

10 

9 

10 

Yield  per  acre  iji  tons 
Total  Solids 

42.30 

13.33 

10.60 

1.84 

4653 

43.83 

12.83 
9.00 
1.95 
3726 

41.48 

11.93 

8.00 

2.00 

2904 

37.70 

12.43 

9.10 

Sncrnse  .............. 

Glucose 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre 

1 .84 

3355 

* Injured  by  proximity  of  large  pecan  tree. 


§ 


,0 

02 


GKOUP  1. 


GROUP  2. 

Without  Potasi?, 


GROUP  3. 
Ho  Manure. 


GROUP  4. 


GROUP  5. 


[51] 


It  may  be  interesting  to  know  tbe  exact  contents  of  eacb 
ingredient  per  acre  in  eacb  ex];)eriment.  A table  is  bere  given 
Upon  Nos.  8,  9 and  10^  excessive  quantities  of  nitrogen  were 
used  to  demonstrate  tbe  fact  that  large  tonnage  low  in  sugar 
always  results : 


Experiment  No. 
( ( 

a ic 

i(  (( 

u (( 

n i( 

c<  . t 

u u 


lbs.  of  nitrogen 

per  acre. 

lbs.  of  phospho- 

ric acid  per  acre. 

lbs.  of  potash! 

per  acre. 

average  tons  pei': 

acre.  j 

Average  availa- 

ble sugar  pr.  acr. 

1 

35.00 

.52.. 50 

i22.00  .38.74 

4493 

9 

35.00 

90.00  22.00  40.99 

4985 

3 

35.00 

52.. 50 

10.00  39.07 

4962 

4 

35.00 

90.00 

10.00  40.91 

4746 

2728 

7 

81.00 

54.00 

|18.00  37.66 

8 

84.00 

45.00 

!i2.00  38.92 

3231 

9 

66.00 

45 . 00 

12-00  41.89 

3778 

10 

84.00 

45.00 

12.00  40.76 

4004 

One  fact  is  bere  clearly  demonstrated  by  tbe  last  four  expe- 
riments, viz,  that  excessive  quantities  of  nitrogenous  manures' 
induce  large  tonnage  imor  in  sugar.  Here  we  bave  37  and  44 
tons  of  cane  to  tbe  acre  with  tbe  available  sugar  running  as  low 
as  2354  lbs.  per  acre.  It  bas  been  shown  under  nitrogenous 
manures  that  a ration  containing  from  24  to  48  lbs.  of  nitrogen 
was  abuadant  for  best  results.  These  experiments  confirm 
those  in  a most  positive  manner.  Has  kainite  benefitted  this 
cane  either  in  tonnage  or  sugar  content  % Comparing  group  1 
with  2,  we  find  no  sui^eriority  in  weight  or  sucrose.  Tbe  por- 
tion of  this  plat  planted  with  plant  bad  no  advantage  over  that 
I)lauted  with  stubble  except  the  former  earlier  came  to  a stand. 

Tbe  main  question  asked  of  this  plat  is  what  benefit  is  to 
be  derived  from  turning  under  tbe  pea  vines.  To  answer  this 
question  a comparison  of  results  must  be  made. 

Tons,  lbs  avail,  sugar. 

Sum  of  experiments  with  vines  turned  under 393.01  40.482 

Sum  of  experiments  with  vines  removed 370.67  36.612 


Difference  due  to  vines 22.34  , 3.870 

Average  increase  per  acre  due  to  vines 2.23  387 

Omitting  experiments  3 and  4,  which  were  modified  by  the 

presence  of  a large  pecan  tree  many  feet  away,  we  bave  average 

increase  per  acre  due  to  vines  1.08  tons  and  138  lbs  available 


. [52] 

, ‘Sugar  j quantities  quite  small  in  view  of  tlie  large  amount  of 
Tines  turned  under. 

Perhaps  in  view  of  the  large  amount  of  fertilizers  applied 
to  a imrtion  of  this  plat,  it  would  be  best  to  compare  only  those 
•experiments  upon  which  no  manure  was  applied.  Doing'  this 
we  have  an  increase  per  acre  due  to  vines  turned  under  of  1.02 
■tons  of  cane,  and  123  lbs.  of  available  sugar. 

• ANALYSES  OF  PEA  VINES  AND  ROOTS. 

The  great  difference  of  opinion  among  farmers  and  planters 
as  to  the  value  of  pea  vines  as  a green  manure  caused  the  Sta- 
tion to  institute  the  above  experiments  together  with  those  that 
are  about  to  be  described.  All  admit  the  great  value  to  the 
.succeeding  crop  of  cane,  of  a crop  of  peas,  grown  either  alone 
or  with  corn,  but  it  is  strongly  contended  by  some  that  the 
vines  can  be  removed  for  feed  without  injury  to  the  subsequent 
crops,  that  the  roots  alone,  after  the  vines  are  permitted  to  shade 
the  ground  through  the  summer,  are  valuable  as  plant  food. 
Others  assert  that  the  turning  in  of  green  vines  in  the  fall  is  an 
absolute  injury,  and  if  turned  in  at  all,  it  should  be  done  only 
in  the  spring  after  they  have  served'  as  a mulch  through  the 
winter.  Such  differences  of  opinion  arise  largely  from  the  char- 
acter and  condition  of  the  soil,  seasons  and  subsequent  cultiva- 
tion. To  test  the  absolute  value  in  plant  food  of  a crop  of 
vines  and  roots,  the  following  experiments  were  instituted  here 
during  tbe  past  summer. 

In  a piece  of  land  upon  which  the  cow  pea.  Clay  variety, 
sown  broadcast  was  growing,  a small  plat  10  by  10  square,  was 
selected,  and  the  vines  carefully  cut  with  a scythe  in  the  usual 
w^ay.  .These  vines  were  weighed  at  once,  taken  to  the  labora- 
tory, thoroughly  dried  and  analyzed.  Around  this  plat  a ditch 
18  inches  deep  was  dug,  and  with  a strong  force  spray  pumi) 
the  roots  were  carefully  washed  up,  weighed,  dried  and  analysed. 
The  vines  were  reaching  maturity,  had  i)assed  the  vines  when 
they  sliould  liave  been  cut  for  hay,  had  very  few  pods  on  them, 
and  as  the  analj^ses  shows  contained  much  woody  fibre.  The 
top  roots  contraiy  to  expectation,  were  quite  short,  rarel}*  going 
below  8 inches.  The  lateral  roots  were  very  numerous,  peue- 


[53] 


tratiug  the  soil  iu  every  direction,  growing  a network  of  root&- 
and  rootlets  wonderful  to  behold,  and  proving  conclusively  that 
no  amount  of  labor  could  artificially  iucori)orate  vegetable  mat- 
ter so  completely  and  perfectly  with  the  soil.  Some  of  these  lat- 
erals were  also  quite  large,  approximating  in  size,  the  tap  roots 
at  a few  inches  below  the  soil.  To  this  mechanical  separation 
and  disintegration  of  the  soil,  must  be  ascribed  some  of  the  good 
effects  of  peas  ui)on  the  alluvial  lands  of  south  Louisiana,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  aid  to  drainage  which  these  vegetable  fibres  soon 
converted  into  ducts  or  small  tiles,  engender.  Leaving  out  of 
consideration  at  present,  the  mechanical  effects  produced  in  our 
stiff  lands  by  a crop  of  peas,  let  us  ask  the  question  what  amount 
of  chemical  food  do  they  possess,  both  vines  and  roots. 

The  following  are  the  results  of  the  work  done  September 
12th,  13th  and  14th,  calculated  to  the  acre. 


Amount  of  ^reeu  vines  removed  per  acre. . . .2l.:i4r)  lbs 

Amount  of  rmts  washed  up  per  acre 3.464  “ 

Amount  of  vines  after  l)ein<?  thoroughly  dried 3.330  “ 

Amount  of  roots  alter  being  thoroughly  dried 1.040 


Total  dry  matter  per  acre 4.370  lbs 


It  is  proper  to  add  here  that  despite  our  persistent  and 
careful  efforts  for  three  days,  the  time  devoted  to  washing  up 
these  roots,  that  a considerable  quantity  of  the  smaller  hair 
roots  escaped  us.  However,  the  aggregate  weight  of  these  must 
have  been  very  small. 

ANALYSES  OF  DRIED  VINES. 


*Organic  matter 90.26 

Ash 9.74 

^Containing  nitrogen 1.70  per  cent 

ASH  CONTAINED. 

Phosphoric  acid 4,02  per  cent 

Potash 28.51  “ 

Lime 10.31  “ ‘‘ 

ANALYSES  OF  DRIED  ROOTS. 

^Organic  matter 92.58  per  cent 

Ash 7.42  “ “ 

"Containing  nitrogen 80  ‘‘  “ 

ASH  CONTAINED. 

Phosphoric  acid 5.73  per  cent- 

Potash 23.42  “ “ 

Lime 13.14  “ “ 


[541 


Applying  these  analyses  we  have  on  one  acre  of  cow  pea 


roots : 

Organic  matter 964.68  lbs 

Mineral  matter 77.32  “ 

CONTAINING 

Nitrogen 8.34  lbs 

Phosphoric  acid 4.43 

Potash ' ....18.10 

Lime 10.16  “ 


ONE  ACRE  OF  COW  PEA  VINES. 


Orgonic  matter 3005.70  lbs 

Mineral  matter 324.30  “ 

CONTAINING 

Nitrogen , 56.61  lbs 

Phosphoric  acid 15.96  “ 

Potash 92.46 

Lime 32.44  “ 


One  acre  therefore  of  pea  roots  contains  of  plant  food 
amounts  about  equal  to  120  lbs  cotton  seed  meal  and  130  lbs 
kainite. 

One  acre  of  pea  vines  contains  amounts  about  equal  to  800 
lbs.  cotton  seed  meal,  and  G40  lbs  kainite,  so  far  as  nitrogen  and 
potash  are  concerned,  and  over  supply  of  iihosphoric  acid  by 
about  8 lbs. 

V/hen  both  are  returned  to  the  land  there  is  an  amount  of 
plant  food  equal  to  920  lbs.  cotton  seed  meal,  770  lbs.  kainite. 

AYe  thus  see  that  the  vines  are  by  far  the  richer  in  plant 
food.  Why  then  do  we  not  readily  see  the  diiference  in  in- 
creased yields  when  the  vines  are  turned  under  and  when  they 
are  removed  ? Many  reasons  exist.  Frequently  vines  are  turn- 
ed in  a continuous  layer  just  below  the  surface,  where  they  re- 
main for  some  time  undecomposed,  greatly  to  the  injury  of  the 
soil  and  crop.  Sometimes  these  vines  produce  a sourness  in  the 
soil,  especiallj^  when  there  is  a deficiency  of  lime.  In  open  po- 
rous soils  vines  turned  in  green  in  the  fail  or  summer  rapidlj" 
decompose,  and  the  products  of  fermentation  are  leached  be- 
yond the  reach  of  the  roots  of  crops  by  spring.  Again  vines 
turned  in  dry  in  the  fall,  often  remain  undecomposed  through 
the  next  season^  especially  in  stiff  clay  soil,  and  therefore  show 
no  apparent  benefit  the  first  year.  Such  is  probably  tlie  case  in 
our  stiff*  alluvial  lands  of  South  Louisiana. 

Wliatever  the  opinions  of  practical  men  may  be,  the  fact 
remains  that  when  a heav^^  crop  of  vines  are  turned  under,  a 


[55] 


large  amount  of  j)laut  food  is  returned  to  the  soil,  which  sooner 
or  later  must  be  utilized.  It  is  therefore  good  economy  to  turn 
in  the  vines  whenever  we  can  spare  them  from  our  stock.  The 
benefits  of  the  root  residues  are  far  more  apparent,  because  so 
ultimately  incorporated  with  the  soil  they  soon  decompose  and 
furnish  valuable  plant  food,  at  same  time  by  their  decomposition. 

There  is  found  an  innumerable  number  of  little  air  and 
water  ducts  through  the  soil,  and  in  these  the  carbonic  acid  gener- 
ated by  decay  will  act  upon  a maximum  amount  of  soil,  and 
through  these  passages  an  exces  of  water  will  escape,  followed 
by  air,  which  will  aid  in  preparing  the  soil  for  the  future  crop.  > 
Since  pea  vine  hay  is  so  universally  used  as  stock  food  in 
Louisiana,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give  the  analyses  of  it  when 
cut  very  green  and  fully  ripe. 

ANALYSES  OF  PEA  VINE  HAY. 

When  cut  ripe.  When  cut  green. 


Albuminoids 10.63  17.01 

Cellulose 32.60  21.68 

Fat 3.20  2.90 

Carbohydrates 43.83  45.98 

Ash 9.74  9.43 


The  above  shows  that  for  hay  the  pea  vines  should  be  cut 
green  i.  e.  just  as  they  begin  to  form  green  peds. 

Before  leaving  this  subject  it  may  be  of  interest  to  state 
that  there  was  washed  up  with  the  roots  of  the  pea  vines,  coco 
roots,  equal  to  3158  lbs.  (dried)  per  acre.  They  have  not  yet 
been  analyzed. 

PLAT  II— STUBBLE  CANE. 

Off  barred  Feb.  3d,  and  hoed  and  middles  split  out  Marcli 
1st,  manures  applied  March  29th  and  30th.  Subsequent  treat- 
ment with  disk  harrow.  Laid  by  with  4-horse  plow. 

The  object  of  these  experiments  is  to  test  the  efficacy  of 
certain  popular  manures,  together  with  the  quantities  most  de- 
sirable for  most  productive  results.  Accordingly  varied  quan- 
tities of  cotton  seed  meal  and  acid  phosphate,  cotton  seed  meal 
and  fioats.  Tankage  alone  in  various  quantities  and  combined 
with  other  substances,  cotton  seed  alone  and  in  combination,  etc. 

Besiilts  are  appended. 


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[•59] 

PLAT  II.— Stubble  Cane. 
Harvested  November  8th — December  2d,  1887. 


No.  of  Experiment 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Tiekl  per  acre  tons 

2:1. 28 

28.22 

33.38 

30.20 

30.20 

Total  Solids 

IG.IO 

14.97 

14.83 

14.00 

14.56 

Sucrose 

14.90 

12.30 

12.10 

12.40 

11.53 

Glucose 

.80 

1.2i 

1.18 

1.30 

1.13 

lbs  av.  sugar  per  acre 

4405 

4143 

4500 

4418 

4140 

No.  of  Experiment 

10 

9 

8 

* 

6 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

20  ..82 

21  20 

32.00 

27.34 

28.78 

Total  rolids 

10.50 

10.00 

15.00 

15.00 

14.60 

14.40 

14.10 

12 . 30 

12.50 

11.90 

Glucose 

.40 

.04 

.93 

1.13 

1.04 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . 

3990 

3911 

4895 

4130 

3905 

No.  of  Experiment 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

18.70 

21.90 

17.40 

24.83 

27.32 

Total  Solids 

10.30 

15.80 

15.80 

15.40 

15.30 

Sucrose 

13.50 

13.50 

1.3.. 50 

12.83 

13.00 

Glucose 

.81 

.81 

.84 

.94 

.98 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . 

3210 

.3777 

2981 

3959 

4410 

No.  of  Experiment 

20 

■ 19 

18 

17 

IG 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

19.03 

20.18 

19.14 

27.40 

29.56 

Total  Solids 

10.00 

15.80 

.15.70 

15.20 

15.76 

Sucrose 

13.70 

13.70 

13.00 

13.70 

j 12.30 

Glucose 

.74 

.94 

.80 

.84  1 

1.00 

lbs.  av.  sugar  i)er  acre. . . 

3300 

4505 

3299 

4388  j 

4469 

No.  of  Experiment 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

Yield  ner  acre  tons 

22.00 

25.08 

18.72 

20.. 52 

27.96 

Total  Solids 

10.40 

15.00 

15.80 

15.40 

15.76 

Sucrose 

14.. 50 

13.80 

14.00 

13.00 

13.90 

Glucose 

.74 

.80 

. i i 

.84 

.80 

lbs.  av,  sugar  per  acre. . . 

4237 

4498 

3300 

4359 

4960 

No.  of  Experiment 

30 

29 

28 

O 

2G 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

27.02 

25.. 38 

20.42 

25.02 

32  12 

Total  Solids 

15.80 

15.40 

15.00 

15.20 

15,00 

Sucrose 

14.00 

13.00 

14.50 

12.00 

12.00 

Glucose 

-94 

.98 

.94 

.92 

:80 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . 

4703 

4310 

3742 

4024 

4816 

No.  of  Experiment 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

Yield  per  acre  tons 

29.02 

20.72 

21.90 

23.92 

28.20 

Total  Solids 

10.01 

15.09 

15.50 

15.10 

15.16 

Sucrose 

14.40 

14.30 

14.00 

12.00 

13.20 

Glucose 

.70 

. 1.00 

1.00 

1.05 

.93 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre . . . 

5387 

4788 

3870 

3510 

4601 

o 


The  iuspectiou  of  above  table  will  show  that  many  of  the 
popular  mauiires  are  exceedingly  valuable;  that  the  dilferent 
forms  of  nitrogen  in  cotton  seed,  cotton  seed  meal,  tankage  and 
sulphate  ammonia,  and  dried  blood,  are  about  equally  efficacious 
as  sources  of  nitrogen,  and  that  large  tonnage  is  not  always 
productive  of  largest  sugar  yields,  and  therefore  manuring 
should  be  done  judiciously  both  as  to  quantity  and  quality. 

PLATS  IV  AND  V— SPRING  PLANT  CANE. 


Planted  March  3d  upon  freshly  prepared  land  which  had 
been  for  years  in  succession  cane.  The  drouth  prevented  early 
fermentation  and  hence  it  was  May  before  the  sufficient  stand 
was  obtained  to  permit  of  cultivation. 

The  following  are  the  manures  used  per  acre  on  each  i)lat; 


No  lY  untiled  and  No. 
identical: 

Exi^erimeut  No.  1 


V tiled;  otherwiso  the  treatment  was- 


a 


( 500  lbs. 
\ 500  lbs. 
( 500  lbs. 
^ j 500  lbs 
\ 500  lbs 
3 — Nothing. 

( 500  lbs 
4_  ) 500  lbs 
( 500  lbs 
500  lbs 
^ 500  lbs 
6 — Nothing. 

( 500  lbs 
7_  > 500  lbs 
( 500  lbs 
Q I 500  lbs 
\ 500  lbs 
0 — Nothing. 

t 500  lbs 
10 — \ 500  lbs 
( 500  lbs 
^ . ( 500  lbs 

\ 500  lbs 


.Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Acid  Phosphate. 
Kainite. 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Acid  Phosphate. 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Orchilla  Phosphate. 
Kainite. 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Orchilla  Phosphate. 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Bone  Dust. 

Kainite. 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Bone  Dust. 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
Floats. 

Kaiuite. 

Cotton  Seed  Meal.. 
Floats. 


[61] 


% 


12 —  Nothing. 

( 500  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

13 — ) 500  lbs  Ashes  Cotton  Hulls. 

I 500  lbs  Kainite. 

. f 500  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

\ 500  lbs  Ashes  Cotton  Hulls. 

15 —  Nothing. 

16 —  500  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

17 —  500  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

IS — 500  lbs  Kainite. 

19 — Nothing. 

The  treatment  of  this  plat  was  the  same  as  others  already 
given,  except  it  was  not  laid  by  till  July. 


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PLAT  lY — Untiled  and  V Tiled. 


UNTILED 


TILED 


No.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons. . . 

Total  Solids 

Sucrose 

(ilucose 


No.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons. . . 

Total  Solids 

Sucrose 

(Jlucose 

lbs  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . 


No.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons. . . 

Total  Solids 

Sucrose  

(xlucose 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre. . . 


No.  of  Experiment. . 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

Total  Solids 

Sucrose 

( Jlucose 

11)3.  av.  sugar  per  acre 


No,  of  Experiment. 

Yidld  per  acre  in  tons 

Total  Solids 


(ilucose 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre. 


No.  of  Experiment i ig 


Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

Total  Solids 


<llucose 

lbs,  av.  sugar  iier  acre. . . 


No.  of  Experiment. . 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

Total  Solids 

Sircrose 

(Jlucose 

lbs.  av.  sugar  per  acre 


1 

3 

1 

2 

18.92 

25.00 

14.95 

27.10 

26.64 

1.5.2() 

14.86 

12.50 

15.16 

13.00 

14.96 
12 . 50 

15.46 
11 .40 

1.06 

i!o5 

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ll05 

1^30 

2811 

3824 

2600 

4145 

3524 

4 

5 1 

6 

4 

1 5 

23.26 

23.70 

15.30 

26.14 

24.80 

15.5G 

15.56 

14.26 

14.86 

15.06 

12.40 

12.40 

12.50 

12.00 

12.50 

1.00 

1.04 

1.09 

1.05 

1.05 

3549 

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3596 

2161 

3815 

3793 

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20.16 

23.68 

17.18 

24.64  1 

24.60 

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15.06 

14.96 

14.96 

12.00 

12.70 

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1.40 

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1.05 

3330 

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1 2676  1 

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13.70 

13.60 

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1 3329 

2610 

19  f 

19 

18  1 

19  1 

1 I'' 

13.98  1 

13.98 

14.82  1 

19.17  1 

1 19.17 

15.34  f 

15.34 

14.97  S 

13.97  1 

13.97 

13.35  1 

13.35 

13.70  ! 

12.60  1 

I 12.60 

1 I 

.77 

1.00  1 

.93  1 

.93 

I 2386  1 

2386 

2531  j 

2845  i 

2845 

L L— 

Nos.  IG  is  Cotton  Seed  Meal  alone, 
Nos.  17  is  Acid  I’Lospliate  alone.' 
Nos.  19  is  Kainite  alone. 


Cotton  Meal 
Acid  Pliospbat( 


Cotton  Meal 
Orchilla 


Cotton  Meal 
Bone  Meal 


Cotton  Meal 
Floats. 


Cotton  Meal. 
Cotton  Hull  Ashes. 


[65] 


DEDUCTIONS  FROM  ABOVE. 


Sett  1.  Tens,  lbs  avai.  sugar. 

Increase  Experiment  1 tiled  over  untiled 8.18  1334 

. “ “ 4 “ “ “ 2.88  266 

a 7 “ <<  4.48  

‘‘  “ 10  “ “ '.v.v.'.y.y.y.io'A2  1824 

“ . “ 13  “ “ “ 8.44  2129 

“ “ 16  “ 4.00  351 

“ 19  “ “ “ 5.19  459 

Total 43.59  6353 

Sett  2.  Tons,  lbs  avail,  sugar. 

Increase  Experiment  2 tiled  over  untiled 1.64  

“ ‘‘  5 “ “ 1.10  197 

‘‘  “ 8 “ “ 92  633 

“ “ 11  “ “ 2.95  717 

i‘  ti  14  “ “ 2.22  

“ “ 17  “ ‘‘  “ 3.92  1007 

“ “ 19  “ “ 5.19  459 

Total 18.04  ’ 3013 

Less 519 

2494 

Increase  of  14  Experiments  tiled  over  untiled 61.63  8858 

Average  increase  per  acre 4 40  633 

Average  increase  1st  sett 6.23  909 

Average  increase  2d  sett 2.58  357 


Here  the  average  increase  of  all  the  tiled  over  the  untiled 
plats  is  at  the  rate  of  4.4  tons  of  cane  with  633  lbs  available 
sugUr  per  acre.  Taking  the  1st  sett  of  untiled  that  furthest 
from  the  tiled  and  we  have  the  increase  6.23  tons  and  909  lbs 
available  sugar  which  more  nearly  represents  the  true  difference 
between  tiled  and  untiled  land,  since  the  second  sett  runs 
within  a few  feet  of  the  tiled  land  and  the  beneficial  effects  of 
the  tiles  are  perfectly  apparent  both  in  the  working  of  the  land 
and  the  increase  of  crops.  On  this  piece  the  difference  between 
it  and  its  fellow  tiled,  is  only  2.58  tons  and  357  lbs.  available 
sugar. 

EFFECTS  OF  TILE  DRAINING 

Are  apparent  not  only  in  the  increased  yield,  but  in  the  im- 
proved tilth  of  the  soil.  In  fact  not  only  is  the  soil  directly 
over  the  tiles  improved,  but  the  good  effects  are  gradually  ex. 
tending  laterally  and  even  plainly  visible  this  year  in  the  out- 
side rows  of  the  adjoining  plats.  Plats  IV  and  YII  adjoin  plats 
V and  VI  which  are  tiled  drained.  The  experiments  on  the  ex- 
treme left  upon  the  former  (2nd  sett  in  above)  and  those  upon 
ithe  extreme  right  in  the  latter  (basal  mixture  in  the  phosphoric 


[66] 


acid  manures)  were  this  year  plainly  influenced  by  the  proxim- 
ity of  the  tiles.  So  decided  is  their  influence,  that  experiments 
of  a manurial  character  cannot  in  the  future  be  made  upon  them..- 
It  may  be  asserted  with  almost  a certainty,  that  tiles  properly 
laid  will  increase  the  crop  fully  33J  per  cent  in  these  black 
lands. 

SUMMARY  OF  RESULTS. 

1st.  That  the  upper  portion  of  the  cane  is  the  equal  if  not 
the  superior  to  the  lower  part  for  seed,  while  the  latter  is  much 
richer  in  sugar,  suggesting  the  propriety  of  utilizing  the  upper 
thirds  of  the  cane  for  seed  and  the  lower  f of  the  entire  crop 
for  the  manufacture  of  sugar. 

2d.  That  two  stalks  of  good  sound  cane  properly  planted  iu 
a well  prepared  seed  bed  is  an  abundance  for  maximum  results. 
More  than  this  if  germination  be  good,  may  prevent  that  healthy 
suckering  so  essential  to  a full  development  of  a cane  plant. 

3d.  That  seed  from  good  first,  year  stubble  has  given  as 
good  results  the  first  year,  as  seed  from  plant. 

4th.  That  a large  application  (3  tons  i)er  acre)  of  caustiu 
lime  seems  to  have  increased  the  sugar  in  the  cane. 

oth.  That  stubbles  (ratoons)  come  equally  as  well  from  the 
original  sprouts  as  from  suckers. 

Gth.  That  several  foreign  varieties  of  cane  promise  adapta- 
bility to  our  wants. 

7th.  That  nitrogen  in  some  form  is  needed  by  our  soils  to 
grow  cane. 

8th.  That  while  nitrogen  in  the  form  of  sulphate  of  ammo- 
nia has  given  slightly  better  results,  no  form  of  nitrogen  ap- 
pears to  have  a marked  advantage 'over  any  other,  thus  ena- 
bling us  to  utilize  our  own  cotton  seed  meal  with  the  full  assur- 
ance that  it  is  the  equal  of  dried  blood,  fish  scrap,  etc. 

Oth.  That  excessive  quantities  of  nitrogen  are  injurious  to 
the  sugar  content,  and  that  24  and  48  lbs.  per  acre  are  amounts 
suggested  by  experiments  for  best  results. 

10th.  That  nitrogen  to  produce  the  maximum  results  should 
be  used  in  moderate  quantities  and  properly  combined  with 
mineral  manures. 

11th.  That  mineral  manures  alone  are  without  apparent  ef' 


[671 

lect,  but  combined  properly  with  nitrogen  are  productive  of  the 
highest  results. 

12th.  That  phosphoric  acid  is  needed  by  cane  on  tliis  soil 
and  is  best  supplied  in  soluble  forms.  The  insoluble  forms  in 
floats  and  Orchilla  guano,  seems  also  after  two  years  application 
to  be  highly  available. 

13th.  That  excessive  quantities  of  phosphoric  acid  are  not 
beneficial. 

11th.  That  potash  in  small  quantities  is  without  visible  re- 
sults, the  year  it  is  applied,  but  used  in  excessive  quantities  for 
two  years  upon  the  same  soil  has  given  an  increaseel  tonnage  of 
cane  without  altering  its  sugar  content. 

loth.  That  cane  gives  no  preference  for  any  form  of  potash. 

16th.  That  excessive  quantities  of  nitrogenous  manures  pro- 
duce large  tonnage  with  very  low  sugar  content.  (See  Plat  XY.) 

17th.  That  an  average  crop  of  pea  vines  turned  under,  fur. 
nish  to  each  acre  about  56  lbs.  nitrogen,  16  lbs.  phosphoric 
acid  and  02  lbs  potash,  quantities  contained  in  SOU  lbs.  cotton 
seed  meal  and  640  lbs.  kainite. 

18th.  That  the  roots  of  peas  after  the  vines  are  removed, 
furnish  plant  food  equivalent  to  about  what  is  contained  in  120 
lbs.  cotton  seed  meal  and  130  lbs.  kainite,  and  that  their  good 
efiects  when  turned  over  without  vines  must  be  traceable  rather 
to  mechanical  than  chemical  proiierties. 

19th.  That  draining  the  land  by  tiles  has  increased  both  the 
tonnage  and  available  sugar ; this  year  the  increase  is  calcu- 
lated at  about  33J  per  cent. 

20th.  That  the  effects  of  tiles  are  plainly  discernible  in  the 
plats  adjoining  those  tiled,  for  distances  equalling  20  feet. 

Applying  the  above  deductions,  the  Station  would  suggest 
that  manuring  should  be  intelligently  done  with  reference  to 
both  the  soil  and  the  cane.  ^ If  the  cane  is  grown  for  the  mill 
a fully  matured  stalk  is  desired,  which  cannot  be  obtained  by 
excessive  manuring.  If  grown  for  seed,  high  fertilization  is 
jjermissible  but  not  advisable. 

If  the  soil  be  in  good  tilth  and  rich  in  vegetable  matter,  less 
nitrogen  and  more  mineral  manures  are  suggested.  Such  is 
usually  the  case  with  new  ground  and  where  a heavy  coat  of 


[68] 


pea  vines  has  been  turned  under.  If  the  soil  be  fair  both  in 
tilth  and  organic  matter,  then  the^  nitrogen  and  mixed  minerals 
should  be  used  in  such  a proportion  as  to  afford  a slight  excess 
of  phosphoric  acid  over  nitrogen.  If  the  soil  has  been  worn  by 
continuous  cropping  in  cane,  then  nitrogen  should  equal  phos- 
phoric acid,  such  obtains  usually  with  stubble  and  succession 
cane. 

It  is  therefore  safe  to  recommend  for  new  ground,  pea  vines 
fallow,  etc.,  a manure  containing  one  part  of  nitrogen  to  four 
parts  of  phosphoric  acid,  a mixture  of  one  part  of  cotton  seed 
meal  to  two  of  acid  phosphate  fills  this  requirement. 

For  fair  soils  the  nitrogen  should  be  to  i:)hosphorio  acid  as 
1 and  2.  Such  is  found  in  an  equal  mixture  of  cotton  seed  meal 
and  acid  phosphate. 

For  stubble  and  succession  lands  the  nitrogen  may  equal  or 
even  exceed  the  phosphoric  acid.  Two  parts  of  cotton  seed 
meal  to  one  part  of  acid  phosphate  supply  these  ingredients  in 
about  equal  quantities.  Three  parts  of  the  former  to  one  of  the 
latter  may  sometimes  be  used  with  excellent  results. 

Instead  of  cotton  seed  meal  the  other  forms  of  nitrogen  may 
be  used  with  equal  prospects  of  success. 

The  above  mixtures  usually  produce  the  best  results  when 
used  in  quantities  not  exceeding  800  to  900  lbs.  per  acre.  It  is 
believed  that  a good  crop  of  cane  with  good  seasons,  well  and 
early  cultivated,  can  appropriate  about  these  quantities  of  ma- 
nure by  the  1st  or  middle  of  September,  at  which  time  it  is  de- 
sirable that  its  growth  should  be  arrested  in  order  that  matura- 
tion may  begin. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  AND  LABOR  A.TORY  EXPERIMENTS. 

Pending  the  issuance  of  a Bulletin  containing  the  record  of 
work  in  the  sugar  house,  the  following  announcements  of  results 
may  not  be  inappropriate  in  this  Bulletin.  Mention  has  been 
made  in  this  Bulletin  of  the  superior  content  of  sugar  in  the 
lower  portion  over  the  upper  part  of  the  stalk  of  cane.  FTumer- 
ous  experiments  have  been  made  to  test  this.  The  following  are 
uselected  to  illustrate  this  truth. 

Experiment  Xo.  1.  A stalk  8.17  feet  long  was  divided  into 


[69] 


4 parts  of  equal  lengths.  Each  part  was  weighed,  passed 
through  a mill,  and  bagasse  weighed.  The  juice  was  also  caught 
and  carefully  analysed.  The  following  are  the  results  : 


No.  of  Part. 


o 


aj 

bO 

ei 

«+-(  ai 

O g 


%\  a 


a 

iC  p 


or!  r 


Top,  upper  fourth 

Next  to  upper  fourth. 
Next  to  lower  fourth . . 
Butt  or  lower  fourth. . 


120. 


24. 

127.5 

128.5 


.587.7i235-y  '351.8,  59.88 
694.2|234.05‘460.l!  66.29 
803. 01256. 501546. 5i  68.06 
820. 5i268. 901551. 6!  67-23 


11.3 

15.4 
16.3 
16.7 


8.5| 

12.5 

13.5 
14.8 


1.12 

.80 

.78 

.64 


23.29 

51.99 

67-38 

76.34 


Here  the  ufiper  fourth  which  is  about  20  per  cent,  by  weight 
of  the  stalk,  gave  23.99  grams  of  available  sugar  out  of  a total 
of  220  grams,  or  about  11  per  cent.  Again  the  per  ceutage  of 
extraction  was  also  considerably  below  the  others. 

Experiment  No.  2.  Another  stalk  7 feet  4 inches  long  was 
also  cut  into  four  parts  of  about  equal  lengths,  the  juice  Ccureful- 
ly  weighed  and  analyzed.  The  following  are  the  results  : 


No.  of  Part. 

Weight  of  juice  iu 
grams. 

I § 

! 72 
o 

05 

a 

o 

o 

Analysis. 

Grams  avail,  sugar. 

iavail’ble 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

<D 

OD 

o 

o 

3 

3 

per  t 

1 

3 i 

s 

on. 

ao 

a 

Top,  upper  fourth 

343.2 

67.57 

14.6;11.2 

1.03 

|32.7 

6.4 

128 

Next  to  upper  fourth 

415.61 

71.37 

16.6114.5 

1.00 

.54. 

9.27 

185 

Next  to  lower  fourth 

360.3 

71.70 

16.6115.0 

.86' 

|49.4 

9.80 

196 

Next  to  lower  fourth 

411.2 

70.16il7.1il5.3 

.75158.3: 

10.00 

200 

The  average  of  all  per  ton  is  177  lbs.  available  sugar. 

Without  the  top  or  upper  fourth 194  “ “ “ 

Without  the  upper  half 198  “ “ “ 

Without  the  upper  three-fourths 200  “ “ “ 

Here  the  upper  fourth  representing  about  23  per  cent,  in 

weight  of  entire  stalk,  gave  only  about  11  per  cent,  of  the  avail- 
able sugar.  Nothing  more  clearly  shows  that  the  upper  fourth 
is  decidedly  inferior  to  the  rest  of  the  stalk  in  sugar  content. 


[70] 


ANALYSIS  OF  A STALK  OF  CANE. 

A stalk  of  cane  was  split  its  entire  length.  The  first  half 
was  run  through  the  mill  and  the  juice  and  fiagasse  analyzed 
separately.  The  second  half  was  analyzed  as  a whole.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  results : 

Mill  Extraction  gave  for  the  1st  Half- 

Juice  76.32  per  cent. 

Bagasse 23.68  percent. 

ANALYSIS. 

Total  solids.  Sucrose. 

Juice 15.9  13.4 

Bagasse 44.96  9.28 

Therefore  we  have  in  100  parts  of  the  cane  : 

Water  in  juice 64.17  Sucrose iu  juice 10.21 

Water  in  bagasse 13.10  Sucrose  iu  bagasse 2.21 

Total  in  cane 77,27  Total  in  cane 12.42 

The  second  half  gave  by  direct  analysis  : 

Water  77.13  per  cent.  Sucrose  12.47  per  cent.  Fibre  8.39  p.  c. 
Ash  .62  Glucose  .70  “ Total  sol.  22,87  p.  c. 


Therefore  we  have  for  100  parts  of  cane  : 


1st  half. . . 

Water. 

Sucjose.  Glucose. 

12.42  pc  — 

Fibre 

Ash 

0th.  Sol. 

2(1  half. . . 

77.13 

12.47 

.70 

8.39 

.62 

.69 

Average  . 

77.16 

12.45 

.70 

.62 

.69 

And  this  may  be  taken  as  a fair  analysis  of  Louisiana 
plant  cane. 

METHODS  OF  CLARIFICATION. 


The  following  were  used  : 1st,  lime  alone  ; 2nd,  sulphur  and 
lime  ; 3d,  bisulphite  and  lime,  and  4th,  Tannic  extract  and  lime. 

These  were  used  under  varying  conditions.  An  open  piaii 
was  used  to  concentrate  in  this  year  and  a loss  always  occurred 
by  inversion  during  concentration.  When  lime  was  used  alone 
or  with  Tannic  extract  the  inversion  was  the  least,  in  fact  very 
little.  With  sulphur  and  bisulpihite,  there  was  always  inversion 
increasing  just  in  proportion  to  the  acidity  of  the  clarified  juice. 
It  is  of  the  utmost  importance  when  these  reagents  are  used, 
that  the  juice  be  made  as  nearly  neutral  as  possible  with  lime 
before  concentrating. 

The  bisulphite  above  was  kindly  donated  by  Mr.  H.  Bonna- 
bel,  of  New  Orleans.  The  Tannic  extract  was  donated  by  Mr. 


[71] 


Frank  Ames,  of  Boston,  the  owner  of  the  fine  sugar  plantation 
{Milladen)  opposite  Kew  Orleans.  This  extract  costs  in  Boston 
five  cents  a x>ound  and  this  quantity  clarifies  200  gallons  of 
Juice.  Samples  of  the  sugars  and  molasses  madeliy  this  process 
have  been  carefully  preserved  for  future  examination.  The 
scums  and  settlings  from  Tannic  extract  were  easily  filteered 
and  the  cakes  made,  are  to-day  i)ertectly  sound,  showing  no 
sign  of  fermentation,  while  those  made  otherwise  have  long 
since  whitened  with  decomposing  matters.  The  filter  press 
made  by  Posey  & Jones,  and  kindly  lent  the  Station  was  again, 
used  this  year  to  demonstrate  the  loss  occasioned  by  the  waste- 
-ful  process  of  throwing  the  scums  and  settlings  in  the  ditch. 

EXPERIMENTS  WITH  DECOLORIZING  AGENTS. 

Kleeman’s  process  of  filtering  juices  and  scums  was  fre- 
quently tried  during  the  season,  using  two  varieties  of  German 
lignite,  Alabama  lignite  and  charcoal. 

Both  the  scums  and  whole  juices  were  each  separately  tried 
with  the  above  lignites,  treating  them  successively,  acid,  neutral 
and  alkaline.  The  per  centage  of  each  lignite  to  the  juice  used 
most  desirable  for  good  work,  was  also  determined.  Both  the 
•German  and  Alabama  lignite  filtered  well  and  strongly  decol- 
orized, preference  being  given  by  all  present  to  the  latter. 
Charcoal  was  very  inferior.  The  best  work  was  accomplished 
with  5 lbs.  lignite  to  30  gallons  of  juice.  Alabama  lignite  was 
successfully  used  also  in  brightening  black  molasses. 

' Ten  tons  of  this  Alabama  lignite  has  been  donated  for  fil- 
tering purposes  on  a large  scale  to  parties  in  ISTew  Orleans,  and 
hopes  are  entertained  of  its  successful  introduction  into  the 
sugar  industry  of  Louisiana. 

Full  details  of  above  experiments  will  be  given  in  our  Bul- 
letin on  the  sugar  house. 

COXCLUSIOXS. 

In  the  last  quarter  of  a century  wonderful  progress  has 
been  made  in  machinery  for  making  sugar,  so  that  the  yield  per 
ton  of  cane  has  been  gradually  increasing  until  to-day  the  start- 
ling announcement  is  made  that  by  difi'usiou  upon  Magnolia 


; 


[72] 

plantation  231  lbs.  of  sugar  per  ton  of  cane  has  been  obtained,- 
Such  progress  in  a few  years  is  almost  incredible.  The  open 
kettle  has  been  supplanted  by  the  vacuum  strike  pan ; the  cen- 
trifugal purges  in  a few  moments  and  in  a much  more  satisfac- 
tory manner,  the  masse  cuite  that  once  drained  for  weeks  in  the 
purging.  The  evaporation  “in  vacuo”  by  the  simple,  cheap,  and 
economical  double,  triple  or  quadruple  effect,  is  as  far  superior 
to  the  oi^en  pans,  as  this  is  to  the  iron  kettle.  The  three  roller 
mill  banished  the  two  vertical  rolls,  to  be  in  turn  overshadowed 
by  the  five  roller.  Even  these,  with  a shredder  attachment,  is 
now  subordinated  in  its  efficiency  to  the  diffusion  cells,  a recog- 
nition of  the  superiority  of  chemical  effect  over  mechanical 
power. 

Such  has  been  the  marvellous  march  of  mechanical  improve- 
ment in  the  manufacture  of  sugar.  Has  the  agriculture  of  sugar 
kept  pace  with  its  mechanics  ! By  no  means ! The  reasons  for 
this,  numerous  and  incontrovertible,  need  not  be  given  here. 
Suffice  to  say,  that  in  the  next  quarter  of  the  century  a large 
portion  of  our  time  must  be  devoted  to  an  education  of  the  cane 
plant.  It  must  be  sent  to  school  and  be  made  to  imbibe  in  large 
quantities  those  ingredients  which  shall  cause  its  cells  to  dis- 
tend with  saccharine  life.  The  action  of  manures,  the  func- 
tions of  the  soil,  the  differentiation  of  varieties,  and  the  vicissi- 
tude of  the  seasons,  must  engage  the  intelligence  of  our  plant- 
ers. In  the  field  and  in  the  laboratory  must  be  the  worn  of 
those  who  wish  to  advance  the  . science  and  art  of  successful 
sugar  growing  in  the  next  generation.  It  is  therefore  with  par- 
donable pride  that  this  Station  presents  this  Bulletin  to  the  pub- 
lic, the  record  of  the  first  systematic  work  in  the  agriculture  of 
sugar  cane  done  in  Louisiana,  and  invites  a careful  perusal  of 
its  contents,  and  such  an  earnest  moral  and  pecuniary  support 
as  to  enable  it  to  amplify  its  work  and  extend  its  investigations. 


[73] 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 

FOR  JULY  1887. 


f 

Date. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Rainfall. 

■ 1 

July. 

9 a.  m. 

3 P.  M. 

9 P.  M. 

Maximum 

Minimum. 

Inches. 

1 

82° 

75° 

75° 

82° 

70° 

3.29 

2 

80 

80 

— 

80 

71 

.80 

3 

81 

80 

79 

92  / 

68 

4 

85 

82 

78 

92 

72 

5 

87 

88 

80 

94 

73 

' 6 

84 

81 

78 

92 

74 

.33 

7 

85 

86 

77 

92 

73 

.61 

8 

83 

88 

79 

92 

74 

• 

9 

85 

91 

81 

92 

74 

10 

87 

80 

— 

93 

76 

11 

86 

89 

76 

94 

74 

12 

87 

81 

80 

94 

71 

.09 

13 

87 

82 

77 

89 

72 

.09 

14 

86 

83 

76 

93 

71 

.33 

15 

85 

85 

80 

93 

71 

16 

85 

90 

86 

91 

73 

17 

85 

86 

80 

95 

76 

.10 

18 

86 

87 

78 

95 

73 

19 

88 

92 

82 

93 

76 

20 

89 

92 

79 

95 

77 

.10 

21 

85 

78 

78 

93 

77 

.92 

22 

85 

89 

82 

93 

75 

23 

83 

84 

79 

93 

75 

.13 

24 

88 

78 

76 

93 

74 

.46 

25 

84 

87 

78 

93 

72 

26 

83 

75 

76 

88 

72 

.31 

27 

82 

90 

83 

91  i 

72 

28 

87 

89 

84 

96  1 

i 76 

29 

90 

92 

85 

95  : 

77 

30 

89 

85 

80 

97 

i 

.30 

31 

89 

92 

84 

94 

' 76 

1 

Average. 

85.4 

86.7 

I 79.4 

j 

i 

7.86 

Maximum  temperature  97°  Daily  rainfall  .253 

Minimum  temperature  68° 


N. 


KECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENF  STATION 
FOR  AUGUST  1887. 


c5 

TEMPERATURE. 

i 

1 

Rainfall. 

Q 

1 

- 

1 

0 

a 

•4^ 

% 

CO 

CO 

M 1 

• s 

a 

ra 

So 

. 

o 

Ph* 

< 

05 

CO 

O ! 

S 

l’ 

83° 

78° 

77° 

91° 

79° 

.65 

2 

86 

85 

82  1 

92 

72 

.3 

89 

83 

80 

95 

76 

.17 

4 

88 

83 

8S  ! 

93 

73 

5 

81 

76 

76  * 

89 

77 

1.67 

6 » 

84 

79 

76  1 

91 

73 

.58 

7 

86 

89 

81 

i 93 

74 

8 

86 

! 89 

8P 

95 

74 

9 

83 

’ 79 

82 

1 91 

74 

.40 

10 

88 

75 

73 

I 86 

73 

.44 

11 

83 

! 84 

78 

1 89 

70 

.49 

12 

84 

j 88 

81 

1 89 

72 

13 

84 

87 

1 77 

! 91 

72 

14 

84 

86 

80 

I 89 

70 

15 

84 

'89 

79 

1 90 

70 

16 

84 

1 84 

80 

1 90 

72 

17 

84 

i 81 

79 

! 91 

74 

.25 

18 

84 

86 

80 

1 89 

75 

J9 

81 

j 89 

80 

90 

75 

20 

84 

1 88 

— 

— 

75 

21 

85 

84 

1 80 

92 

75 

22 

85 

90 

82 

92 

71 

23 

87 

j 93 

! 81 

94 

76 

24 

84 

' 89 

81 

i 90 

75 

25 

85 

' 93 

78 

i 93 

74 

1.43 

26 

84 

1,  8*^ 

77 

! 90 

74 

.5 

27 

77 

1 83 

4 O 1 

i 83 

74 

28 

81 

83 

74 

1 83 

70 

29 

80 

85 

74 

86 

69 

30 

80 

84 

i 76 

85  j 

70 

.12 

31 

78 

j 82 

74 

82 

72 

— 

Average. 

84 

85 

78.4  • 

1 

6.70 

Maximum  temperature  95°  Dailj^  rainfall  .216. 

Minimum  temperature  69° 


[75] 


KECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FOR  SFPTEMBER  1887. 


6 

Q 

TEMPERATURE. 

Rainfall. 

OJ 

-O 

a 

-M 

OJ 

02 

9 A.  M. 

S 

Ch' 

CO 

pi 

Maximum 

! 

Minimum.  | 

Inches. 

1 

80° 

82° 

73° 

83° 

70° 

2 

81 

83 

71 

85 

68 

3 

80 

86 

74 

86 

67 

4 

80 

87 

74 

87 

67 

5 

81 

86 

75 

86 

67 

6 

81 

83 

71 

86 

66 

7 

83 

89 

76 

89 

66 

8 

83 

91 

77 

91 

74 

9 

81 

92 

80 

92 

69 

10 

82 

92 

82 

92 

74 

11 

85 

92 

83 

92 

74 

12 

85 

84 

78 

88 

75 

.47 

13 

78 

86 

76 

89 

70 

14 

81 

87 

75 

87 

70 

15 

82 

90 

78 

90 

71 

16 

83 

91 

77 

91 

73 

17 

80 

89 

77 

89 

72 

18 

76 

79 

77 

79 

72 

.62 

19 

76 

75 

73 

79 

71 

1.62 

20 

73 

79 

75 

79 

71 

. .29 

21 

75 

81 

77 

81 

71 

22 

82 

86 

80 

86 

74 

23 

80 

86 

75 

86 

69 

24 

72 

77 

67  1 

77 

66 

25 

70 

80 

68 

80 

60 

26 

70 

77 

74 

80 

64 

27 

70 

79 

69 

80 

67 

28 

70 

75  j 

64 

75 

62 

29 

69 

75  ! 

63 

76 

57 

30 

70 

79  1 

63 

79 

56 

Averaoje. 

78 

84 

74 

3.30 

Maxirawm  temperature  92°  Daily  rainfall  .11 

-Minimum  temperature  56° 


[76] 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 
FOR  OCTOBER  1887. 


d 

a 

o 

TEMPERATURE. 

Rainfall. 

October. 

9 A.  M. 

CO 

d 

o 

a 

S3 

g 

’h 

eS 

S 

Minimum. 

Inches. 

1 

74 

80 

73 

80 

57 

2 

70 

80 

74 

83 

60 

3 

77 

84 

74 

84 

69 

4 

80 

83 

73 

84 

70 

. 5 

75 

82 

74 

82  1 

65 

6 

80 

85 

74 

85 

65 

7 

78 

81 

73 

82 

65 

8 

81 

85 

73 

85^ 

65 

9 

81 

86 

73 

86/- 

66 

10  1 

• 82 

83 

73 

85 

66 

11  ! 

74 

70 

66 

76 

70 

12  i 

57 

66 

59 

66 

54  . 

13  1 

62 

71 

65 

73 

54 

14  ! 

68 

76 

65 

76 

58 

15  i 

71 

77 

71 

77 

57 

16 

70 

76 

65 

76 

61  ' 

17 

72 

71 

81 

« 

m 

72 

71 

81 

3.2 

19 

72 

68 

82 

61 

3- 

20 

70 

76 

67 

76 

61 

.0(> 

21 

63 

69 

60 

69 

61 

22  1 

62 

59 

70 

55 

23  i 

71 

79  ^ 

68 

79 

56 

24  i 

84 

74 

84 

63 

25  1 

77 

63 

59 

74 

65 

.07 

26 

58 

60 

58 

60 

54 

.06 

27 

60 

63 

1 62 

63 

56 

28 

63 

66 

60 

66 

58 

29 

62 

72 

72 

54 

30 

52 

55 

47 

55 

49 

31 

52 

60 

40  . 

Average. 

67.8 

75 

65.7 

6.39 

Maximum  temperature  86°  Daily  raiufall  .206 


Minimum  temperature  40° 


[77] 


KECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

FOR  NOVEMBER. 


DATE.  . 

Rain 

Fall. 

November. 

Maximum 

Minimum 

Inches 

November  1 

74 

42 

“ 2 

70 

42 

“ 3 

70 

44 

4 

72 

46 

b 

71 

45 

‘‘  6 

53 

“ 7 

75 

53 

“ 8 

69 

64 

“ 9 

69 

64 

‘‘  10 

71 

64 

“ 11 

73 

49 

12 

73 

39 

“ 13 

73 

‘‘  14 

50 

15 

78 

52 

“ 16 

77 

50 

“ 17 

77 

50 

“ 18 

61 

59 

19 

64 

52 

“ 20 

70 

21 

30 

22 

71 

“ 23 

76 

55 

“ 24 

77 

56 

25 

76 

59 

“ 26 

78 

60 

27 

80 

60 

.11 

“ 28 

59 

44 

29 

60 

37 

“ 30 

62 

44 

' 

.11 

Maximum  80° 
Minimum  30° 

Daily  Rainfall  .003. 


[78] 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FOR  DECEMBER  1887. 


Date. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Raiufall. 

'a 

December 

9 A.  M. 

S 

Ch 

CO 

Maximum 

Minimum. 

1 

57 

61 

52 

i 

44 

2 

63 

70 

66 

1 70 

55 

3 

71 

76 

66 

i 76 

63 

.91 

4 

72 

77 

62 

1 77 

60 

5 

59 

65 

57 

1 65 

57 

6 

57 

69 

62 

j 69 

50 

7 

70 

71 

66 

76 

60 

.66 

8 

63 

64 

55 

1 64 

60 

9 

60 

60 

! 52 

1 60 

! 52 

10 

54 

t 60 

i 50 

61 

. 43 

11 

57 

64 

! 56 

1 64 

43 

12 

54 

55 

S 51 

55 

51 

1.42 

13 

54 

60  1 

.. 

1 60 

45 

14 

55 

56  i 

56  j 

56 

52 

.16 

15 

56 

59  1 

55  1 

59 

53  • 

16 

50 

58  1 

50  ! 

58 

42 

.24 

17 

44 

47  1 

42  i 

47 

36 

18 

51 

58  ! 

40 

60 

45 

.94 

19 

55 

61  1 

53 

61 

49 

20 

53 

58  ! 

47 

36 

21 

38 

41  i 

40 

4i 

33 

.95 

22 

36 

40 

40 

41 

55 

23 

43 

44  1 

42 

44 

39 

1.86 

24 

40 

43  1 

40 

43 

33 

25 

43 

46 

48  ' 

39 

26 

48 

61 

63 

40 

27 

47 

65 

63 

67 

45 

28 

48 

51 

40 

51 

30 

29 

35 

43 

40 

43 

34 

30 

42 

52 

59 

71 

39  . 

31 

71 

72 

66 

73 

49 

Average. 

53.2 

58.3 

52.4 

7.14 

Maximum  temperature  77°  Daily  rainfall  .23° 

Minimum  temperature  30° 


[79] 


CONDENSED  WEATHER  RECORD  OF  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FOR  THE  YEAR,  1887. 


MONTH 

Average 

Temperature 

Maximum 

Temperature 

Minimum 

Temperature 

Rainfall 
in  Inches. 

January 

57° 

82° 

22° 

3.31 

February  

65.4 

80 

30 

5.23 

March 

58.2 

81 

40 

3.27 

April  

71.7 

89 

57 

2.21 

May 

78. 

94 

59 

6.56 

June 

84. 

94 

62 

10.35 

July 

84. 

97 

68 

7.86 

August 

82.5 

95 

69 

6.70 

September 

79. 

92 

56 

3.30 

October 

69.5 

86 

40 

6.39 

November 

60. 

80 

30 

.11 

December 

54.6 

77 

30 

7.14 

Average  Temperature  for  the  year 70.3° 

Maximum  “ “ “ 97° 

Minimum  “ “ 22° 

Total  Rainfall  62.43  Inches. 


RICE. 


BULLETIN  No,  15, 

OF  THE 


KENNER  LA. 


W'm.  C.  Stubbs,  Ph.  D., 

DIRECTOR 


— ISSUED  BY 

XHOMiRSON  jr.  BIRD, 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  la. 


i 


BATON  ROUGE : 

printed  by  LEON  JASTRBMSKI,  STATE  PRINTER, 

1888. 


SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  > 
Kenner,  La.,  , \ 

Maj.  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

Bear  Sir — I hand  you  herewith  Bulletin  No.  15,  covering  a 
few  experiments  made  in  Rice  upon  the  plantation  adjoining  this 
Station,  owned  by  Mr.  Wilkinson.  I also  include  a valuable 
paper  on  Rice,  read  before  the  Jefferson  Agricultural  Associa- 
tion by  this  same  gentleman. 

Respectfully, 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


RICE. 


The  Botanical  name  for  our  common  rice  is  ^^Oryza 
The  word  oryza  was  coined  by  the  Greeks  from  the  Asiatic  word 
eruz^  and  our  modern  nations  have  modified  it  into  rice,  riz, 
and  reis.  There  are  four  species  of  rice  described  by  botanists, 
though  it  is  probable  that  they  are  only  varieties.  Oryza  Sativa 
our  common  rice,  Oryza  Mutica,  Dry  or  Mountain  rice,  Oryza 
Praecox,  Early  rice  and  Oryza  Glutinosa,  Clammy  rice.  The 
common  rice  is  the  only  one  grown  in  Louisiana,  so  far  as  the 
writer’s  information  goes.  The  antiquity  of  rice  is  v^fry  great  as 
the  origin  of  its  name  indicates;  and  its  native  habitat  is  unknown. 
It  is  cultivated  largely  in  India,  China  and  Japan  and  also 
sparingly  in  Europe,  In  Carolina  it  has  long  been  a staple 
commodity,  its  introduction  into  this  State  being  made  as  far 
back  as  1698,  by  a small  bag  of  paddy  given  as  a present 
from  Dubois,  treasurer  of  the  East  India  eompany  to  a Caro- 
lina trader.”  It  is  also  said  that  a Dutch  vessel  from  Madagas- 
car brought  rice  subsequently  to  the  same  State  and  to  this  is 
attributed  the  presence  of  two  kinds  there  now.  It  is  said  that 
there  is  a mountain  rice  growing  in  J ava  and  Cochin  China  called 
“ Paddy  Gummy,”  which  thrives  in  dry  light  soils,  even  grow- 
ing upon  the  Hima  layan  mountains  up  to  the  snow  edge,  re- 
quiring no  more  moisture  than  the  usual  rains,  which  are  not 
frequent  during  the  season  of  vegetation.  If  this  be  true  it 
may  be  expected  that  this  rice  will  prove  a valuable  acquisition 
to  the  upland  cultivators  of  this  cereal. 

The  following  admirable  paper  read  before  the  Jefferson 
Agricultural  Society  by  one  of  the  best  and  most  intelligent 
rice  planters  in  the  State,  Mr.  H.  S.  Wilkinson,  of  Jefferson 
parish  is  herein  inserted  without  apology,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
rice  planters  of  the  State. 

ESSAY  BEAD  BEFORE  JEFFERSON  PARISH  AGRICULTURAL  AS- 
SOCIATION BY  H.  S.  WILKINSON. 

The  rice  crop  first  assumed  noticeable  proportions  in  this 


[4] 

state,  when  the  abandoned  plantations  after  the  war,  suggested 
the  possibilities  of  rice  growing  on  a large  scale,  and  the  success 
attending  the  first  enterprising  ventures  caused  others  to  follow, 
until  it  is  to-day,  one  of  the  large  industries.  The  plan  adopted 
by  the  leaders  in  this  industry,  and  which  has  been  closely 
followed  by  their  successors  as  long  as  the  new  plantations 
lasted,  was  to  lease  the  land  for  2 or  3 years,  at  first  3 years  was 
the  limit,  after  this  the  plantation  was  abandoned  and  a new 
one  leased.  This  abandonment  of  valuable  land  was  not  owing 
to  any  want  of  fertility,  but  because  the  methods  used  in  grow- 
ing the  crop,  were  just  what  were  required  to  develop  the 
water  grasses,  the  seed  of  which,  are  not  only  in  the  land,  but 
are  added  to  each  year,  in  the  water  we  use  for  irrigation  after 
the  harvest  the  lands  were  allowed  to  remain  in  whatever 
condition  they  happened  to  be  in,  ditches  filled  up,  etc.,  until 
another  season  opened.  It  took  only  a few  years  of  this  treat- 
ment to  get  the  field  so  foul  with  grasses,  that  it  was  impossible 
to  make  a profitable  crop.  The  supply  of  new  land  being  now 
exhausted,  the  rice  grower — I use  the  word  grower  advisedly — 
has  now  to  learn  how  to  deal  with  the  double  difficulty  of  clean- 
' ing  his  land,  that  is  getting  rid  of  these  grasses  and  restoring 
it  to  its  original  fertility,  as  it  has  undoubtedly  been  impover- 
ished by  constant  cropping  and  neglect.  While  the  attempts  to 
get  rid  of  grass  have  only  secured  failures,  enough  has  been 
found  out  to  permit  me  to  say  that  it  can  be  thinned  out  con- 
siderably, but  from  the  variety  we  have  to  contend  with  em- 
bracing as  they  do,  seed  that  germinate  in  February  to  seed 
that  germinate  in  June,  it  is  hardly  possible,  under  the  present 
methods  to  destroy  it  entirely.  The  principal  source  of  supply 
for  these  grass  seed  comes  from  the  suckers  that  shoot  out  from 
the  old  stalk,  which  is  cut  with  the  rice.  In  15  days  after  a 
field  is  cut,  these  suckers,  which  grow  with  wonderful  rapidity, 
are  “in  seed^^  again.  I have  met  with  some  success  in  destroy- 
ing this  supply,  by  following  up  the  harvester  with  a mowing 
machine,  cutting  everything  down,  allowing  it  to  dry  and  then 
burning  it.  To  do  this  enough  time  must  elapse  before  the 
mowing  machine  is  started  to  allow  the  sucker  to  send  out  new 
leaf,  so  that  when  cut  there  will  be  enough  straw  on  the  ground 
. to  burn.  Mowing  without  burning  is  almost  useless,  the  fire 
is  what  does  the  work,  destroying  not  only  the  seed  but  the 
root  itself,  thus  effectually  preventing  any  further  suckerings, 
any  seed  that  are  left  by  the  fire  are  exposed  and  will  germinate 
during  the  first  warm  wet  spell,  and  be  destroyed  by  the  first 
frost.  A great  objection  to  this  plan  is  that  it  leaves  the  land 
perfectly  bare,  to  be  impoverished  by  the  parching  August  and 
. September  sun,  and  baking  it  so  hard  it  is  difficult  to  plow  it. 
This  objectiou  would  condemn  it  as  a practical  failure,  and  we 
have  yet  to  find  out  some  better  plan  of  destroying  this  supply 
of  seed,  before  we  can  ever  hope  to  succeed  in  establishing 
■ permanent  rice  plantations.  If  these  grass  seed  are  not  des 


[5] 

troyed  in  the  fall,  they  are  scattered  broadcast  by  the  wind, 
protected  from  heat  and  cold  by  the  luxuriant  growth  and  only 
germinate  when  the  continuous  warmth  of  spring,  penetrating 
the  ground,  causes  all  vegetation  to  start.  I thought  these  seed 
might  be  destroyed  in  winter,  by  keeping  them  under  water, 
and  on  one  occasion,  having  a place  well  located  for  that  pur- 
pose, I kept  a field  under  water  all  Avinter,  when  it  was  drained 
in  the  spring  for  plowing^  the  straw,  and  in  fact,  all  vegetable 
matter  had  rotted,  leaving  the  land  perfectly  clean,  but  a few 
days  exposure  to  the  sun  brought  out  a first  class  stand  of  grass. 
They  will  not  rot  without  germinating,  and  they  Avill  not  ger- 
minate in  cold  water.  Having  thus  seen,  that  by  the  methods 
suggested  these  seed  cannot  be  destroyed  profitably  before 
spring,  the  best  plan  to  adopt  will  be  to  burn  off,  as  soon  as 
possible  after  the  grass  is  killed  by  ice^  by  this  means,  some  of 
the  seed  are  destroyed  by  fire,  some  by  ice,  and  the  balance 
being  exposed,  will  feel  the  warmth  much  earlier,  and  will 
germinate  in  time  to  be  destroyed  by  plowing,  provided  the 
plowing  is  delayed  long  enough.  This  method  is  almost  as 
objectionable  as  mowing  and  burning  in  the  fail,  as  the  plowing 
ing  is  delayed  until  March,  the  planting  is  late,  and  all  the 
benefit  of  the  August  market  is  lost,  but  it  is  still  in  my  opinion, 
the  most  advantageous  plan.  The  grass  seed  are  in  the  ground, 
producing  a hardier  and  more  prolific  plant  than  rice.  The  man 
who  calculates  they  will  not  come  up,  finds  out  his  mistake  too 
late  to  remedy  it,  except  at  considerable  cost.  Hand  weeding 
is  out  of  the  question,  being  too  slow  and  expensive  for  the 
large  planter.  One  of  the  great  advantages  of  hand- weeding 
consists  in  pulling  the  grass  up  by  the  roots,  which,  while  it  effec- 
tually destroys  the  grass,  loosens  up  the  land,  and  when  prop- 
erly done  is  equivalent  to  a thorough  working.  This  requires 
considerable  slight  of  hand  and  care,  and  is  a kind  of  work  that 
cannot  be  gotten  out  of  inexperienced  hired  labor.  Rice  comes 
nearer  to  being  a cultivated  crop  in  the  lower  part  of  Plaque- 
mine  parish  than  in  any  other  part  of  this  State.  It  is  claimed 
down  there,  that  rice  never  thrives  until  after  it  is  weeded,  and 
we  can  readily  see  the  reason,  for  in  tearing  up  these  roots,  the 
land  is  loosened,  and  put  into  such  a condition  that  the  rice 
roots  can  penetrate  and  furnish  the  plant  with  a bountiful  sup- 
ply of  nutriment.  But  this  tind  of  cultivation  is  too  expensive 
for  the  large  planter,  and  his  only  resource,  if  caught  with 
a grassy  crop,  is  to  scythe  everything,  and  trust  to  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  rice,  to  smother  out  its  slower  growing  rivals. 
This  it  generally  does,  but  its  race  for  life  absorbs  all  of  its 
energies,  gives  it  no  time  to  sucker,  and  thus  materially  reduces 
the  yield.  When  our  lands  were  new,  15  bbls.  to  the  acre,  was 
about  an  average  yield  on  a large  place,  while  noAV  we  consider 
10  bbls.  to  be  about  the  standard . 

This  great  falling  off  in  a few  years,  is  not  owing  so  much 
to  the  exhaustion  of  the  soil,  as  it  is  to  the  grass  crop,  we  raise 


[6] 


witli  our  rice,  wliich  chokes  out  the  stand,  and  prevents  what 
is  left  from  suckering,  and  to  the  neglect  of  drainage  in  the  fall 
and  winter.  As  I stated  before  the  most  successful  meuns  I 
have  used  for  keeping  my  field  clean,  is  to  burn  off  early,  and 
let  the  grass  come  up  before  ifiowing.  If  a “ clean  stand  can 
be  secured,  it  will  not  be  necessary  ^^  to  scythe,^^  as  the  few 
weeds,  &c.,  can  be  cut  out  with  a cane  knife,  the  crop  can  be 
harv^ested  fullj^  two  weeks  earlier  and  a better  yield  obtained. 
While  grass  is  the  first  and  principal  difficulty  a rice  planter  has 
to  overcome,  to  insure  a good  yield,  he  must  have  a good 
healthy  growth,  and  this  cannot  be  obtained  unless  the  land  is 
in  such  a condition  that  the  roots  may  develop.  It  is  about  as 
difficult  to  get  rice  land  in  this  condition,  as  it  is  to  get  it  clean, 
but  thorough  drainage  in  the  fall  and  winter,  and  in  fact  at  all 
times  except  when  water  is  necessary  for  irrigation,  will  help  it, 
and  is  absolutely  necessary.  Our  low  swampy  lands,  that  are 
constantly  under  water  become  soft  and  and  remain  so,  but  the 
bulk  of  the  rice  crop  is  produced  on  what  we  call  high  land, 
the  water  does  not  lay  on  it  long  enough  to  soften  it,  and  there 
is  as  much  difference  between  drained  and  water  soaked  rice 
lands,  as  between  drained  and  water  soaked  cane  lands.  If 
thoroughly  drained,  rice  lands  when  plowed,  and  are  allowed 
to  remain  long  enough,  ivill  pulverize  and  keep  in  good  condi- 
tion until  continuous  irrigation  settles  it  down,  but  water  sobbed 
land,  it  you  ever  succeed  in  pulverizing  it,  will  be  run  together 
by  the  first  rain,  and  get  as  compact  as  ever.  The  water  may 
penetrate  through  it  after  irrigation  commences,  but  will  never 
soften  it  sufficiently  for  the  root  of  any  plant  raised  for  the 
benefit  of  man,  to  get  much  out  of  it.  Land  should  be  well 
plowed,  and  as  deep  as  possible.  We  have  seen  from  the  ex- 
periments made  by  Prof.  Stubbs,  that  cane  roots  did  not  pene- 
trate below  the  depth  that  the  land  was  xffowed  ; how  much  more 
would  this  apply  to  rice  roots,  which  have  to  eke  their  subsis- 
tance  out  of  land  abused  from  the  time  it  is  first  turned  into  a 
rice  field.  A xdentiful  and  fresh  sux)ply  of  water  is  also  indis- 
pensible,  and  in  summer  the  deet>er  it  can  be  got  the  better  the 
plant  thrives.  The  constant  hot  sun  heats  it,  so  that  while  the 
X)lant  is  not  exactly  scalded,  it  does  not  thrive,  and  the  temper- 
ature can  only  be  ke^ff  down  by  running  in  a fresh  supx)ly. 

While  fall  plowing  is  advantageous  in  turning  the  land  up, 
and  giving  it  chance  to  drain,  it  is  equally  disadvantageous  in 
covering  u^)  not  only  the  grass  seed,  but  the  shattered  rice,  and 
protecting  it  through  the  winter.  I have  tried  this  repeatedly 
with  4 horse  plows,  and  failed  in  every  instance  to  derive  any 
benefit.  It  seems  to  me,  however,  if  we  could  obtain  the  yield 
from  oats,  reported  by  the  Sugar  Experiment  Station  that  the  best 
method  of  keeping  our  . rice  lands  in  good  condition,  would  be  to 
idant  them  in  oats  in  October.  This  could  easily  be  done  and 
the  croi>  harvested  in  time  to  be  followed  by  rice— sometime  in 
May — even  if  the  oat  crop  only  paid  exx)enses,  the  difference 


[7] 


in  the  yield  of  rice  would  pay  a profit  over  the  possible  in- 
creased expense  of  artificial  irrigation.  The  same  condition 
that  produce  the  germination  of  oats,  would  bring  out  the  grass, 
and  shattered  rice,  while  the  fall  plowing  and  drainage  necessary' 
for  oats  would  give  the  land  a chance  to  dry.  Or  even  if  the 
whole  field  could  not  be  planted  in  oats,  one-half,  or  one- third, 
would  enable  a planter  to  clean  his  field  thoroughly  every  tfiree 
years,  keep  his  land  up  to  the  standard  of  excellence,  and  give  a 
l)ermanent  crop,  in  place  of  what  is  now  simply  a speculation, 

METHODS  OF  PLANTING. 

The  method  of  planting  pursued  in  Louisiana,  is  to  sow  the 
rice  broadcast,  using  from  1 to  3 bushels  per  acre  upon  w^ell  pre- 
pared lands  and  harrow  in,  the  ground  being  prepared  with 
ditches  and  embankments  for  inundation  at  will.  It  is  sown 
from  March  till  June.  The  methods  of  flooding  after  the  rice  is 
sown  vary  with  different  planters.  Some  flood  immediately* 
after  planting,  letting  the  water  barely  cover  the  ground,  with- 
drawing it  as  soon  as  the  grain  begins  to  swell.  Some  permit 
the  rice  to  germinate  thoroughly  without  water.  While  others 
even  sprout  the  seed  (by  soaking  bags  of  rice  in  ponds  of  water) 
before  scattering  it  broadcast  over  the  land,  which  is  shallowly 
covered  with  water.  It  is  aftewards  covered  with  a large 
wooden  harrow  with  very  short  wooden  teeth.  All  flood  when 
ttie  rice  has  attained  a height  of  three  or  four  inches,  leaving  the 
top  leaves  a little  above  the  water.  The  water  is  kept  on  the 
rice  until  a short  time  before  harvest  when  it  is  withdrawn  to 
give  the  stalks  strength  and  to  dry  the  ground  for  the  conve- 
nience of  the  reaper. 

UPLAND  RICE. 

Like  other  cereals,  rice  adapts  itself  to  the  soil,  climate  and 
mode  of  cultivation.  Therefore  all  varieties  of  rice  can  be  grown 
on  uplands,  while  all  have  been  found  to  succeed  best  when  in- 
undated, variety  has  yet  been  discovered  which  yields  as 
much  out  of  the  water  as  it  does  in  it.  Small  crops  of  upland 
rice  are  grown  in  the  piney  woods  of  Alabama,  Mississippi  and 
Louisiana,  not  for  x>rofi table  export,  but  for  furnishing  a home 
supply  of  a healthy  and  nutritious  food.  It  is  planted  in  rows 
and  cultivated  with  plow  and  hoe.  A variety  with  a long  grain 


[8] 


aud  red  chaff  is  said  to  succeed  best  on  uplands.  There  is  an 
increasing  tendency  to  grow  upland  rice  and  at  the  solicitation 
of  many  farmers,  the  Station  will  next  year  conduct  a series  of 
experiments  in  upland  rice,  to  test  the  manurial  requirements 
of  this  crop  as  well  as  the  best  modes  of  cultivation. 

DISEASES  OF  RICE. 

The  only  disease  which  has  been  noted  by  writers  bn  rice,  is  a 
blight  or  failure  of  the  head  to  fill  with  grain ; this  is  called 
hrusone  and  is  usually  prevented  by  changing  seed.  The  real 
cause  is  unknown.  In  Louisiana  it  frequently  occurs  on  first 
year  new  ground. 

USES  OF  RICE 

Kice  is  largely  used  as  an  article  of  food  in  India  and 
China,  and  is  daily  on  the  table  of  the  Carolinian  and  Louisi- 
anian, who  constantly  extol  it  as  superior  to  other  vegetables. 
Elsewhere  in  the  United  States  it  is  used  only  to  a limited  ex- 
tent, either  as  a diet  for  invalids  or  as  an  ingredient  of  pastry,  to  be 
served  with  condiment,  spices  and  fruit.  It  has  been  suggested 
that  it  would  be  to  the  interest  of  the  rice  planter,  to  send 
agents  to  the  Western  and  Northwestern  fairs  and  expositions 
who  would  teach  the  visitors  the  peculiar  method  of  cooking 
rice,  making  each  grain  stand  off  to  itself,  instead  of  the  usual 
glutinous  mass  found  on  northern  tables,  and  thus  by  making  it 
palatable  to  the  taste,  enhance  consumption  and  demand. 

MANURES  FOR  RICE. 

Eice  is  not  a great  impoverisher  of  the  soil,  especially  if  the 
straw  and  chaff  were  regularly  returned  to  it.  To  find  out  the 
manurial  requirements  of  this  cereal,  this  Station  has  been  for 
two  years  past,  conducting  a series  of  experiments  upon  the  ad- 
joining plantation  of  Mr.  H.  S.  Wilkinson,  who  kindly  placed 
his  land  at  our  disposal  and  aided  us  in  their  conduct. 

Exactly  how  to  apply  manures  to  rice,  in  order  that  they 
may  accomplish  the  greatest  good  possible,  when  the  rice  is 
soon  to  be  inundated,  is  yet  an  unsettled  question.  For  the 
past  two  years  the  various  fertilizers  have  been  scattered  broad- 
cast over  the  soil  before  being  broken.  The  soil  was  then  in- 


vertedj  harrowed,  and  rice  sown.  This  mode  of  application  has 
not  been  satisfactory,  the  increased  results,  while  sometimes 
apparent,  were  not  large.  Last  year  by  a misunderstanding, 
the  plowman  inverted  one  plat  before  we  reached  it  with  ma- 
nures. Accordingly  in  this  ISTo.  8 the  increase  was  quite  satis, 
factory  and  has  perhaps  furnished  a key  to  the  successful  meth- 
od of  application  of  all  manures. 


EXPERIMENTS  IN  RICE  MADE  ON  ADJOINING  PLANTATION  OF  H.  S. 
WILKINSON— SEASON  1887. 


<V 

Ofi  (_ 

E O 

1- 

O <1^ 

o 

No.  ofExpt. 

Manures  Used  Per  Acre 

'c^ 

V 

in 

£ 3Q 

U rO 

cS 

.£ 

PP 

1 

No  manure 

2896  ] bs 

1500  lbs 

9.26 

•2 

300  lbs.  Cot.  Seed  Meal . . 

30'6 

1515 

9.35 

3 

150  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate 

2050 

1296 

8.00 

4 

300  lbs.  Cot.  Seed  Meal  > 
150  lbs.  Acid  PlPsphate  ) 

2872 

1236 

7.63 

5 

No  manure 

2802 

1379 

8.51 

6 

300  lbs.  Cot.  Seed  Meal  / 
50  lbs.  KainPe  S 

Lost 

Lost 

7 

150  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate  ? 
50  lbs.  Kainite  S 

2724 

1254 

7.74 

300  lbs.  Cot.  Seed  Meal  ) 

^8 

150  lbs.  Acid  Ph’sphate  > 

4017 

2082 

12.85 

50  lbs.  Kainite ) 

9 

No  munure 

2730 

1271 

7 84 

*This  manure  was  spread  on  the  surface  of  the  plowed 
ground  just  before  harrowing  in  the  rice — the  others  were  spread 
on  the  ground  before  being  broken  by  the  plow. 


REMARKS  ON  ABOVE. 

Manures  mixed  April  18th  and  19th,  and  put  out  21st.  Ma- 
nures applied  before  the  land  was  plowed,  except  Xo.  8,  which 
was  plowed  but  not  harrowed.  Rice  sown  April  21  and  23. 

Nos.  1 and  2,  cut  August  31st. 

Nos.  3,  4 and  5,  cut  September  1st. 

No.  6,  cut  September  2nd. 

No.  7,  cut  August  31st. 

No.  8,  cut  August  29th. 

No.  9,  cut  August  30th. 

Nos.  4,  5,  and  6,  were  thin  stands,  the  otliers  good. 


[10] 


1b  the  above  experiments  all  the  fertilizers  except  No.  8, 
seemed  to  have  been  placed  too  low  in  the  soil,  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  fibrous  surface  roots  of  rice. 

Only  on  No.  8 were  the  results  at  all  satisfactory,  and  here 
alone  was  the  fertilizer  applied  near  the  surface.  This  fertilizer 
gave  an  increase  of  5 barrels  of  rice  over  its  neighboring  unfer- 
tilized plat.  No.  9. 

Advantage  being  taken  of  the  results  of  this  crop,  next 
season  our  experiments  will  be  directed  with  more  intelligent 
ideas  of  the  needs  and  necessities  of  this  plant. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

At  present,  the  Station  is  unable  to  positively  recommend 
any  fertilizer  for  rice,  but  from  the  experience  of  several  planters 
together  with  deductions  drawn  from  its  own  results,  it  is  in- 
clined to  suggest  that  a mixture  of  two  parts,  of  Cotton  Seed 
Meal  and  one  part  of  Acid  Phosphate,  mixed  and  applied  broad- 
cast upod  the  land  just  before  the  rice  is  harrowed  in,  will  meet 
the  requiremeuuS  of  this  plant  on  black  lands.  On  sandy  lands 
Kainite  may  be  added  at  the  rate  of  200  lbs.  to  the  ton  of  above 
mixture. 


POTATOES,  TOMATOES,  PEAS 

— AND  — 

SMALL  GRAINS. 


BULLETIN 

TVo.  16, 

OF  THE 

State  Experiment  Station; 

BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 


WM.  C.  STUBBS,  A.  M.  PH.  D., 

13  TO  R. 


Issued  by 

,T.  B1RI3, 

COMMieSIONHK  OF  A.GRICULTURK, 

BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 


BATON  ROUGE: 

ADVOCATE  STEAM  BOOK  AND  JOB  J'RINT. 
1888. 


Baton  Rouge,  La.,  October  — , 

, T.  J.  Biko,  Ooratuisaioiwc  «?f  A^fiiculture.  Baton  Rouge: 

Dear  Sir — I band  you  iierewith  the  report  of  Mr.  D,  N.  Barrow,  luy 
ais<ji8tHut  at  the  State  Experiment  Station,  Baton  Rouge,  giving  results 
of  experiments  made  during  the  year  in  Potatoes,  Small  Grain,  Tomatoes, 
1?eas,  etc.  As  remarked  hy  him,  the  conditions  this  year,  both  as  to  soil  and 
seasons,  have  been  very  unfavorable.  Yet  the  results  are  deemed  of  sudi- 
cient)  importance  to  constitute  Bulletin  No.  16,  which  yon  are  roque-sted  to 
publish  as  such. 

Respec tful ly  subm i tted , 

\VM.  C.  STUBBS, 

Di  rector n 


State  Experiment  Station,  ' t 
Baton  Rouge,  La.,  September  — ^ 1S88.  ( 

Dr.  Wm.  C.  Stubbs,  Director; 

Dear  Sir — In  accordance  with  your  request,  I herewitSi 
hand  you  the  results  of  crops  harvested  on  this  Station.  The 
low  yield  of  all  is  due  to  the  fact  that  during  most  of  the  month 
of  April  and  a part  of  May  there  was  scarcely  a diop  of  rain — 
just  the  time  when  these  crops  needed  rain  most. 

Very  respectfully, 

David  N.  Barrow, 

Assistant  Director. 


REPORT. 


POTATOES  (Solaniim  Tuberosim}.^ 

No  experiments  were  made  in  fertilizing,  our  energies  ali' 
being  directed  towards  determining  the  variety  or  varieties  best 
suited  to  this  soil  and  climate.  As  this  is  impossible  from  one 
year’s  results,  the  culls  of  each  variety  have  been  carefully  kept 
separated  and  preserved.  These  will  be  planted  for  a fall  crop, 
the  product  of  which  will  be  saved  for  the  purpose  of  repeating 
the  experiments  next  Spring. 

SOIL  — ITS  PREPARATION,  LOCATION.  Etc. 

The  plat  selected  for  the  Potatoes  was  situated  on  top  of  a 
hill,  perfectly  level  and  well  drained.  It  measured  forty-five 
f et  in  width  by  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  in  length.  The 
soil  is  a clayey  loam,  of  a deep  red  color  and  inclined  to  pud- 
dle. The  whole  hill  on  which  the  plat  is  situated  had  been 
in  commons  for  years,  and  had  been  heavily  depastured  by  the 
stock  of  Baton  Rouge,  and  greatly  impoverished. 

The  sod  was  inverted  the  first  of  February  of  this  year,  with 
a two-horse  sulky  plow,  cross  plowed  with  a one-horse  turn  plow, 
harrowed,  and  laid  off  cross-wise  in  three  and  one-half  feet  rows, 
with  one-horse  turn  plow.  Three  rows  were  devoted  to  each 
vaiiety — equal  to  one-eightieth  of  an  acre. 

SEED  — PREPARATION  AND  PLANTING. 

The  seed  potatoes,  cut  in  the  usual  way,  to  pieces  with  two 
to  three  eyes,  were  dropped  in  an  open  furrow  eight  to  ten  inches  , 
apart,  on  February  Cth,  and  lightly  covered.  No  manure  was  j 
used,  and  the  turf  prevented  that  pulverization  of  soil  so  essen- 
tial to  this  plant.  ^ 


115 


SEASON,  CULTIVATION,  Etc. 

Immediately  after  planting,  followed  a very  rainy  spell,  last- 
ing until  the  middle  of  April.  From  this  time  until  the  middle 
of  May  scarcely  a drop  of  rain  fell.  Owing  to  excessive  moist- 
ure, germination  was  hindered  and  decay  i)revented  a good 
stand.  Particularly  was  this  the  case  in  a slight  depression 
crossing  the  rows  at  right  angle,  the  result  of  bad  plowing,  man- 
ifested too  late  for  correction.  This  excessive  moisture,  followed 
by  a protracted  drouth,  materially  effected  the  yield.  The  culti- 
vation was  such  as  is  usually  given  to  potatoes. 

Though  maturing  at  different  times,  none  were  dug  until  all 
were  ripe. 

The  crop  was  harvested  June  9th,  and  assorted  5 every 
potato  smaller  than  a pullet’s  egg  was  separated  as  culls,  and  the 
crop  accurately  weighed.  Below  is  a tabulated  statement  giving 
the  yield  per  acre^  of  both  large  and  small,  with  time  of  ripening : 


116 


YIELD,  PEE  ACRE,  OF  VARIETIES  OF  POTATOES  HARVESTED. 

JUNE  9tu,  1888. 


Name  or  Variety. 

Merctran  table. 

No.  buftbels. 

Culls. 

No.  bushels 

When  ripe. 

Early  Rose 

12.80 

12.80 

May  22d. 

Western  Peerless 

46.40 

' 12.80 

“ 26th. 

Early  Sunrise 

36.80 

14.40 

26th. 

Beauty  of  Hebron 

65.60 

32.40 

“ 26th. 

Louisiana  Fall  Burliank. . 

81.60 

14.40 

June  1st. 

Burbank 

76.t-0 

12.80 

“ 9th. 

'I'hoi  burn 

46.40 

16.00 

May  26th. 

Russet  t 

43.20 

11.20 

3l8t. 

Peerless 

78.40 

6.40 

June  Ist. 

Late.  Beauty  of  Hebron. . 

28.80 

12.80 

“ 1st. 

Oreat  East*  rn 

89.6 

6.40 

“ Ist., 

Dakota  Red 

64.00 

6.40 

“ 1st. 

White  Elephant 

84.00 

9.60 

“ Ist. 

Morning  Star 

100.80 

4.80 

“ Ist. 

* Scotch  

126.85 

32.25 

12th. 

* Variety  not  known,  but  from  a barrel  of  potatoes  imported  from, 
Sf'oUand, 


117 


REMARKS  ON  VARIETIES. 

Early  Kose — A variety  too  well  known  to  iieed  descriptioii. 
Quite  a failure  with  us  this  year,  but  generally  snccessful ; very 
badly  scabbed. 

Western  Peerless — Called  ^‘Western’’’  because  obtained 
from  a Western  produce  commission  merchant  in  Baton  Rouge. 
It  is  doubtful  whether  it  is  a true  Peerless;  very  slightly 
scabbed. 

Early  Sunrise — Along  pinkish- colored  potato;  skin  smooth, 
few  eyes,  and  these  not  very  deep ; a very  dry,  mealy  potato ; 
suffered  badly  from  scab. 

Beauty  of  Kebron — Egg-shaped;  skin  white  and  smooth; 
eyes  few,  but  well  marked;  suffered  very  little  from  scab, 

Louisiana  Fall  Burbank — Burbank  grown  from  seed  raised 
in  Louisiana  last  fall ; closely  resembling  its  parent  in  every 
way,  except  that  it  has  assumed  a reddish  hue,  and  is  almost 
free  from  scab. 

Burbank — A white  potato;  very  well  known,  and  a good 
bearer,  but  badly  scabbed.  , 

Thorburn — Has  a yellowish,  slightly  russeted,  skin ; roiinS. 
or  cylindrical ; eyes  of  medium  depth ; somewhat  scabbed. 

Russet — Approaching  a pear-shape;  white  russeted  skin; 
eyes  scarce,  and  slightly  marked  ; quite  scabby. 

Late  Beauty  of  Hebron — Irregularly  round,  having  a 
slightly  reddish  tinge ; eyes  few  but  well  marked ; slightly 
scabby. 

Great  Eastern — Very  irregular  in  shape;  of  a reddish  color; 
eyes  numerous  and  deeply  set;  badly  scabbed:  very  dry  and 
mealy. 

Dakota  Red — A long  red  potato,  with  smooth  skin ; eyes 
deeply  set,  but  scarce;  very  scabby. 

White  Elephant — Large,  long  white  potato  with  smooth 
skin ; eyes  large  and  very  well  marked ; dry  and  mealy,  both 
when  boiled  or  baked ; one  of  the  best ; very  little  scab. 

Morning  Star — Long  and  fiat,  with  white,  smooth  skin;  few 
but  well-marked  eyes;  remarkably  free  from  scab,  and  equal  to 
White  Elephant  when  cooked. 


118 


Scotch — A variety  imported  from  Scotland,  the  name  of 
which  is  not  known,  but  bearing  a strong  resemblance  to  the 
Peerless  f scabby. 

NEW  VARIETIES  PROMISING  WELL. 

As  mentioned  elsewhere,  it  is  not  possible  to  recommend  any 
one  variety  from  the  results  of  one  year.  If,  however,  “coming 
events  cast  their  shadows  before,”  by  looking  over  the  above 
table  we  would  select  the  Scotch,  Morning  Star,  Great  Eastern, 
White  Elephant,  and  Louisiana  Fall  Burbank,  as  the  most 
promising.  Of  this  list,  we  might  recommend  (if  our  experience 
with  them  had  been  longer)  the  Morning  Star  and  White  Ele- 
phant, not  only  because  of  their  comparatively  large  yield  and 
freedom  from  scab,  but  also  because  of  their  excellent  qualities 
for  cooking,  which  far  surpass  any  of  the  others. 


WHEATS  (Triticum  Vulgare). 

Owing  to  the  delay  in  starting  the  station,  neither  wheat  nor 
oats  could  be  planted  until  January.  The  plat  selected  was  on 
the  same  hill  as  the  potatoes.  The  land  was  prepared  by  first 
breaking  up  the  sod  with  two-horse  turn  plow,  then  thoroughly 
pulverizing  by  cross-plowing  and  harrowing.  Owing  to  the 
severe  drouth  just  when  the  wheats  were  heading,  the  results 
are  far  below  what  they  would  have  been  had  the  season  been 
more  favorable.  Seven  varieties  were  planted,  on  plats  one 
thirty-fourth  (1-34)  of  an  acre  in  size.  Below  is  a table  giving 
date  of  harvesting  and  yield,  in  bushels,  to  the  acre.  Harvesting 
was  done  while  the  grain  was  in  the  dough : 


119 


, YIELD  OF  WHEAT  PER  ACRE. 


Varieties. 

Number  of 

bushels. 

Pounds  of 

straw. 

When  harvested. 

Martin’s  Amber 

White  Russian 

*6. ’9 

ilieo 

June  lOrh. 

Saskotchawan 

2-6 

10:^0 

“ 10th. 

■^Scotch  Fife 

2.2 

578 

15th. 

t Daub’s  Prolific 

tGlencoe 

t Sibley’s  New  Golden 

.... 

* Results  vitiated  by  depredations  of  chickens, 
t A perfect  failure. 


Besides  these,  six  very  small  plats  of  Mexican  wheats  were 
planted.  Below  are  the  yields,  per  acre,  in  bushels : 


Varieties. 

Number  of 

bushels. 

Pounds  of 

straw. 

When  harvested 

Ahuchillain 

15.25 

3368 

May  28th. 

Celaya 

10.2 

3675 

28th. 

La  Huata 

5.1 

1533 

“ 28th. 

Juanin 

7.65 

4596 

“ 3l8t. 

Graputa  

10.02 

2661 

“ 31st. 

Wolf  Lobo 

7.65 

2756 

“ 31st. 

120 


We  have  also  planted  and  harvested  one  variety  of  Barley 
and  one  of  Buckwheat.  Below  are  the  results: 

Number  of  Pouucls  of  ^WOien  When 

bushels.  straw,  harveaed.  planted. 


Buckwheat 51.2  2584  July  1st.  April  ‘il.st. 

Hnlless  Barley .50.8  097  May  12th. 


The  attention  of  those  interested  is  called  to  these  results^ 
particularly  to  the  Buckwiieat.  This,  besides  a good  yield  of 
grain  in  a little  over  two  months  growth,  gives  also  over  two 
tons  of  straw,  w hich,  when  the  crop  is  harvested  at  the  proper 
time— i.  e..  as  soon  as  the  grain  is  hard  and  before  the  straw’  has 
dried— is  a splendid  hay.  Xor  does  the  value  of  this  crop  cease 
here.  Although  the  land  on  w hich  it  grew’  has  since  been  plowed 
and  sown  in  peas,  a stand  of  buckw’heat  as  good  as  the  first, 
caused  from  seed  dropped  while  harvesting,  now’  occupies  the 
same  laud,  and  will  be  turned  under  with  the  peas.  It  may  be 
possible,  by  planting  early,  to  raise  three  crops  during  the  season 
from  one^sowing,  two  of  whicli  may  be  harv^ested  and  the  third 
turned  under  in  the  Pall  for  green  manuring. 


'rOMATOBS  ( Lyvoperaivion  Esculent u m) . 

The  tomato  is  a member  of  the  family  solanaceae,  whicli 
furnishes  us  with  three  of  the  most  useful  plants  (potato,  egg- 
plant and  tomato)  in  the  world,  while  the  other  members  of  the 
night  shade  family  are  among  the  most  poisonous.  For  a long 
while  the  only  use  made  of  the  Tomato  was  in  ornamenting  gar- 
dens, and  it  is  only  within  the  past  forty  years  that  it  has  taken 
its  deserved  place  among  vegetaliles  fit  for  food  of  man.  It  is 
not  yet  popular  for  that  purpose  in  England  and  Northern 
Europe,  while  in  Southern  Europe  (particularly  in  Ital^’  and 
Spain),  and  in  the  United  States,  it  is  considered  an  indispensa- 
ble vegetable.  This  fact  is  evidenced  by  the  large  amount  that 
is  every  year  canned  for  winter  use. 

Plat  No.  5 — the  one  selected  for  varieties  of  this  plant — 
consists  essentially  of  the  same  soil  as  that  on  which  the  pota- 


121 


toes  were  grown.  This  plat  was  thoroughly  prepared  aud  laid 
ofi*  in  twenty-eight  rows,  five  by  forty-five  feet.  Two  rows  were 
devoted  to  each  variety;  one  fertilized  with  stable  manure  at  the 
rate  of  one  peck  to  the  hill,  the  other  was  fertilized  with  a mix- 
ture of  four  parts  of  cotton-seed  meal,  two  of  acid  phosphate, 
and  one  of  kainite.  This  mixture  was  drilled  in  a furrow 
opened  with  bull-tongue,  on  top  of  the  row,  at  the  rate  of  six 
hundred  pounds  to  the  acre.  The  fertilizer  was  then  covered 
and  the  plants  set  out  directly  over  the  drill.  Although  it  was 
impossible  to  keep  an  accurate  record  of  the  yield,  the  difference 
in  the  effects  of  tliese  two  fertilizers  was  very  marked,  the  com- 
mercial fertilizer  not  only  giving  a larger  yield  than  stable 
manure,  but  also  causing  the  fruit  to  ripen  much  earlier.  Four- 
teen varieties  were  ])lanted,  the  names  of  which,  with  descriptions 
and  comparative  merits,  are: 

Cardinal — A medium-sized,  somewhat  irregular,  tomato; 
of  a deep  red  color,  a smooth  skin,  and  a good  bearer. 

Livingston’s  Perfection — Nearly  round,  somewhat  flattened 
at  the  ends;  skin  smooth,  and  bright  red  in  color;  a good 
bearer.  ^ 

Livingston’s  Beauty — Almost  perfectly  round,  with  a pink- 
ish red,  smooth,  skin;  a medium  bearer,  and  of  good  size. 

Livingston’s,  Favorite — Round,  with  a smooth  skin ; bright 
red,  and  larger  than  the  two  preceding  ; an  abundant  bearer. 

Alpha — A flat,  slightly  oblong,  tomato  with  a slight  sink  on 
top;  a cherry  red,  smooth,  skin;  ripens  a little  earlier  than  the' 
other  varieties ; of  good  size,  but  a limited  bearer. 

Acme — Almost  round,  with  slight  indentations  on  sides ; 
skin  of  a pinkish  red  color;  a very  good  bearer,  and  of  excellent 
quality. 

Paragon— Round,  with  smooth,  brick-red,  skin;  an  abundant 
bearer ; the  stem  end  slightly  lobed. 

New  dersey— Very  regular,  rouiid  and  smooth;  of  a brick-red 
color;  rather  smalll,  but  a good  bearer. 

Trophy — Round  and  smooth,  but  slightly  lobed  at  stem 
end  ; a rich  red  in  color,  and  an  abundant  bearer. 


122 


Mikado — Very, large,  deeply  lobed  aiKl-'-kidney  shaped;  a 
deep  piuk  iu  color;  deeply  indented  on^l^p[  th,e..most  prolific 
of  the  lot ; very  broad,  thick  leaves.  V ; " 

Golden  Queen — A beautiful,  light  orahge  colored  tomato, 
shaped  very  much  like  an  orange;  perfectly  smooth,  and  of  good 
size,  but  a light  bearer ; very  delicate. 

Large  Yellow — Very  irregular,  deeply  lobed,  kidney-shaped ; 
of  a deep  yellow  color,  rather  small,  but  an  abundant  bearer. 

Early  Advance — An  early  bearer,  but  small  and  not  abun- 
dant; round,  with  smooth,  red  skin. 

Strawberry — Medium  sized,  round,  red  and  smooth-;  a poor 
bearer.  ' 

Of  the  above  varieties,  the  Mikadi©,  the  three -Liyingstons 
and  the  Acme  seem  to  have  qualities  which  highly  recommend 
them.  The  Kew  Jersey  and  ParagDn  also  deserve  some 
attention. 

. Great  care  was  exercised  in  selecting  the  earliest  and  largest 
of  each  variety  for  seed.  In  this  way  the  Station  has  preserved ; 
a few  seeds  of  each,yariety,  which  will  be  distributed  next  Spring 
,to  those  desiring  them,  and  will  pay  transportation  charges.  , 

This  fall  another  crop  from  the  same  seed  will  be  grown,  at 
which  time  several  methods  of  training  the  vines  will  be  tried ; 
also,  the  effects  of  various  fertilizers;  the  results  of  which  will 
be  given  to  the  public  in  due  time. 

y,-  , PEA  {Pisnm  Sativum). 


Six  varieties  of  Peas  were  planted  February  9th,  but  owing 
to  lack  of  time  to  properly  prepare  the  ground  the  results  were 
poor.  Following  is  a description  of  each,  with  time  of  ripening : 

Pride  of  the  Market — A bunch  pea,  about  six  to  twelve  inches 
high,  well  filled  with  pods;  pods  long  and  well  filled  with  five 
to  six  peas ; an  abundant  bearer,  but  all  ripen  at  once.  Picked 
May  8th. 


123 


American  Wonder — A bunch  pea,  from  four  to  six  inches 
high ; an  abundant  bearer  of  pods,  one  and  h half  to  two  inches 
long;  from  three  to  four  peas  to  the  pod.  Picked  April  12th. 

Thorburn’s  Extra  Early — A running  pea,  of  about  the  same 
quality  as  the  preceding,  but  a better  bearer.  Ripe  April  12th. 

Alaska — A gross  runner,  with  two  to  two  and  a half  inch 
pod,  containing  from  four  to  five  peas  ; a profuse  bearer.  Ripe 
April  12th. 

Daniel  O’Rourke — A running  pea,  somewhat  resembling, 
but  inferior  to,  the  former.  Ripe"; April  12th. 

■ ■ik, 

McLean’s  Advance — Running,  without  forming  very  much 
vine ; a moderate  bearer  of  pods  two  inches  long,  containing 
three  to  four  peas.  Ripe  April  23rd. 

Besides  the  above  crops,  the  Station  also  planted  one  plat 
each  of  White  Produce,  Welcome,  Triumph,  and  Centennial 
Oats,  which  were  attacked  during  the  drouth  by  rust,  and  were 
completely  destroyed. 


ENSILAGE. 


BULLETIN 

rso.  ir, 

< > !'  T III; 

State  Experiment  Station, 

BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 

( 

VViM.  C.  STUBBS.  A.  M.  PH.  D.. 

I j i c'  r o K . 


Issued  by 

r 1 j o t*  o ,i . 1 11 1 > , 

L’OyfMls>IO-N  It  OF  A-GltlCll/K.ltlC, 

P.ATUS  110 LG  E.  Lu\. 


r.ATOX  KOUGE: 

.M-\0AATK  J500K  ANl>  .lOU  1*KI.S’T. 

1888. 


Louisiana  State  University  and  ^ 
Auricultural  and  Mechanical  College,  > 
Baton  Bouge,  La.,  October  1888.  ) 

Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Cominissiouer  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — I hand  yon  herewith  Bulletin  No.  17,  containing 
experiments  in  Ensilage,  with  results  of  chemical  investigation 
by  Professor  B.  B.  Ross. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Wm.  C.  Stubbs, 

Director. 


ENSILAGE, 

✓ 


Or,  the  preserving  of  green  substances  in  pits,  or  silosj  has 
become  of  such  frequent  occurrence  in  parts  of  this  country 
that  no  well  regulated  stock  farm  is  without  its  silos.  In  the 
South,  where  our  winters  are  of  such  short  duration,  the  neces- 
sity for  green  food  is  not  so  imperative  as  further  North.  Will 
it  not,  however,  pay  every  owner  of  stock,  even  as  far  South  as 
Ix)uisiana,  to  build  silos  and  have  ensilage,  as  a part  of  his  stock 
rations,  even  during  our  short  winters!”  is  a question  often 
asked  by  our  most  enquiring  farmers.  To  solve  this  question, 
tbis  Station  undertook  the  following  experiments. 

It  must  be  understood,  however,  that  while  any  green  crop, 
such  as  grass,  clover,  pea- vines,  sorghum  and  corn,  can  be  pre- 
served in  pits,  the  latter  crop  is  the  one  universally  used  for 
ensilage.  It  possesses  many  superior  (|ualities.  It  can  easily 
be  grown.  It  produces  large  tonnage.  It  is  relished  by  all  kinds 
of  stock,  and  is  easily  and  cheaply  handled. 

In  the  Spring  of  1887,  two  acres  of  land  were  taken:  thrown 
up  into  rows  five  feet  apart,  furrows  opened,  corn  drilled  and 
covered  with  a harrow.  After  it  was  well  up,  it  was  thinned  to 
a stand  of  one  stalk  to  three  or  four  inches.  After  that  the  cul- 
tivation was  the  same  as  with  field  corn.  One  acre  of  this  was 
ensilaged,  and  the  other  cured  into  fodder. 

While  the.  corn  was  growing,  a cheap  and  useful  silo  was 
constructed  on  the  bank  of  the  bayou,  in  the  following  manner; 
A pit  8x10x12  was  dug,  with  i>eri)endicular  sides.  Prom  the 
bottom  of  this  pit  a ditch  was  dug  to  the  bayou,  to  let  the  water 
off.  A permanent  drain  was  made  by  nailing  two  six-inch  boards 
together  and  inverting  them  in  the  ditch  and  filling  with  soil. 
Into  the  walls  of  this  pit — at  the  bottom,  middle  and  top — were 
sunk  scantlings  2x8,  parallel  with  bottom  of  pit  and  with  each 


128 


other.  Upon  these  were  placed  common  ceiling,  projecting  above 
the  pit  about  one  foot.  The  pit  was  now  ready  for  ensilage. 

On  the  oth  of  »Iuly,  after  the  corn  had  reached  its  roasting-ear 
stage,  and  the  grains  began  to  glaze,  it  was  cut  down  and  hauled 
l>y  wagons  to  the  pit.  Here  a Boss  ensilage  cutter  received  the 
corn,  and  after  cutting  it  in  desired  lengths,  (one-half  to  three- 
fourths  inches),  emptied  it  directly  in  the  pit.  An  occasional 
tamping  and  leveling  of  the  chips  was  necessary.  After  the  pit 
was  fillO'b  a little  dry  oat  straw  was  placed  over  it,  and  then 
covered  with  twelve-inch  boards  sawn  so  as  to  fit,  lapping  the 
planks  so  as  to  break  the  joints.  When  thus  covered,  it  was 
weighted  with  barrels  filled  with  sand.  A cheap  cover  over  the 
pit  compietetl  our  work. 

On  the  7tn  of  December,  (hiring  the  session  of  the  Louisiana 
Oentraf  Fair  Association,  it  was  opened,  and  save  a thin  layer 
on  the  top  and  sides  of  the  pit  the  fodder  was  well  preserved.  It 
was  tested  by  both  cows  and  liorses,  and  from  the  readiness  with 
which  they  devoured  it,  the  iinauimous  verdict  of  uiany  visitors 
was  that  it  was  good.  The  pit  was  then  closed  and  not  opened 
again  until  February,  when  its  contents  were  distributed  to  the 
farmers,  for  use,  the  Station  having  uo  cattle  of  its  own. 

That  ensilage  is  a valuable  forage  for  a dairy,  has  been 
abnndantly  proven  j aud  though  few  cows  take  readily  to  it  at 
vfirst,  all  vill  eat  it  aud  and  after  a wliile  become  foud  of  it. 

In  filling  a ailo,  it  is  no  longer  deemed  aecessary  to  rush  the 
green  fodder  directly  to  the  pit,  fill  the  latter  as  fast  as  possible 

cover  with  dispatch.  On  the  contrary,  the  corn  cut  in  the 
iiiorulng  IS  permitted  to  lie  in  the  siin  all  day,  and  then  ensilaged. 
IDven  rapid  filling  of  tlie  pit  is  objectionable,  and  two  or  three 
days'  respite  while  filling  is  now  deemed  advisable.  In  fact, 
those  who  practice  ensilage  on  a large  scale,  now  usually  have 
several  pits.  They  partially  fill  and  go  on  to  the  next,  leaving 
several  days’  interval  between  their  work  at  each  idt.  In  this 
way,  the.  first  stage  of  fermemtation,  together  with  tfiie  heat  pro- 
duced, is  over  before  the  pit  is  closed.  So,  too,  after  the  pit  is 
filled  it  left  for  several  days  before  it  is  covered. 


129 


It  is  not  necessary  for  its  preservation  to  cat  tlie  corn,  bat  it 
is  far  more  economical.  Ensilage  catters  are  cheap,  and  the 
power  required  to  cut  the  corn  is  not  great. 

The  most  valuable  variety  of  corn  for  ensilage  is  yet  a 
mooted  (piestion.  In  the  Xorth  and  West,  our  Southern  fieki 
corn  is  largely  sold  for  ensilage  purposes;  and  it  has,  doubtless, 
on  account  of  size  of  stalk,  superiority  over  Northern  corn.  But 
have  we  not  a variety,  or  varieties,  which  have,  in  themselves,  a 
sux)eriority  over  our  common  corn,  for  ensilage? 

This  year  there  were  grown  upon  the  Station  many  varieties 
of  corn — among  others,  two  of  Mexican  corn.  The  latter  were 
very  conspicuous  on  account  of  large  stalk  and  immense  height. 
Several  stalks  were  over  thirteen  feet  high  and  measured  one 
and  one-half  (IJ)  inches  in  diameter.  A trial  will  be  given  these 
varieties  next  year. 

That  corn  can  be  kept  in  pits  in  a good  condition,  in  Louisi- 
ana, is  now  abundantly  demonstrated.  Whether  it  will  be 
economy  to  establish  silos,  is  a (piestion  which  the  farmers  must 
decide. 

Pits  can  be  built  in  barns,  above  ground  as  well  as  below 
the  ground.  The  former  has  the  preference  always,  with  those 
who  have  had  experience  with  silos,  since  they  are  much  easier 
fed  from. 

The  fact  that  ensilage  can  be  successfully  practiced  in 
Louisiana,  coupled  with  the  further  fact  that  corn  bfere  grows 
enormous]}"  large  and  tall,  makes  the  potentialities,  large  as 
they  were  before,  even  now  greater  of  raising  all  kinds  of  stock 
profitably  in  this  State. 

Samples  of  the  ensilage  and  of  the  cured  fodder  were  given 
Professor  B.  B.  Boss,  who  kindly  investigated  their  chemical 
properties  and  digestibility.  1 herewith  insert  his  able  report: 


Louisiana  State  Universita^  and  ^ 
Aqricultural  and  Mechanical  Colleoe,  > 
Baton  Rouge,  La.,  October  — , 1888.  ) 

Prof.  W.  C.  Stubrs,  Director  Experiment  Station,  Baton  Rou^  e,  La. 

Dear  Sir — I herewith  hand  you  report  of  examination 
of  the  samples  of  corn  fodder  and  ensilage  submitted  to  me 
for'  analysis. 

\"ery  respectfully, 

B.  B.  Ross, 

Professor  of  Chemistry. 


V 


131 


ANALYSES  OF  SAMPLES. 

The  sample  of  ensilage  was  carefully  drawn  from  the  silo^ 
and  weighed  immediately  in  order  that  the  amount  of  water 
present  could  be  accurately  determined.  After  being  well  air- 
driedj  the  sample  was  cut  up  very  finely  and  the  size  of  the 
particles  further  reduced  by  thorough  grinding  and  pulverizing* 
At  the  same  time  a sample  of  fodder  was  obtained,  cut  at  the 
same  stage  of  growth  as  the  ensilage  sample,  which  was 
likewise  prepared  for  analysis  by  a process  of  thorough  pulver- 
ization. The  ensilage,  when  first  taken  from  the  pit  possessed 
the  characteristic  odor  of  acetic  acid  (vinegar),  showing  that 
acetous  fermentation  had  set  in,  although  it  doubtless  had 
made  comparatively  little  progress,  as  in  closed  silos  the  gases 
produced  in  incipient  fermentation  check  any  further  tendency 
to  decomposition.  After  being  completely  air-dried,  however,  all 
traces  of  this  odor  disappeared,  the  dry  sample  having  the 
very  agreeable  smell  possessed  by  fresh  clover,  and  quite  in 
contrast  to  the  musty  odor  of  the  corn  fodder,  itself. 

The  methods  followed  in  the  determination  of  the  proximate 
constituents  of  the  feeding  stufis,  were  essentially  those  adopted 
by  the  ofiicial  Association  of  Agricultural  Chemists,  at  their  last 
annual  meeting.  Below  is  given  the  x)6i’^J6iitag’e  composition 
of  the  ensilage  and  dry  fodder,  not  only  for  the  air-dried  and 
completely  dried  substances,  but  in  the  case  of  the  former  the 
analysis  of  the  fresh  substance  is  also  given ; 


ANALYSIS  OF  FRESH  ENSILAGE. 


Per  cent. 

Water 74.94 

A-ib 2.61 

Crude  Proteiti - 2.04 

Far^i 0.64 

Ca  riK>i>y(liate8 12.26 

<Crudt-  Fibre 7.51 


Total 100.00 

.Digestible  Protein 1.48 


132 


AXAi.v.sis  OF  •rill-: 


Wil'd 

Asli 

(itide  Prole  in 

Fats ^ 

Pa  r''oliy  (hates 

Ctnde  Fibi't' 

Total. . 

I)ij>»*stib1e  Piotoiii 


AIK  ])KIED 


SUBSTANCE. 

EN6ILA(rF.. 

Foddek., 

Per  ceiit- 

Per  cent. 

10.50 

9.20 

5.87 

7.19 

. 8.59 

2.24 

1.52 

48.77 

26.45 

24.75 

. ..  100.00 

100.00 

5.22 

5.61 

ANALYSIS  OF  'FttE  COMPLETELY  DRIED  SUBSTANCE. 

KN.sjr.AGK.  rODDEK. 

I’ercei.i.  Percent 

10.. 12  6. 50 

8.14  9.(50 

2.04  1.G9 

48.94  51.50 

•29.90  27.05 


Ash 

Protrill . . . . 

Fa  N 

( ' .riiobyOraie' . . . . 
(Or.di'  Fi'i-f 


9'otal 100.00  100.00 

Di,esiib!c  Protiiii 5.91  0..T1 

Per  eeiit  of  lot  J Protei  i (liL'esl  i I0(' 72.(50  05.94 

'True  IToii  ill (5. 19  7.82: 

15  I (‘d)t.  of 'rrito  Protein  to  Crime  i^iotein..  ..  70.04  81.40 


EXPLANATION  OF  ANALALSlvS. 

Ill  the  analysis  of  feed  stalls  the  proxinnite  and  not  the- 
nltiinate  (or  elementary)  constituents  are  generally  determined. 
It  has  been  found  that  in  order  to  arrive  at  the  relative  merits, 
of  fodders,  etc.,  for  feeding  purposes,  it  is  only  necessary  in  most 
cases  to  ascertain  the  percentages  of  ash,  albuminoids  for  protein), 
fats,  carbohydrates,  and  woody  fibre,  or  celluiose.  It  is  also  of 
the  utmost  importance  that  the  proportion  of  water  present  in 
the  sample  be  correctly  determined,  as  tiie  percentage  of  this, 
substance  in  feed  stuffs  is  so  variable  that  no  proper  comparison 
of  theii'  relative  nutritive  values  can  be  instifuted  until  the  pro 


133 


portion  of  tlie  constituents  jiresent  in  the  dry  substance  can  be 
ascertained. 

The  amount  of  dry  matter  can  be  determined  by  heating  the 
substance  at  a temperature  of  212  degrees,  Fahrenheit,  until 
the  sample  shows  no  further  loss  of  weight;  the  difference  in 
weight  lepiesenting  the  amount  of  water  present.  Upon  ex- 
posure to  the  atmos[rhere  the  dry  sample  will  re-absorb  a consid- 
erable projmrtion  of  moisture,  usually  regaining  the  amount 
previously  contained  in  the  air  dried  feed  stuff*. 

The  ash  contains  the  mineral  constituents  of  the  feeding 
stuffs,  and  its  jiroportion  is  ascertained  by  burning  out  the 
combustible  ia)rtions,  with  free  access  of  air.  These  mineral 
substances  consist  chiefly  of  potash,  soda,  lime  and  magnesia  in 
combination  with  hydrochloric,  carbonic,  phosphoric  and  sul- 
phuric acids,  and  also  silica,  together  with  a little  unconsumed 
charcoal. 

As  tin  se  mineral  substances  generally  occur  in  sufficiently 
abund-^nt  (luantities  in  most  forage  jilants,  the  amount  of  ash  is 
considered  of  little  importance  in  estimating  the  feeding  value 
of  ffxhler.  (.h’inh->.  protein  (or  albuminoids)  constitutes  the  chief 
bulk  of  the  nitrogenous  substances  present  in  feeding  stuffs. 
The  term  is  quite  comi)reheusive  iu  its  scope,  and  includes  such 
substances  as  the  casein  of  milk,  fibriu  of  flesh,  and  albumen  of 
blood  and  the  egg,  which  are  considered  as  modifications  of  a 
primary  substance  (protein),  these  diff'ereiit  forms  bearing  a 
general  resemblam'e  to  each  other  in  composition  and  properties, 
and  convertible  into  each  other  by  processes  carried  on  iu  the 
animal  body.  Tiicse  album iimids  substances  coutaiii  carbon,  hy- 
drogen, nitrogen,  and  oxygen,  and  frequently  a small  proportiou 
of  sul[)liur.  Indeed,  the  exact  chemical  composition  of  the  dif- 
ferent modifications  of  albuminoids  has  not  yet  beeu  defiuitelj’ 
determined,  but  it  is  known  that  nitrogen  is  one  of  the  least 
vai  iable  (in  quaiitity)  of  their  constituents,  and  that  the  average 
proportion  of  that  valuable  elemeut  is  about  sixteen  per  cent.  So 
that,  iu  the  analysis  of  feed  stuffs,  the  rule  generally  adopted  in 
ase.ertainiiig  the  t)ercentagc  of  albuminoids  is  to  first  determine 
the  i»erceutage  of  nitrogen  ]U’eseut  and  then  multiply  this  per- 


134 


\ 


centiige  by  G.25  (16x6.25-100).  This  does  not  give  us  the  exact 
but  only  the  approximate  amount  of  albuminoids  present,  as  all 
albuminoids  do  not  contain  sixteen  jier  cent.,  nor  is  all  the  nitrogen 
in  the  feed  stuffs  combined  in  the  form  of  albuminoids.  However, 
in  the  statement  of  the  percentages  of  the  proximate  constituents 
determined,  the  proportion  of  crude  albuminoids  given  is  in  each 
obtained  by  multiplying  the  nitrogen  present  by  6.25.  This  has 
been  done  because  it  approximates  very  closely  the  true  percent- 
age, and  because  all  of  the  standards  of  comparison  to  which  we 
can  refer  in  determining  the  relative  nutritive  values  of  fodders, 
give  albuminoids  as  determined  in  the  same  manner.  The  true 
albuminoids  in  both  the  ensilage  and  the  fodder  have  been  deter- 
mined, however,  and  in  the  statement  of  analysis  the  percentage 
is  given  together  with  the  proportion  of  true  albuminoids  to  crude 
albuminoids. 

The  albuminoids  are  regarded  as  the  chief  constituent  of  value, 
as,  without  undergoing  any  very  considerable  alteration,  they 
are  utilized  in  the  animal  body,  in  the  formation  of  animal  albu- 
minoids, such  as  the  fibrin  of  muscles  and  tendons,  and  the 
albumen  and  casein  of  blood  and  milk ; and  not  only  contribute 
to  the  growth  of  the  animal,  but  tend  to  repair  and  replace  the 
worn  out  muscles,  membranes,  tissues,  etc. 

The  term  fats  includes  all  matters  extracted  from  the  dry 
fodder  by  ether,  and  the  proportion  of  fats  is  generally  less  than 
that  of  any  other  proximate  constituent.  Vegetable  fats  are 
utilized  in  the  animal  economy,  either  in  making  fat  or  in  fur- 
nishing heat  to  the  body  by  the  oxidation  of  their  carbon  and 
hydrogen  this  process  of  oxidation  being  perfectly  analagous 
to  the  ordinary  processes  of  combustion. 

The  class  of  substances  called  carbohydrates  are,  in  con- 
junction with  the  fats,  also  of  great  utility  in  i)roducing  and 
maintaining  animal  heat,  but  practical  experiments,  within 
recent  years,  have  led  scientists  to  believe  that  fats  have  two 
and  one-half  (2J)  times  the  value  of  carbohydrates  in  the  pro- 
duction of  heat  by  their  oxidation.  Carbohydrates,  as  the  name 
implies,  consist  of  carbon  together  with  hydrogen  and  oxgen,  in 
the  relative  proportions  in  which  they  exist  in  water.  Under 


135 


this  term  are  included  starch,  sugar,  gums  and  other  bodies 
closely  allied  in  chemical  composition  and  properties. 

The  cellulose,  or  fibre,  constitutes  the  most  insoluble  and,  gen- 
' erally,  the  most  indigestible  portion  of  feeding  stuffs.  Although 
pure  cellulose  (as  lint  c6tton)  is  identical  in  composition  with 
starch,  in  its  physical  proi:)erties  and  chemical  deportment  there 
is  the  widest  difterence.  It  was  formerly  considered  almost,  if 
not  wholly,  indigestible  j but  experiments  have  shown  that  quite 
a large  percentage  is  digested  by  animals,  and  may  be  turned  to 
accoiHit  either  as  an  auxiliary  or  as  a substitute  for  fats  or 
carbohydrates,  in  furnishing  oxidizable  and  heat-producing  con- 
stituents to  the  blood. 

In  order  that  each  of  the  principal  constituents  of  feeding 
stuffs  may  be  utilized  to  the  greatest  j)ossible  advantage,  in  the 
performance  of  their  several  functions  in  the  animal  economy,  it 
has  been  found  essential  that  they  exist  in  certain  relative  pro- 
portions, just  as  in  the  application  of  commercial  fertilizers  to 
soils  the  relative  percentages  of  their  three  essential  constituents 
must  be  taken  into  consideration. 

It  has  been  ascertained  by  carefully  conducted  experiments 
in  cattle  feeding  that  in  estimating  the  comparative  feeding 
values  of  fodders,  there  should  be  determined  what  is  known  as 
the  nutritive  ratio — or,  the  ratio  of  digestible  carbohydrates  to 
digestible  albuminoids — -just  as  in  the  operation  of  a steam  engine 
there  is  a ratio  between  the  cost  of  fuel  and  the  cost  of  the 
materials  of  repair.  In  determining  this  nutritive  ratio,  fats 
must  also  be  taken  into  consideration,  and  as  they  are  assumed 
to  have  a value  of  two  and  one-half  (2J)  times  their  weight  of 
carbohydrates,  the  amount  of  digestible  fat,  after  being  multi- 
plied by  two  and  one-half  (2J),  is  added  to  the  digestible 
carbohydrates. 

In  calculating  the  nutritive  ratios  of  the  fodder  and  ensilage 
analyzed,  the  percentages  of  digestibility  of  the  carbohydrates 
and  fats  were  taken  from  the  rssults  of  practical  digestion 
exi)eriments  on  corn  fodder  in  Europe,  while  the  percentage 
digestibility  of  albuminoids  was  determined  by  means  of  artificial 
digestion  with  pepsin  solution.^  It  was  found  that  there  was 


136 


almost  a perfect  coincidence  in  the  nutritive  ratios  of  the  two 
feeding  stuffs:  the  ratio  for  ensilage  being  1:0.26,  while  that  for 
the  fodder  was  1 : 6.43. 

DIGESTION  EXPERIMENTS. 

The  digestibility  of  the  albuminoids  in  the  feeding  stuffs  was 
determined  by  treatment  with  pepsin  solution  corresponding 
closely  in  composition  and  solvent  or  digestive  power  to  the 
gadric  juice,  the  most  important  of  all  the  animal  digestive 
fluids.  The  principal  constituents  of  this  Juice  are  lactic  and 
hydrochloric  acids,  and  a substance  called  i)epsiu  secreted  in  the 
lining  of  the  stomach  and  possessed  of  wonderful  digestive  or 
peptonizing  properties,  especially  as  regards  albuminoids. 

Pepsin  is  at  present  largely  prepared  from  the  stomach  of 
the  pig  {pepsina  pord),  and  is  frequently  administered  medici- 
nally to  aid  or  promote  digestion. 

The  pepsin  solution  used  contained  ten  (10)  grams  of  pe[)sin 
in  two  (2)  litres  of  water,  acidulated  with  ten  (10)  grams  of 
hydrochloric  acid — (Sp.  gr.  1.1075) — and  the  finely  ground 
material  was  kept  at  a constant  temperature  of  104 
degrees,  Fahrenheit,  for  two  periods  of  twelve  hours  each,  one- 
tenth  (0.1)  percent,  of  hydrochloric  aeid  being  added  at  intervals 
of  three  hours,  so  that  at  the  end  of  the  twenty-four  hours  (24) 
one  (1)  per,  cent,  of  the  rcid  would  be  present. 

As  the  principal  function  of  the  gastric  juice  is  to  digest  al- 
buminoids, only  the  result  of  the  digestkin  of  albuminoids  is  given 
in  the  statement  of  analysis.  It  was  found,  however,  by  analj^sis 
that  the  cellulose  was  completely  indigestible  in  the  pepsin  solu- 
tion, and  only  a comparatively  small  proportion  of  the  fats  and 
carbohydrates  were  digested.  It  will  be  seen  on  reference  to  the 
table  of  analyses  that  65.94  per  cent,  of  the  albuminoirls  in  the 
fodder  were  digestible,  and  72.6  per  cent,  of  albuminoids  in  the 
ensilage,  while  the  results  of  a large  number  of  practical  trials  in 
feeding  animals  show  that  an  average  of  73  per  cent,  of  albu- 
minoids in  corn  fodder  is  digestible. 


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A N AL  YSES  X/^f 

COMMERCIAL  FERTILIZERS 


BULLETIN  No.  18 


OF  TO  K 


State  Experiment  Station 


WM.  C,  STUBBS,  Ph.  D.,  Director. 


— Issued  by  — 

THOMPSON  J.  BIPD, 

Commissioner  of  A o hi  culture, 
BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 


BATON  ROUGE: 

PRINTED  BY  THE  ADVOCATE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
1888. 


OfVKJE  BUKKAC  OI'  AcailCUT/lTTRE,  '( 
Baton  Rougo,  La.,  October — , 1888.  I 
To  E is  Excelienoy  Francis  T.  Mcliollt-,  Uovcrnoi’ of  Louisiiina  autl  Prosult-nt  of  the  State 
Bnrcaii  of  Agriculture: 

Sir:— 

In  compliance  w ith  the  provisions,  of  Act  ol,  of  188t>,  herein  please  hud 
the  analyses  made  hy  Dr,  W.  C.  Stubbs,  Director  and  Official  Chemist;  also, 
the  list  of  Commercial  Fertilizers  sold  in  the  State  during  tbe  season  of 
1887-88,  tlie  brands  of  the  fertilizers,  their  guaranteed  analyscw^,  names  of  the 
dealers  to  whom  licenses  have  been  issued,  etc.  The  demand  for  fertilizers 
during  the  last  season  has  decidedly  increased.  The  general  character  of  the 
article  offered  for  sale  has  been  fairly  within  the  guarantee giveu.  The  costs 
of  the  different  brands  have  varied  but  little  from  that  of  the  previous 
season,  and  indications  are  that  no  material  changes  can  be  expected  this 
season. 

T.  .1.  IBRD, 

Commissioner  Bureau  of  Agriculture. 


LouisiAXA  State  University  and  A.  & M.  College,  ) 
Baton  Rouge,  La.,  October  — , ISrid.  ^ 
Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commifisioner  of  Agriculture,  Eaton  Kouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — I hand  you  herewith  tbe  Analyses  of  Commercial  Fertilizers 
made  since  our  last  report,  together  with  the  Fertilizer  Law,  with  the 
request  that  you  publish  the  same  as  Bulletin  No.  18: 

Refjpectfully  submitted, 

WM.  C.  STUHBS, 

Director. 


REPORT  OF  THE  DIRECTOR. 


'J'he  analyses  (*untained  in  this  report  iire  of  four  kinds: 

1.  Of  samples  selected  at  the  discretion  of  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture. 

2.  Of  samples  drawn  by  the  purchaser,  under  regulatioiiB 
prescribed  by  the  r^ommissiouer  of  Agriculture. 

Tlu‘  above  are  required  by  law. 

d.  Of  samples  used  by  the  Stations. 

1.  Of  samples  sent  by  private  parties. 

W^ljile  the  Station  is  not  required  by  law  to  work  for  privab* 
parties,  yet  all  samples  sent  by  individual  citizens  of  the  State 
will  be  analyzed  without  charge  j provided,,  the  means  of  thi^ 
Station  will  permit;  .and  provided,  always,  that  in  the  discretio!! 
of  the  Director  such  analyses  will  be  conducive  to  public  welfare. 

The  Fertilizer  Law^  is  herein  inserted  for  the  guidance  of 
the  public:  Under  it,  every  citizen  of  the  State  is  amply  pro- 
tected from  fraud  and  imposition  by  unscrupulous  dealers,  and 
there  exists  absolutely  no  cause  for  distrust  in  the  purchase 
of  commercial  fertilizers,  if  the  farmer  will  but  claim  the  protec- 
tion afforded  him.  The  sellers  of  good  wares  are  also  protected. 
MS  aiiq)le  facilities  are  afforded  them  of  properly  advertising 
their  goods. 

Only  eotton-Heed  meal,  land  plaster,  .salt,  ashes,  lime,  and  hones 
not  specially  treated,  are  exempt  from  the  provisions  of  this  law  . 

Bones  yroimd  to  a powder  by  machinery,  as  well  as  hones 
treated  tvith  acid,  are  included  in  the  law',  since  they  have  been 
hpccially  treated. 

The  following  is  the  law: 

8ec.  2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  it  shall  be  the 


141 


<iuty  of  any  uiaiiiifactarcr  or  dealer  in  commercial  fertilizers, 
before  the  same  are  oflTered  for  sale  in  this  State,  to  submit  to 
Oommissioiicr  of  Agriculture  a written  or  printed  statement 
setting  forth:  First — the  name  and  brand  under  which  said  fer- 
tilizer-is  to  be  sold,  the  number  of  pounds  contained  or  to  be 
contained  in  the  package  in  which  it  is  to  be  put  upon  the  mar- 
ket for  sale,  and  the  name  or  names  of  the  manufacturers,  and 
the  place  of  manufacture;  Second — A statement  setti?ig  forth 
the  amount  of  the  named  ingredients  which  they  are  willing  to 
guarantee  said  fertilizers  to  contain : (1)  nitrogen,  (2)  soluble 
})hosphoric  acid,  (3)  reverted  phosphoric  acid,  (4)  insoluble  phos- 
phoric acid,  (5) -potash.  Said  statement,  so  to  be  furnished, 
shall  be  considered  as  constituting  a guarantee  to  the  purchaser 
that  every  package  of  such  fertilizer  contains  not  less  than  the 
amount  of  each  ingredient  set  forth  in  the  statement.  This 
shall,  however,  not  preclude  the  party  making  the  statement 
Irom  setting  forth  any  other  ingredient  which  his  fertilizer  may 
contain,  which  additional  ingredient  shall  be  considered  as 
embraced  in  the  guarantee  above  stated. 

Sec.  3.  T>e  it  Ibrther  enacted,  etc.,  That  every  person 
proposing  to  deal  in  commercial  fertilizers  shall,  after  ftling 
the  statement  above  provided  for,  with  the  Commissioner  of 
^Agriculture,  receive  from  the  said  Commissioner  of  Agriculture 
a certihcate  stating  that  he  has  complied  with  the  foregoing 
section,  which  certificate  shall  be  furnished  by  the  Commissioner 
without  any  charge  therefor.  That  the  said  certificate,  when 
furnished,  shall  authorize  the  party  receiving  the  same  to  mauii 
facture  for  sale,  in  this  State,  or  to  deal  in  this  State  in  com- 
mercial fertilizers.  That  no  person  who  has  failed  to  file  the 
statement  aforesaid  and  to  receive  the  certificate  of  authority 
aforesaid,  shall  be  authorized  to  manufacture  for  sale  in  this 
State  commercial  fertilizers.  And  any  person  so  manufacturing 
tor  sale,  in  this  State,  or  so  dealing,  without  having  filed  the 
aforesaid  statement,  and  received  the  certificate  aforesaid,  shall 
be  liable  for  each  violation  to  a fine  not  exceeding  one  thousand 
dollars,  which  fine  shall  be  recoverable  before  any  court  of 
competent  jurisdiction,  at  the  suit  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agri- 


142 


, culture,  or  of  any  citizen,  and  shall  be  disposed  of  as  hereafter 
j)rovided. 

Sec.  4.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  it  shall  be  the 
duty  Ot  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture,  or  its  Cominissioners,  at  the 
opening  of  each  season,  to  issue  and  distribute  circulars,  setting 
forth  the  brands  of  fertilizers  sold  in  this  State,  their  analyses 
as  claimed  by  their  manufacturers  or  dealers,  aud  their  relative 
and  (if  known)  their  commercial  value. 

Sec.  5.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  under  the  regulations 
of  the  said  Bureau,  to  cause  to  be  prepared  tags  of  suitable 
material,  with  proper  fastenings  for  attaching  the  same  to 
packages  of  fertilizers,  and  to  have  printed  thereon  the  word 
^‘guaranteed,’’  with  the  year  or  season  in  which  they  are  to  be 
used,  and  a fac  simile  of  the  signature  of  said  Commissioner, 
The  said  tags  shall  be  furnished  by  said  Commissioner  to  any 
dealer  in  or  manufacturer  of  commercial  fertilizers,  who  shall 
have  complied  with  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  act,  upon 
the  payment  by  said  dealer  or  manufacturer,  to  the  said  Com- 
missioner, of  fifty  cents  for  a sufficient  number  of  said  tags  to  tag 
a ton  of  such  commercial  fertilizer. 

Sec.  6.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  every  person^  before  ofiering  for  sale  any  commercial 
fertilizers  in  this  State,  to  attacli  or  cause  to  be  attached,  to  each 
bag,  barrel  or  package  thereof,  one  of  the  tags  herein  befort^ 
described,  de^gnating  the  quantity  of  the  fertilizer  in  the  bag, 
barrel  or  package  to  which  it  is  attached.  Any  person  wiio 
shall  sell  or  offer  for  sale,  any  package  of  commercial  fertilizijr 
which  has  not  been  tagged  as  herein  provided,  shall  be  deemed 
guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  aud,  on  conviction  thereof*,  shall  be 
fined  in  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  eacli 
offense,  and  the  said  person  shall  be,  besides,  liable  to  a penalty 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  each  omission,  which  penalty 
may  be  sued  for  either  by  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  or 
by  any  other  person  for  the  uses  hereinafter  declared.  Any 
person  who  shall  counterfeit  or  use  a counterfeit  of  the  tag 
Ijrescribed  ,by  this  act,  knowing  the  same  to  be  coiiiiterleited,  or 


who  shall  nso  t horn  a second  time,  shall  be  guilty  of  a misde- 
meanor, and  on  conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined  in  a sum  not 
to  exceed  five  hundred  dollars,  one-half  of  which  fine  shall  be 
paid  to  the  informer,  v»'hich  fine  shall  be  doubled  or  trebled  at 
each  second  or  third  conviction,  and  so  on  progressively,  for 
subsequent  convictions. 

Sec.  7.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  all  fertilizers  oi 
chemicals  for  manufacturing  or  composting  the  same,  ottered  foi 
sale  or  distribution  in  this  State,  shall  have  printe^l  upon,  oi 
attached  to  eacli  bag,  barrel  or  package,  in  such  manner  as  the 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture  may  by  regulation  establish,  the 
true  analysis  of  such  fertilizer  or  chemical  as  claimed  by  the 
manufacturer,  showing  the  per  cent,  of  valuable  ingredients  such 
fertilizers  or  chemicals  contain. 

Sec.  S.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  ( -ommissionei 
of  Agriculture  may  obtain,  or  cause  to  be  obtained,  at  his  dis- 
cretion, fair  samples  of  all  fertilizers  sold,  or  offered  for  sale,  iiii 
this  State,  from  manufacturers  or  dealers,  and  shall  have  them 
analyzed  by  the  otticial  chemist,  and  shall  publish  the  analysis 
for  the  information  of  the  public. 

Sec.  9.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  every  person  who  sells  a lot  or  package  of  commercial 
fertilizer,  upon  the  request  of  the  purchaser,  to  draw  from  same, 
and  in  the  presence  of  the  purchaser  or  his  agent,  a fair  and 
correct  sample,  in  such  manner  as  the  Commissioner  of  Agricul- 
ture may,  by  regulation,  establish. 

Sec.  10.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  the  copy  of  the 
official  chemist’s  analysis  of  any  fertilizer  or  chemical,  certified 
to  by  him,  shall  be  admissible  as  evidence  in  any  court  of  this 
State,  on  the  trial  of  anything  involving  the  merits  of  said 
fertilizer. 

Sec.  11.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  Bureau  of 
Agriculture  shall  adopt  needful  rules  and  regulations  providing 
for  the  collection  of  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  tags,  or 
from  fines  imposed  under  this  act,  and  shall  require  the  same  to  be 
deposited  with  the  Treasurer  of  the  State,  and  only  to  be  drawn 
therefrom  upon  the  warrants  issued  by  the  Auditor  of  the  State 


144 


upon  the  requisition  ot  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  made 
in  pursuance  of  such  rules  and  regulations;  and  the  said  Com- 
missioner of  Agriculture  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  no  fees  for 
collecting  or  disbursing  said  money,  except  his  salary  as  provided 
for  by  law;  but  he  shall  be  allowed  a clerk  at  the  salary  to  be 
fixed  by  the  said  Bureau,  and  to  be  payable  out  of  the  fertilizer 
funds;  and  all  sums  of  money  arising  from  the  provisions  of  this 
act  shall  be  known  as  the  “ Fertilizer  Fund,’^  and  shall  be  kept 
by  the  Treasurer  separate  from  other  public  funds,  and  shall  be 
exclusively  used,  as  far  as  they  may  go,  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  developing  agriculture  by  making  practical  and  scientific 
experiments  in  relation  thereto. 

Sec.  12.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  for  the  purpose 
of  making  practical  and  scientific  tests  or  experiments,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  said  Commissioner,  subject  to  the  approval  of  said 
Bureau,  to  enter  into  contracts  specifying  the  duration  and  con- 
ditions thereof,  with  a competent  chemist  and  expert  in  experi- 
mental agriculture,  to  perform  the  duties  of  official  chemist  and 
to  carry  on  and  to  conduct  the  experiment  station  established  by 
said  Bureau  at  Baton  Eouge;  and  with  the  Louisiana  Scientific 
Agricultural  Association,  having  an  experiment  station  in  the 
Parish  of  Jefferson;  and,  in  making  such  contracts,  the  said 
Commissioner  shall  provide  that  experiments  be  made  for  the 
development  and  benefit  of  agriculture,  especially  in  relation 
to  the  standard  crops  of  the  State,  such  as  cotton,  sugar,  rice, 
corn,  the  cereals  and  grasses,  and  the  like. 

Sec.  13.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  as  conipensation 
for  the  conduct  of  such  experiments,  the  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  to  apply  the  net  result 
trom  the  sale  of  tags,  and  from  fines  or  penalties  imposed  for 
violations  of  the  terms  of  this  act,  to  the  two  stations,  and,  if 
necessary,  parts  of  other  sums  that  may  be  appropriated  by  law, 
and  subject  to  the  control  of  himself  or  said  Bureau ; provided, 
That  said  contract  shall  not  give  more  than  one-half  of  the  result 
of  the  sale  of  tags,  and  fines,  to  any  one  of  said  stations ; and 
provided  further,  That  the  said  stations  undertake  to  perform 
for  and  on  behalf  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  under 


145 


such  regulations  as  may  be  agreed  on.  all  analyses  required 
under  this  act  free  of  any  charge  whatsoever. 

Sec.  14.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  the  Director  of  the 
State  Experiment  Station  shall  be  considered  as  the  official 
chemist  of  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture.  He  shall  also  attend 
such  chemical  and  agricultural  conventions  as  may  be  necessary ; 
the  traveling  expenses  incident  to  such  attendance  shall  be 
chargeable  and  collectable  from  the  revenues  derived  from  the 
sale  of  tags. 

Sec.  lo.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  the  Commissioner 
of  Agriculture  shall  keep  a correct  and  faithful  account  of  all 
tags  received  and  sold  bj"  him,  showing  the  number  sold,  to 
whom  sold,  and,  as  far  as  practicable,  for  what  fertilizers  they 
were  intended  to  be  used,  and  the  amount  of  money  collected 
therefor,  and  all  money  arising  from  fines,  under  this  act. 

S,ec.  IG.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  term  com- 
mercial fertilizers,”  or  “fertilizers,”  where  the  same  are  used  in 
this  act  shall  not  be  held  to  include  lime  or  land  plaster,  cotton 
seed  meal,  ashes  or  common  salt,  or  raw  bone,  not  specially 
treated.’ 

The  following,  taken  from  a previous  Bulletin,  is  herein 
inserted  as  explanatory  of  the  terms  to  be  subsequently  used: 

COMMERCIAL  FERTILIZERS. 

The  ingredients  which  give  value  to  all  commercial  fertilizers 
are,  1st,  Nitrogen  (Ammonia);  2d,  Phosphoric  Acid;  3d,  Potash. 
A fertilizer  may  contain  one,  two,  or  all  of  these  ingredients. 
When  all  are  present,  the  compound  is  usually  styled  a complete 
manure”;  when  only  one  or  two  are  present,  it  is  a partial 
manure.” 

Partial  manures  may  consist  of:  (1),  Nitrogen  (Ammonia) 
alone ; (2),  Phosphoric  Acid  alone : (3),  Potash  alone ; (4),  Nitro- 
gen (Ammonia)  and  Phosphoric  Acid;  (5,)  Phosphoric  Acid  and 
Potash:  (6),  Nitrogen  (Ammonia)  and  Potash.  No.  6 is  rarely 
found  in  Southern  markets;  the  others  are  common  wares. 


146 


(1.)  NITROGEN  MANURES. 

Nitrogen  is  the  most  costly  ingredient  in  manures.  It  is 
ottered  to  the  trade  in  three  forms : 

a. — Mineral  Nitrogen — in  Nitrate  of  8oda  and  Sulphate 
of  Ammonia. 

h. — Animal  Nitrogen — in  Dried  Blood,  Tankage,  Azotin, 
Ammonite,  Fish  Scrap  and  I^eather. 

c. — Vegetable  Nitrogen — in  Cotton  Seed,  Cotton  seed  Meal, 
Linseed  Meal,  Castor  Poma^^e  and  Peat. 

Blood,  Tankage,  Fish  Scraps  and  Oil  Meals  are  highly 
active  fertilizers,  while  Leather  and  Peat  are  slowly  available. 
The  result  of  decomposition  of  organic  forms  of  Nitrogen  is 
either  Ammonia  or  Nitric  Acid;  fourteen  parts  of  Nitrogen 
yielding  seventeen  parts  of  Ammonia,  or  twenty-eight  parts  of 
Nitrogen  forming,  by  nitrification,  one  hundred  and  eight  parts 
Nitric  x\cid.  The  mineral  forms  of  Nitrogen  are  highly  prized 
in  the  North  and  England;  but  in  the  South,  on  account  of  the 
ease  with  which  they  are  washed  from  the  soil,  they  should  be 
used  with  great  care. 

Cotton  seed  Meal  contains,  besides  Nitrogen,  small  amounts 
of  Phosphoric  Acid  and  l^otash.  A fair  sample  of  meal,  free 
from  hulls,  should  yield  7 per  cent.  Nitrogen,  3 per  cent.  Phos- 
phoric Acid,  and  2 per  cent.  Potash.  This  is  a cheap  source  of 
Nitrogen,  and  experiments  have  demonstrated  that  it  is,  peihaps, 
the  best  form  for  Southern  Agriculture.  In  buying  it,  however, 
caution  is  necessary  to  see  that  it  is  well  decorticated,  L o.,  free 
from  hulls.  Samples  containing  30  per  cent,  of  hulls  have  been 
found  on  the  market. 

(2.)  PHOSPHORIC  ACID  MANUJ^.ES. 

These  are  generally  phosphatic  rocks  treated  with  Sulphuric 
Acid.  Sometimes  pure  bones  or  bone  black,  or  bone  ash,  arc 
treated  with  the  same  acid,  and  the  resulting  mixtures  styled 
Dissolved  Bones  or  Superphosphates.  When  made  from  phos- 
pliatic  rock,  bone  black  or  bone  ash,  they  contain  only  Phos- 
phoric Acid.  When  i)ure  bones  are  used,  3 to  5 per  cent,  of 


147 


Amnionia  is  also  found.  Tlieso  phosphatic  manures  usuall3"  con- 
tain their  Phosphoric  Acid  in  different  forms.  Some  of  it  is 
readily  soluble  in  water,  and  is  highly  available  as  plant  food; 
some  of  it  is  only  soluble  in  acids,  and  is,  therefore,  only  slowly, 
if  at  all,  available  to  plants,  while  another  portion  is  interme- 
diate in  solubility  between  the  water  soluble  and  the  acid  soluble. 
The  chemist  uses  Citrate  of  Ammonia  to  dissolve  this  form;  and 
hence  it  is  denominated  as  Citrate  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid.  It 
is  believed  b^^  man}"  that  this  form  of  Phosphoric  Acid  has 
resulted  from  a chemical  action  of  the  water  soluble  upon  the 
acid  soluble,  and  hence  it  is  often  called  reverte(y’  reduced^-^ 
etc.  The  water  soluble  is  readily  available  on  all  soils  and  by 
all  plants;  the  citrate  soluble  in  soils  containing  vegetable  mat- 
ter is  believed  to  be  available  to  many  plants,  while  the  acid 
soluble  is  immediatel}"  useful  only  to  certain  plants  and  upon 
certain  soils.  The  water  soluble  and  citrate  soluble  are  usually 
taken  togetlier  and  called  Available  Phosphoric  Acid.  In  buying 
phosphatic  manures,  preference  should  be  given,  first  to  the 
wa  ter  soluble,  then  to  the  citrate  soluble.  If  there  is  much  Acid 
Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  present,  inquiry  should  be  at  once  made 
as  to  its  origin,  for  the  Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid  from  bones 
is  more  easily  transferred  into  plant  food  than  that  from  rock. 
TTiese  three  forms  of  Phosphoric  Acid  are  usually  called  “solu- 
ble,” “reduced”  and  “insoluble.” 

(3.)  POTASH  MANURES. 

These  are  now  obtained  aJrnost  exclusively  from  Leopoldshall 
and  Stassfurth,  German}',  and  are  largely  sold  in  this  country 
as  faj  Kainite,  which  is  a crude  product  of  the  mines,  and  con- 
sists of  Potash,  Magnesia,  Soda,  Sulphuric  Acid  and  Chlorine. 
This  form  of  Potash  is  now  extensively  used  in  the  South,  either 
in  the  compost  of  stable  manure,  cotton  seed  and  Acid  Phos- 
phate, or  mixed  with  Acid  Phosphate  and  cotton  seed  meal  to 
form  a (jomplete  manure.  Whether  our  soils  need  Potash  can 
only  be  determined  exi)erimentally.  After  careful  experimenta- 
tion the  right  quantities  can  be  easily  determined.  It  is  a cheap 
and  an  excellent  source  of  Potash. 


148 


fh)  Sulphate  of  Potash,  a refined  product  coutaiuiug  a large 
amount  of  Potash  in  a very  desirable  form,  is  extensively  used 
in  some  countries  upon  certain  crops,  notably  tobacco  and  Irish 
potatoes. 

f c)  Muriate  of  Potash,  another  refined  x^roduct  containing 
a large  percentage  of  Potash.  This  salt  furnishes  x:)otash  in  the 
cheapest  form. 

(4.)  NITROOEJN’  AND  PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 

Formerly  bones,  treated  with  Sulphuric  Acid,  were  fre- 
ipiently' found  upon  our  market;  recently,  however.  Potash,  in 
some  form,  has  always  been  added  to  them.  Whether  this 
addition  has  been  made  by  the  demands  of  the  soil  or  by  the 
inclination  of  the  manufacturers,  is  yet  to  be  determined.  Potash 
is  the  cheaiiest  ingredient  in  fertilizers,  and  any  demand  for  it  is 
readily  met.  At  present  we  find  on  our  markets  a manure  of  this 
class  which  is  being  extensively  used  under  sugar  cane,  viz : 
Tankage,  This  is  a variable  goods,  containing,  usually,  from  5 
to  12  xier  cent,  of  ^litrogen,  and  from  6 to  20  per  cent.  Phosphoric 
Acid.  This  latter  is  in  the  insoluble  form;  but,  being  of  animal 
origin,  ujion  certain  soils  is  slowly  available. 

(5.)  PHOSPHORIC  ACID  AND  POTASH. 

To  make  Acid  Phos[)hates  suitable  for  composting,  many 
dealers  have  recently  added  Potash.  This  addition  necessarily 
lowers  the  percentage  of  Phosphoric  Acid.  Manufacturers  in 
and  around  Charleston,  S.  C,,  have  adoiited  the  custom  of  calling 
this  class  of  goods  Acid  Phosphates,”  and  those  which  contain 
no  Potash,  “Dissolved  Bones.”  These  are  extensively  used  for 
the  compost  of  stable  manure  and  cotton  seed. 

(6.)  NITROHEN  AND  POTASH. 

The  great  and  crying  want  of  Southern  soils  is  Phosphoric 
Acid;  hence  no  manure  without  it  has  hitherto  met  with  favor. 
Accordingly  this  class  of  manures  is  wanting  in  the  South. 


149 


COMPLETE  MANURES, 

Are  those  which  contain  Nitrogen,  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash. 
For  different  crops  these  ingredients  should  exist  in  different 
proportions.  Before  purchasing  any  fertilizer,  the  farmer  should 
study  well  the  wants  of  his  soil  and  his  crop,  and  buy  accord- 
ingly. 

Before  buying,  get  from  the  d(‘ahu‘  replies  to  the  following 
(juestions. 

How  much  Water  Soluble  Pliosphoric.  Acid  do  you  guar- 
antee 1 

How  much  ( /itrate  Soluble  Phospliori**  Acid  do  you  guar- 
antee ? 

How  much  Ammonia  do  you  guarantee  ? 

How  much  Potash  do  you  guarantee  ? 

In  a plain  Acid  Phosphate  at  least  V2  per  cent,  available 
Phosphoric  Acid  should  be  guaranteed.  In  cane  fertilizers,  3 per 
cent  Ammonia  and  7 per  cent.  Phosphoric  Acid,  and  in  cotton 
fertilizers  2 per  cent.  Ammonia  and  jan*  «*ent.  of  Phosphoric 
Acid  should  be  found. 

EXPLANAl  ION  OF  ANALYSES. 

Nitrogen,  Phosphoric*  Acid  and  Potash  are  the  three  ingre- 
dients whicli  give  value  to  commercial  fertilizers,  and  arc  the 
only  ones  determined  in  offiicial  analyses. 

Nitrogen  is  the  most  costly  as  well  as  the  most  valuable 
fertilizing  ingredient.  Tt  occurs  as  Organh*.  Nitrogen  in  animal 
and  vegetable  matters — easily  decomposed  and  quickly  available 
in  blood  and  meat,  slowly  disintegrateil.  and  of  doubtful  value  in 
leather  or  })eat  unless  specially  treated. 

All  Organic  Nitrogen  is  first  converted  into  Nitric  Acid  or 
Ammonia,  in  the  soil  or  compost  heap,  bel'ore  it  can  be  used  by 
plants.  Nitric  Acid  and  Ammonia  are  furnished  in  commerce, 
the  «)ne  in  the  forms  of  Nitrates  of  8oda  and  Potash,  tlie  other 
as  Sulphate  of  Ammonia. 

Soluble  Phosplioric  .Vcid  r«*tcv!s  only  to  such  i)hosphates  as 
are  ^mlublc  iu  piiio  \\alci-  •.iitd  is  mad*  in  ireatiug  bones,  bone 


150 


ash,  boue  black,  or  mineral  phosphate  with  sulphuric  acid.  It  is 
the  chief  ingredient  of  Acid  Phosphates,  Superphosphates  or 
Dissolved  Bones. 

By  Reverted  Phosphoric  Acid,  i cference  is  made  to  that  form 
of  Acid  which,  though  insoluble  in  watt*r,  is  freely  soluble  in 
certain  salts,  particularly  Citrate  of  Aininonia. 

Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid  refers  to  that  form  that  is  soluble 
only  in  Acids. 

Potash  is  the  ingredient  usually  found  in  ashes,  and  should 
be  soluble  in  water. 

VALUATION  OF  FERTILIZERS. 

The  commercial  value  of  a Fertilizer  is  regulated  hy  the 
prices  demanded  in  commerce  for  the  different  forms  of  the  three 
ingredients,  Nitrogen  (Ammonia),  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash. 
These  i^rices  fluctuate  according  to  the  (lemand  and  supply.  In 
the  North,  Nitrogen  is  assigned  a separate  valuation  for  each 
of  the  forms — that  in  Nitrates  and  Ammonia  Salts  receiving  the 
highest  figure,  and  that  in  leather  and  peat  the  lowest. 

In  Connecticut  or  Massachusetts,  a determination  of  the 
forms  in  which  this  ingredient  occurs  must  be  made  before  its 
, commercial  value  can  be  calculated.  All  the  forms  of  Nitrogen 
have  heretofore  been  considered  of  equal  money  value  in  the 
South,  and  but  one  price  assigned.  This,  of  course,  precludes  the 
existence  of  Nitrogen  in  form  of  leather  dust,  or  powdered 
horn,  forms  regarded  as  unavailable  and  of  little  money  or  agri- 
cultural value. 

The  soluble  and  reverted  forms  of  Phosphoric  x\cid  have 
together  been  styled  as  ‘^available,”  and  assigned  one  value. 
The  insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid  has  received  no  valuation.  All 
forms  of  Potash  soluble  in  water  have  been  regarded  as  of  equal 
value. 

At  a convention  of  Southern  State  Chemists,  held  at  xVthens, 
(xa.,  in  1886,  the  following  tariff  of  prices  was  adopted  : 

Ammonia,  16  cents  per  pound. 

Nitrogen,  19^  cents  per  pound. 


151 


Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  ceuts  per  pound. 

Reverted  Phosphoric  Acid,  ceuts  per  pound. 

Potash  (soluble  in  water),  5 ceuts  per  pound. 

The  writer,  though  not  present  at  the  convention,  deems  it 
best,  for  the  sake  of  harmony  in  State  valuations,  to  adopt  this 
tariff  for  the  present  year,  though  he  wishes  to  dissent  from  the 
opinion  that  Reverted  Phosphoric  Acid  is  of  equal  value  as  the 
soluble  form,  or  that  Nitrogen  is  of  the  same  money  value  in  all 
its  forms. 

The  above  are  commercial  values,  that  is  what  these  ingredi- 
ents, properly  mixed  and  sacked,  can  be  purchased  for  in  the 
markets  of  the  South.  The  above  tariff,  when  applied  to  fer- 
tilizers bought  in  New  Orleans,  will  be  found  to  give  values 
be^^oud  the  actual  selling  prices.  For  example,  goud  cotton-seed 
meal  contains  7 per  cent.  Nitrogen,  3 per  cent.  Phosphoric  Acid 
and  2 per  cent.  Potash  j neglecting  the  Phosphoric  Acid  and 
Potash,  and  estimating  its  value  only  on  its  content,  there  will 
be  obtained  for  one  ton  140  pounds  of  Nitrogen  at  19J  cents. — 
127.30.  It  is  well  known  that  this  fertilizer  could  be  bought  at 
anj"  time  in  the  year,  in  New  Orleans,  at  about  $20  per  ton. 

This  form  of  Nitrogen  comes  eutirel}^  from  the  South,  while 
all  others  are  products  of  /Northern  or  foreign  climes.  Home 
consumption  takes  only  a small  i)ortion  of  the  output  of  our 
mills,  the  greater  part  finding  its  way  to  the  North  and  to 
Europe. 

This  export  demand  regulates  the  price,  and  hence  we  have 
the  cheapest  form  of  Nitrogen  presented  to  us  in  our  own  home 
product,  viz.;  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

By  applying  the  above  to  a fertilizer  of  known  composition, 
and  comparing  the  result  with  the  actual  selling  price,  the  con- 
sumer can  easily  tell  whether  he  is  getting  value  received. 

HOW  TO  COMPUTE  THE  VALUE  OF  A FERTILIZER. 

A fertilizer  is  purchased  whose  guaranteed  analysis  recorded 
on  the  sack  as  follows : 

Nitrogen,  3 per  cent. 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid,  6 per  cent. 


152 


Keverted  Phosphoric  Acid,  4 per  cent. 
Potash,  2 per  cent. 

Wliat  is  its  commercial  value  ? 

IN  ONE  TON  WE  HAVE: 


per  cent.  Nitrogen 60  lbs.  at  19.}  cents  $11.70 

0 per  cent.  Solub’e  Phosphoric  Acid.  ..  120  lbs.  at  7|  cent's  9.90 

t per  cent.  Reverted  Phosphoric  Acid . . 80  lbs.  at.  7}  cents  6.00 

2 per  cent.  Potash 10  lbs.  at  2 cents  2.00 

Comuiercial  value,  per  ton $28.70 

Py  comparing  the  above  with  the  amount  paid,  the  4*onsumei 
<*a.u  easily  calculate  whether  he  has  paid  too  much. 

The  work  done  in  the  Laboratory,  since  our  last  report,  may 
be  classified  as  follows : 

18  Ammoniated  Superpliosphates  and  (Jua»ios. 

6 Acid  Phosphates. 

5 Cotton -seed  Meal. 

7 Tankage. 

5 Phosphates. 

3 Bat  Manures. 

1 Fish  Scrap. 

1 Bone  Meal. 

1 Dried  Blood. 

1 Sulphate  of  Ammonia.  ^ 

1 Nitrate  of  Soda. 

1 Lignite. 

1 Oyster  Shell  Lime. 

The  relative  commercial  values  are  prot^en  only  to  the* 
Ammoniated  Superphosphates  and  Acid  Pho.sphates.  ."Jince  under 
existing  tariff  no  value  is  assigned  insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid. 

The  Ammoniated  Superphosphates  and  Guanos  include  the 
various  fertilizers  sold  in  this  State  for  cotton,  cane,  rice,  etc. 
They  contain  all  three  of  the  chief  fertilizing  ingredients,  and 
may  be  classified  as  Complete  Manures.  Made  for  different 
crops,  these  ingredients  are  hy  no  means  constant,  but  vary 


153 


according  to  the  manufacturer's  ideas  of  the  demand  of  each 

particular  crop  for  each  particular  ingredient. 

AMMONIATED  SUPERPHOSPHATES  AND  OUANOS. 

Station  No.  117. — Guaiio;  sent  by  Millard  Bosworth,  Oypremort 
P.  O.,  La. 

Station  No.  118. — Guano;  sent  by  Millard  Bosworth,  Oypremort 
P.  O.,  La. 

Station  No.  120. — Oat  Fertilizer;  sent  by  Lucien  Soniat,  Tchoup- 
itoulas  Plantation,  La. 

Station  No.  121. — Sugar  Cane  Fertilizer ; sent  by  Lucien  Soniat, 
Tchoupitoulas  Plantation,  La. 

Station  No.  147. — Peach  Tree  Fertilizer;  sent  by  Planters’  Fer- 
tilizer Company,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  152. — Guano;  sent  by  McCall  Brothers.,  Donaldson- 
vilh  , La. 

Station  No.  153. — Guano;  sent  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Company, 
New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  159. — Guano;  sent  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Company, 
New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  161. — Guano;  sent  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Company, 
New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  163. — Guano ; sent  by  Cartwright  Eustis,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

/ ^ 

Station  No.  164. — Cotton  Goods;  sent  by  Planters’  Fertilizer 
Company,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  166. — Guano;  sent  by  McCall  Brothers,  Donaldson- 
ville.  La. 

Station  No.  167. — Guano ; sent  by  McCall  Brothers,  Donaldson- 
ville.  La. 

Station  No.  168. — Guano;  sent  by  McCall  Brothers,  Donaldson- 
ville.  La. 

Station  No.  170. — Guano;  sent  by  T.  D.  Miller  & Co.,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Station  No.  171. — Guano;  sent  by  T.  D.  Miller  & Co.,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

station  No.  172.— Guano;  sent  by  Hon.  Edward  J.  Gay,  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  173. — Guano;  sent  by  Trosclair  & Robichaux,  Thib- 
odeaux, La. 


154 


ANALYSES  OF  AMMONIATED  SUPERPHOSPHATES  AND  GUANOS. 


Station. 

I Soluble  Phos- 

pborilc  Acid. 

Reduced  Phos- 
phoric Acid. 

No. 

117 

7.87 

0.27 

<< 

118 

7.21 

0.31 

<< 

120 

4.61 

2.04 

(( 

121 

5.76 

2.05 

(( 

147 

5.10 

0.42 

a 

152 

8.17 

1.74 

<< 

153 

10.94 

0.16 

<( 

159 

6.87 

1.96 

<( 

161 

5.76 

1.54 

163 

4.61 

0.70 

164 

8.25 

1.30 

<< 

16(> 

7.68 

0.70 

(< 

167 

10.75 

0.74 

168 

6.14 

0.65 

(( 

170 

7.10 

1.79 

n 

171 

6.33 

4.29 

if 

172 

2.30 

6.74 

173 

5.56 

3.15 

Insoluble  Phos- 

phoric Acid. 

Total  Phos- 

phoric Acid. 

a 

§c 

p 

S 

0.12 

8.26 

3.15 

0.38 

7.90 

3.43 

0.26 

6.91 

3.71 

0.25 

8.06 

3.08 

0.24 

5.76 

2.11 

0.44 

10.37 

3.22 

0.67 

11.77 

2.38 

0.38 

9.21 

3.15 

0.19 

7.49 

1.96 

1.02 

6.33 

4.69 

1.10 

10.65 

2.38 

2.56 

10.94 

2.55 

0.41 

11.90 

2.10 

0.89 

7.68 

3.57 

0.51 

9.40 

3.0# 

2.62 

13.24 

1.61 

4.41 

13.45 

3.01 

0.89 

9.60 

3.78 

a 

o 

s 

2 1 

Potash- 

RclatiTc  Com- 

mercial Value, 

3.82 

2.69 

$25*77 

4.17 

2.89 

26.06 

4.51 

24.40 

3.74 

23.68 

2.55 

7.71 

20.29 

3.91 

1.06 

27.93 

2.89 

2.91 

27.35 

3.82 

1.05 

25.98 

2.38 

3.86 

20.50 

5.70 

1.47 

26.93 

2.89 

1.73 

24.43 

3.09 

2.60 

23.76 

2.55 

2.70 

26.74 

4.34 

2.70 

25.42 

3.74 

1.64 

26.12 

1.95 

1.44 

22.89 

3.65 

0.54 

25.51 

4.59 

0.96 

28.23 

An  inspection  of  the  above  will  show  the  high  character 
of  the  various  brands  now  sold  on  our  market. 


ACID  PHOSPHATES 

Are  Phosphates  made  soluble  by  treatment  with  Sulphuric  Acid, 
and  contain  usually  only  one  ingredient,  viz.:  Phosphoric  Acid. 
This  ingredient  should  be  in  a soluble  or  available  form.  There 
is  a current  belief  that  Phosphoric  Acid  from  Bone  is  more 
valuable  than  that  from  Bock.  This  is  true  only  in  regard  to 
the  insoluble  forms  of  Phosphoric  Acid.  Soluble  and  reverted 
Phosphates  are  of  equal  agricultural  value,  whether  from  Bock 
or  Bone;  and  a good  Acid  Phosphate,  whatever  its  source,  should 
contain  little  or  no  Insoluble  Phosphates. 


155 


ACID  PHOSPHATES. 

Station  Ko.  141. — Sent  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Co.,  N'ew  Orleans. 
Station  No.  142. — Sent  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Go.,  New  Orleans. 
Station  No.  150. — Sent  by  Planters’  Fertilizer  Co.,  New  Orleans. 
Station  No.  155. — Sent  by  I).  K.  Calder,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  169. — Sent  by  Hon.  Edward  J.  Gay,  New  Orleans. 
Station  No.  175. — Sent  by  Leon  Godchaux,  New  Orleans. 


ANALYSES  OF  ACID  PHOSPHATES. 


Station  . 

Water  Soluble 

Phosphoric  Acid. 

Citrate  Soluble 

Phosphoric  Acid. 

Acid  Soluble 

Phosphoric  Acid. 

Total  Phosphoric 

Acid. 

Potash 

Relative  Commer- 

cial Value. 

No. 

141 

15.17 

0.73 

0.22 

16.12 

$23.85 

ii 

142 

13.92 

0.70 

0..54 

15.16 

21.93 

( i 

ir)0 

16.27 

0.31 

1.66 

18.24 

24.87 

i< 

155 

10.69 

2.85 

0.41 

13.95 

20.31 

U 

169 

14.01 

1.93 

0.38 

16.32 

23.91 

u 

175 

14.21 

0.83 

1.47 

16.51 

22.56 

COTTON  SEED  MEAL. 

This  is  onr  cheapest  and  best  source  of  Nitrogen.  It  is 
largely  used  all  over  Louisiana,  as  a fertilizer.  Being  a feed 
stuff,  it  is  excluded  from  the  provisions  of  the  Fertilizer  Law. 
Hence,  great  care  is  necessary  in  its  purchase  to  see  that  it  is 
well  decorticated,  i.  e.,  free  from  hulls.  Pure,  undamaged  meal 
should  be  dry,  pulverulent,  and  of  a bright  yellow  color.  Hulls 
in  the  meal  can  easily  be  detected  by  close  examination,  or  by 
running  a small  quantity  of  the  meal  through  a common  kitchen 
sifter,  when  the  hulls  will  separate.  Damaged  meal  has  a dark 
color,  and  while  it  is  probably  unlit  for  cattle  food,  it  is  rarely 
injured  as  a fertilizer.  The  commercial  value  of  cotton  seed, 
reckoned  by  onr  tariff’,  is  far  in  excess  of  its  actual  value  in  New 
Orleans. 


150 


The  best  meal  should  always  contain  7 per  cent.  Nitrogen,  3 
per  cent.  Phosphoric  Acid,  and  2 per  cent.  Potash. 

COTTON  SEED  MEAL. 

Station  No.  119. — Sent  by  E.  Milliken,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  129. — Bought  by  Station  from  Maginnis  Oil  Works, 
’ New  Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  151. — Sent  by  Trosclair  & Eobichaux,  Thibodeaux, 
La. 

Station  No.  160. — 

Station  No.  174. — Sent  by  J.  N.  Pharr,  Berwick  City,  La. 


ANALYSES  OF  COT  ON  SEED  MEAL. 


Station. 

Total  Phosphoiic 

Acid. 

A 

o 

bC 

p j 

1 

a 

< 

ets 

O 

No.  119 

6.09 

7.40 

“ 129 

3.77 

7.12 

8.64 

i'.m 

“ 151 

2.40 

6.16 

7.48 

1.93 

160 

2.50 

7.35 

8.93 

1..58 

“ 174 

3.64 

7.42 

9.01 

1.35 

TANKA.OE. 

This  fertilizer  is  growing  in  popularity  in  this  State,  and  its 
extending  use  attests  its  supposed  i>rofitable  results.  It  varies 
greatly  in  composition,  as  the  analyses  below  will  show.  It  is  a 
refuse  product  of  the  slaughter  house,  and  consists  essentially 
of  bone  and  meat  which  collects  at  the  bottom  of  tanks  in  which 
the  wastes  of  slaughter  houses  are  (iooked  to  extract  the  grease. 
When  bone  predominates,  the  Phosphoric  Acid  content  is  large 
and  the  Nitfogen  small,  and  the  action  of  both  is  slow.  When 
meat  is  the  chief  ingredient,  the  per  tent,  of  Nitrogen  is  large 
and  the  Phosphoric  Acid  low,  and  the  action  (especially  of  Nitro- 
gen) is  quite  satisfactory.  ; 


157 


The  followiug  samples  were  analyzed : 

iMo.  124 — Sugar  Experiment  Station,  bought  in  New  York. 

No.  138 — D.  Thompson,  Calumet  Plantation,  Patterson ville,  La. 
No.  139 — D.  Thompson,  Calumet  Plantation,  Patterson  ville,  La. 
No.  140 — D.  Thompson,  Calumet  Plantation,  Patterson  ville,  La. 
No.  154 — Leon  Godchaux,  New  Orleans,  La. 

No.  162 — McCall  & Legendre,  McManor  Plantation,  Donaldson- 
ville,  La. 

No.  165— McCall  Bros.,  Evan  Hall  Plantation,  Donaldson  ville,  La. 


ANALYSES  OF  TANKAGE. 


1 

Station. 

Pboaphoric  Acid,  jj 

!i 

i 

1 

Nitrogen. 

1 

Ammonia.  j 

' _ 1 

S a 

S .2 

® 1 

W *5 

No.  124 

12.48 

7.00 

8.50 

“ 138 

15.89 

5.18 

6.29 

“ 139 

10.78 

6.44 

7.82 

“ 140 

17.58 

5.04 

' 6.12 

“ 154 

12.10 

2.24 

2.72 

162 

13.24 

5^88 

7.14 

“ 165 

7.29 

8.26  • 

10.03 

PHOSPHATES. 


Under  this  head  are  included  Orchilla  Guano,  Basic  Phos- 
phate Slag,  and  Bone  Black. 

Orchilla  Guano  is  a natural  deposit  made  by  birds  in  a rainy 
climate.  The  Nitrogen  and  Soluble  Phosphates  have  been 
removed,  leaving  only  reduced  and  Insoluble  Phosphates  behind. 
It  is  essentially  a phosphate  of  lime  mixed  with  carbonate  of 
lime. 

Basic  Phosphate  Slag  is  the  scoria  which  floats  on  the 
surface  in  the  Thomas  Gilchrist  process  of  dephosphorising  pig 
iron.  It  is  essentially  a phosi)hate  of  lime  mixed  with  lime,  and 
on  account  of  its  porosity  is  susceptible  of  being  ground  into  a 
very  fine  powder.  It  has  proven  of  high  agricultural  value  in 
some  places. 


15S 


Bone  Black  is  the  carbonized  residue  of  bones  which  have 
been  subjected  to  destructive  distillation.  It  is  largely  used  in 
sugar  refineries,  and,  when  spent,  is  sold  to  the  manulhcturers 
of  commercial  fertilizers,  for  treatment  with  acid.  It  is  rarely 
applied  without  treatment  to  the  soil,  since  each  grain  of  Phos- 
phate is  surrounded  by  a thin  layer  of  carbon  which  protects  it 
from  the  solvent  power  of  the  soil. 


PHOSPHATES. 

station  No.  123. — Orchilla  Guano;  donated  to  the  Station  by  the 
Agents. 

Station  No.  137. — Basic  Phosphate  Slag;  from  David  Bryde, 
Glasgow,  Scotland. 

Station  No.  145. — Basic  Phosphate  Slag;  from  A.  A.  Maginnis, 
New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  143. — Bone  Black ; from  J.  G.  Morris,  New  Orleans. 
Station  No.  144. — Bofie  Black;  from  Planters’  Fertilizer  Oom- 
l)any.  New  Orleans. 


ANALYSIS. 


Station. 

0 

P-,  ^ 

1 

Insoluble  Plios- 

pboric  Acid.  ; 

1 

Total  Phosphoric 
Acid.  i 1 

,1 

No.  123 

4.22 

1 5 . 31) 

19.58 

Orchilla 

“ 137 

5.37 

11.14 

15.51 

Basic  Slag. 

“ 145 

5.48 

7.12 

12.60 

.(  .( 

“ 143 

28-42 

Boue  Black 

“ 144 

27.10 

BAT  MANURES, 

The  ordure  of  Bats,  found  in  caves,  roofs  of  houses,  etc.  When 
pure,  it  is  an  escellent  manure;  but  the  supply  is  always  limited. 
The  following  samples  were  sent  by  E.  Viterbo,  Luliug,  La.,  and 
are  from  Texas : 


159 


ANALYSES  OF  BAT  MANURES. 


Station. 

I 

Phosphoric  Acid,  i 

• 

1 

g 

.2 

'3 

o 

a 

a 

< 

1 

i 

Potash.  ! 

1 

1 

I 

No.  150 

8.92 

4.90 

5.95 

1.59 

“ 1.57 

4.70 

9.24 

11.22 

1.25 

“ 1.58 

9.02 

4.90 

5.95 

1.13 

BONE  MEAL. 

Bob es  ground  to  a powder  are  largely  used  in  some  countries 
as  a fertilizer,  and  are  held  in  higii  esteem.  They  are  not  popu- 
lar in  the  South.  The  more  finely  ground  they  are,  the  higher 
their  commercial  value.  Hence,  in  estimating  their  value,  both 
a mechanical  and  cliemical  analysis  are  necessary.  The  sample 
analyzed  was  purchased  by  the  Sugar  Experiment  Station,  in 
New  York,  and  cost  $32.50  per  ton. 


ANALYSIS. 


station.  Phosphoric  Acid.  Nitrogen.  Ammonia. 

No.  122  20.93  3.78  4.19 

And  was  in  excellent  mechanical  condition. 


FISH  SCRAP 


Is  the  dried  and  ground  residue  from  the  numerous  works 
scattered  along  the  Atlantic  coast,  engaged  in  extracting  oil 
from  fish.  It  contains  a goodly  percentage  of  both  Nitrogen  and 
Phosphoric  Acid,  and  is  often  used  to  ammoniate  many  of  the 
guanos,  or  complete  fertilizers  found  in  commerce.  It  is  a cheap 
source  of  Nitrogen. 

The  sample  analyzed  was  obtained  in  New  York,  and  cost, 
there,  $35.00  per  ton. 


160 


ANALYSIS  OF  FISH  SCRAP. 


Station.  Phosphoric  Acid.  Nitrogen.  Ammonia. 

No.  3.52  7.14  8.67 

The  mechaDical  condition  of  Fish  Scrap  largely  determines 
its  agricultural  value.  To  accomplish  the  best  results,  it  should 
be  very  finely  ground. 

DRIED  BLOOD 

Occurs  in  commerce  as  black  and  red  blood.  The  former  has 
been  prepared  by  drying  the  blood  of  slaughter  houses  by  super- 
heated steam,  the  latter  at  a lower  temperature.  The  former  is 
often  lumpy,  and  should  be  thoroughly  pulverized  before  use. 
They  both  contain  from  8 to  15  per  cent.  Nitrogen,  and  are 
usually  sold  upon  a guarantee  of  so  many  units  of  ammonia. 
This  is  a most  excellent  source  of  Nitrogen.  Field  and  labora. 
tory  experiments  have  shown  a slight  degree  of  availability  in 
favor  of  the  red  blood,  due  doubtless  to  its  finer  pulverization. 
The  sample  analyzed  was  black  blood,  and  was  bought  by  the 
Station  from  Mapes  Fertilizer  Company,  New  York.  Price  in 
New  York,  $47.50  per  ton. 


ANALYSIS  OF  DRIED  BLOOD. 

Station.  Phosphoric  Acid.  Nitrogen.  Ammonia. 

No.  126  0.70  13.79  16.75 

SULPHATE  OF  AMMONIA 

Is  a by-product  in  the  manufacture  of  gas  from  bituminoui 
coal,  and  usually  contains  from  20  to  21  per  cent.  Nitrogen.  It 
always  carries  a small  amount  of  moisture.  It  is  an  excellent 
gource  of  Nitrogen,  but  on  account  of  its  ready  solubility  in 
water,  its  use  is  restricted  to  the  immediate  wants  of  a plant  j 
hence,  like  Nitrate  of  Soda,  it  is  specially  applicable  as  a top 
dressing  to  spring  grains  and  grasses. 

Our  sample  was  obtained  by  the  Station  from  Mapes  Fertil- 
izer Company,  New  York,  and  cost,  in  that  city,  $07.50  per  ton. 


161 


ANALYSIS  OF  SULPHATE  OF  AMMONIA. 


Station. 

No.  130 


Nitrogen. 

20.59 


Ammonia. 

25.00 


Equal  to  Sulphate  of  Ammonia,  97.06  per  cent. 


NITRATE  OF  SODA 


Is  a product  of  the  mines  of  Peru  and  Chili,  and  is  often  called 
in  commerce,  Cubical,  or  Chilian  Saltpetre.  It  is  refined  before 
shipment  to  this  country.  It  contains,  usually,  about  16  per 
cent.  Nitrogen.  Small  quantities  of  common  salt  and  water, 
amounting  to  about  2 or  3 per  cent.,  usually  remains  in  this 
Fertilizer,  reducing  the  Nitrate  of  Soda  to  97  or  98  per  cent, 
purity.  Larger  amounts  of  impurities  would  suggest  adultera- 
tion or  defect  in  refining.  This  Fertilizer  is  largely  used  as  a top 
dressing  for  grains  and  grasses  in  the  spring.  It  has  also  been 
successfully  used  for  same  purpose  on  cane.  Its  efficacy  is 
always  enhanced  by  addition  of  Acid  Phosphate,  and  sometimes 
also  by  a salt  of  Potash. 

The  Sample  analyzed  was  purchased  of  Mapes  Fertilizer 
Company,  New  York,  and  cost,  in  that  city,  $47.50  per  ton. 


ANALYS  S OF  NITRATE  OF  SODA. 


N itrogeu . 

16.23 


station . 
No.  136 


Equal  to  Nitrate  of  Soda,  98.53  per  cent. 


LIGNITE, 


Or  Brown  Coal,  was  used  in  the  sugar  house  for  filtering  cane 
juices.  The  sample  analyzed  came  from  Wood’s  Bluff,  Clarke 
county,  Ala.,  and  was  donated  by  Judge  II.  Austill,  Mobile, 
Ala.,  to  the  Station,  fyr  trial,  in  1886.  An  account  of  its  action 
on  cane  juices  has  been  published  in  a former  Bulletin.  The 
following  is  its  (joinpositioti : 


162 


Moisture 

Volatile  Matter 
Fixed  Carbon  . . 
Ash 


28.75  per  cent. 
29.45  per  cent. 
28.85  per  cent. 
12.95  per  cent. 


Total 

Sulphur  present 


100.00  per  cent. 
0.55  per  cent. 


OYSTER  SHELL  MARL. 

A barrel  of  this  marl  was  kindly  donated  to  the  Station  by 

Mr. Keaney,  New  Orleans,  to  test  its  value  in  defecating 

cane  juices.  It  is  made  from  oyster  shells,  and  can  be  sold  to  the 
planters  for  a price  considerably  below  that  usually  paid  for 
sugar  lime.  It  is  a remarkably  pure  lime,  and  excluding  the 
partially  decomposed  shells,  of  which  there  was  removed  by  a 
sieve  an  amount  equal  to  17.03  per  cent.,  it  served  excellently  in 
the  defecation  of  juices. 

The  following  is  its  composition : 


Shells  removed  by  sieve 17.02  per  cent. 

Moisture 1.20  per  cent. 

Carbon  Dioxide 12.70  per  cent. 

Lime 68.10  per  cent. 

Magnesia 12  per  cent. 

Insoluble  Matter,  Phosphoric  Acid,  etc 85  per  cent. 


Total 100.00  per  cent. 


More  completely  burnt,  or  even  finely  pulverized  after  burn- 
ing, would  make  this  an  excellent  lime  for  defecation  in  the  sugar 
house.  .fii/.  i. 


s^ER  OF  AORICULTURE  RY  DEALERS  AND  MANU 
)R  SEASON  1887-8. 


JFACTURED. 


!88  . . - 

’ds,  Chicago. . 

it  tt 

tt  tt 

c 

ind . . . 

c 

7i 

O 

a 

A 

o 

'5 

Nitrogen. 

I'HosPHORic  Acid. 

QQ 

◄ 

H 

O 

Oh 

1 1 

Soluble. 

Reverted . 

Insoluble. 

200 

2 to  4 

7 to  9 

2 to  4 

li  to  3 

200 

2 to  3 

6 to  8 

3 to  4 

2 to  3 

200 

12  to  16 

1 to  3 

200 

14  to  18 

1 to  2 

200 

4i  to  5 

2i‘to*24 

200 

12  to  14 

100 

3i  to  4 

7 

1 ■ 

2 to  3 

100 

24 

9 

1 

2 

100 

4|  to  5 

6 

1 

li  to  2 

100 

4i  to  5 

6 

1 

1 to  2 

100 

' 4 to  5 

5 

1 

4 to  5 

100 

5 to  6 

4 

5 

200 

.82  to  1.64 

8 to  9 

*3*to’4* 

2 16  to  3.24 

200 

2.47 

6.50 

2.50 

2.25 

3.50 

200 

1-85 

7 

3 

2 

1 

200 

2i  to  2i 

5.50  to  6.50 

3.50  to  4 

H to  2i 

H to  2i 

200 

.75  to  1.50 

7 to  9.50 

3 to  4 

1 to  2 

1 to  2 

200 

8 to  9 

5 to  6 

2 to  2.75 

200 

7.50  to  8.50 

4.50  to  5.50 

1 to  2-50 

2 to  3 

200 

1.64  to  2.46 

5i  to  6i 

2^  to  3 

2 to  3 

200 

1.64  to  2.46 

5i  to  6| 

2i  to  3 

24  to  3i 

.54  to  1.0^ 

200 

1.64  to  2 46 

5i  to  6i 

2i  to  3 

2i  to  3i 

.54  to  1.08 

200 

2i  to  3 

9 to  11 

2 to  3 

200 

6 to  8 

12  to  14 

200 

3^  to  4 

28  to  30 

200 

2.06  to  6 

6 

2 

2 

168 

7.4 

11 

2 

200 

10 

7 

2 

rCl 


Ct 

o 


a 

o 

-M 


$25.00 


25  00 
25.00 


28.00 

23.00  : 

28.00  1 


GUARANTEED  ANALYSES  OE  COMMERCIAL  FERTILIZERS,  AS  RENDERED  TO  COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE  I?Y  DEALERS  xVND  MANU- 

FxVCTURERS  TO  ^VHOM  LICENSES  HAVE  BEEN  ISSUED  FOR  SEASON  1887-8. 


o 

o 

X 

Phosphoric  Acid. 

Potash. 

Soluble. 

Reverted. 

Insoluble. 

2 to  4 

7 t.o  9 

2 to  4 

H to  3 

2 to  3 

6 to  8 

3 to  4 

2 to  3 

12  to  16 

1 to  3 

14  to  18 

1 to  2 

4i  to  5 

21  to  24 

12  to  14 

3i  to  4 

7 

1 

2 to  3 

24 

9 

1 

2 

4i  to  5 

6 

1 

1*  to  2 

4i  to  5 

6 

1 

i to  2 

4 to  5 

5 

1 

4 to  5 

5 to  6 

4 

5 

.82  to  1.64 

8 to  9 

3 to  4 

2 16  to  3.i 

2.47 

6.50 

2.50 

2.25 

3.50 

1-85 

7 

3 

2 

1 

2i  to 

5.50  to  6.50 

3.50  to  4 

H to  2^ 

li  to  2i 

.75  to  1.50 

7 to  9.50 

3 to  4 

1 to  2 

1 to  2 

8 to  9 

5 to  6 

2 to  2.75 

7.50  to  8.50 

4.50  to  5.50 

1 to  2.50 

2 to  3 

.64  to  2.46 

.5^  to  0^ 

2i  to  3 

2 to  3 

.64  to  2.46 

ol  to  6i 

2i  to  3 

2i  to 

.54  to  l.( 

.64  to  2 46 

5i  to  Oi 

2^  to  3 

2i  to  3i 

.54  to  l.t 

to  3 

9 to  11 

2 to  3 

6 to  8 

12  to  14 

3^  to  4 

28  to  30 

.06  to  6 

6 

2 

li 

2 

7.4 

11 

2 

10 

7 

2 

or  Fertilizeu  or  Chemical, 


Soluble  Guano 

Ammouiatetl  Raw  Bone  Superpliosjihate. . 

Acid  Phosphate • 

Stern’s  Dissolved  Boue 

Stern’s  Pure  Ground  Boue 

Sieru’s  Kainit 

Sugar  Fertilieer 

Cotton  “ 

Oats  “ 

Rice  “ 

Fruit  Tree"  

Vegetable  “ 

Sol.  Stern’s  Fertilizer 

Soluble  Pacific  Guano,  sugar  grade 

Cotton  Grade  Guano 

Gossipium  Phospho 

Scott’s  Animal  Ainmoniated  Guano 

Scott’s  High-grade  Acid  Phosphates 

Scott’s  Potasso  Phospho 

National  Bone  Dust 

Ammoniated  Dissolved  Bone 

Garden  City  Sujierpliosphato 

Studnitzka’s  Standard  Sugar  Fertilizer.. 

Hog  Tankage  

Powdered  Raw  Bone 

Atlantic  Soluble  Guano 

Peruvian  Gnano 

Atlantic  Dissolved  Bone 


BY  WHOM  REPORTED. 


Standard  Gnano  and  Cheni.  M’l’g  Co 


ter’s  Fertilizer  Man 


if’g  Co 


Sol.  Stern . 

i W.  P.  Richardson, 

for  Gliildeii  & Curtis. 

G.  W.  Scott  Manufacturing  Company 


Northwestern  Fertilizer  Company 
Henry  Studnitzka  & Co 


Pelzer,  Rodgers  &.  Co.. 

C.  C.  Crawford 

Pelzer,  Rodgers  &Co.. 


14  Union  Street,  N.  O 


113  Magazine  Street,  N.  O 


78  Decatur  Street,  N.  0. 
33  Caron.ielet  Street,  N.  O 
au<i  Boston,  M.-ise, 
Atlanta,  Georgia 


Chicago,  Illinois 
41  North  Peters  Street,  N 


Charleston,  S.  C 

6 Tchonpitoulas  Street,  N.  O 
Charleston,  S.  C 


Bt  Whom  Manufactured. 


Standard  Guano  and  Chein.  M’f’g  Co 


Planters’  Fertilizer  Ma 


Farmers’  Fertilizer  Manuf’g  Co. 
Pacific  Guauo  Company 


G W.  Scott  Manufacturing  Co. 


Northwestern  Fertilizer  Co 
Armour  & Co 


Atlantic  Phosphate  Co 

Anglo-Continental  Guano  Works  . 
Atlantic  Phosphate  Company 


Where  M.\.nufacturud. 


New  Orleans. 


Syracuse,  N.  Y, , . 
Wood  Holl,  M‘18s  , 


Atlanta,  Ga 


Union  Stock  Y’ds,  Chicago. 
Chicago,  111 


Charleston,  S.  C 

London,  England... 
Charleston,  S.  C . . . . 


f 


Cash  Pi  ice,  per 

8 S S j i 1 i 1 1 1 ! S S i i i S i i i i i i ton,  to  Furmers, 


SORGHUM. 


FIELD,  LABORATORY  AND  SUGAR-HOUSE  RESULTS 


DIFFUSION  PROCESS. 


BULLETIN  No.  19 

OF 

THE  LOUISIANA 

STATE  EXPERIMENT  STATION. 


WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Ph.  D.,  Director. 


— Issued  by  — 

THOMPSON  J.  BIED, 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture, 

BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 


BATON  ROUGE: 

PRINTED  BT  THE  ADVOCATE. 
1888. 


SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  » 
Kenner,  La.,  December  15,  1888.  f 

To  His  Excellency  Francis  T.  Nicholls,  Governor  of  Louisiana;  Mr.  William 
Garig,  Vice-President  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  Louisiana  State  Uni- 
versity and  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College;  and  Hon.  Thompson 
J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La. : 

Gentlemen — To  you,  constituting  the  Bureau  of  Agricul- 
ture’^ of  the  State  of  Louisiana,  the  Stations  are  indebted  for 
the  larger  portion  of  the  means  by  which  the  experiments  in 
Diffusion  of  Sorghum  have  been,  recently,  made.  I therefore 
transmit  to  you  a full  report  of  results,  and  ask  that  it  be  pub- 
lished by  Commissioner  T.  J.  Bird,  as  Bulletin  No.  19. 

Thanking  you  for  your  active  co-operation,  I am 
Eespectfully  yours, 

WM.  0.  STUBBS, 

/ Director. 


Report  of  Sugar  Experiment  Station 
on  Sorghum. 


On  April  6th,  1888,  two  i>lats  (Nos.  9 and  10)  at  the  Sugar 
Experiment  Station  were  })lante(l  in  sorghum. 

PREVIOUS  CULTURE. 

No.  9 had  been  continuously  in  sorghum  since  1886, .and 
No.  10  in  corn, 

PREPARATION  OF  LAND. 

The  land  was  broken  in  the  spring  with  4-horse  plows, 
thrown  into  beds  five  feet  apart,  and  seed  sown  and  lightly  har- 
rowed in.  Only  a partial  stand  was  secured,  germination  being 
prevented  by  a prevailing  drouth.  It  was  thinned,  wherever  it 
was  thick  enough,  to  three  stalks  to  the  running  foot.  The 
cultivation  consisted  of  oft-barring  with  a 2 horse  plow,  a hoeing, 
and  returning  the  dirt  with  a 2-horse  plow,  and  breaking  out  the 
middles  with  a large  one  and  a three-quarter  Avery  advance 
double  mould-board  plow. 

The  excessive  rains  began  in  May  and  lasted  till  the  middle 
of  July,  and  prevented  further  cultivation. 

The  varieties  planted  on  these  plats  were : 

1.  Honduras,  seed  grown  at  the  Station. 

2.  Honduras,  seed  grown  on  the  Teche. 

3.  Link’s  Hybrid,  seed  grown  in  Kansas. 

4.  White’s  Mammoth,  seed  grown, at  the  Station. 

5.  White  India,  seed  grown  in  Kansas. 

6.  Enyama,  grown  by  J.  P.  Baldwin  of  the  Teche. 


168 


7.  Early  Orange,  grown  in  Kansas. 

8.  Kansas  Orange,  grown  in  Kansas. 

9.  New  Orange,  grown  in  Kansas. 

10.  Golden  Kod,  grown  in  Kansas. 

11.  Honey  Drip,  grown  in  Kansas. 

12.  Texas  Honey  Drip,  seed  bought  of  Gumbrell,  Eeynolds 
and  Allen,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

13.  Planted  with  seed  from  Department  of  Agriculture,  but 
none  came  up. 

14.  White  Minnesota,  amber  seed,  grown  in  Nebraska. 

15.  Early  Amber,  seed  grown  in  Kansas. 

16.  Early  Amber,  seed  furnished  by  the  Department  of 
Agriculture. 

17.  Kansas  Orange,  seed  from  Kansas. 

18.  Link’s  Hybrid,  seed  grown  at  the  Station. 

19.  Early  Orange,  seed  grown  at  the  Station. 

Several  of  the  above  varieties  were  sent  to  the  State  Experi- 
ment Station,  Baton  Kouge,  La.,  and  to  the  North  Louisiana 
Experiment  Station,  Calhoun,  La.;  and  experimental  plats  were 
planted  at  each  station. 

The  varieties  planted  at  Baton  Bouge  were  Early  Amber, 
Early  Orange,  Link’s  Hybrid  and  Honduras. 

They  were  planted  in  rows  four  feet  wide,  and  seed  lightly 
covered.  The  cultivation  was  the  same  as  that  given  to  corn, 
after  thinning  it  to  a stand  of  one  stalk  to  every  four  inches. 

The  storm  of  19th  of  August  completely  prostrated  the 
canes,  and  on  September  12th  the  held  was  green  with  a luxuri- 
ant growth  of  suckers. 

The  varieties  grown  at  the  North  Louisiana  Experiment 
Station,  Calhoun,  La.,  were: 

No.  1.  Minnesota  Early  Amber,  seed  from  Nebraska. 

.No.  2.  Early  Amber,  seed  from  Department  of  Agriculture. 

No.  3.  Early  Orange,  seed  from  Department  of  Agriculture. 

No.  4.  New  Orange,  seed  from  Kansas. 

No.  5.  White  India,  seed  from  Sugar  Experiment  Station. 

No.  6.  Link’s  Hybrid,  seed  from  Sugar  Experiment  Station. 

No.  7.  Golden  Rod,  seed  from  Kansas. 


169 


These  were  planted  ou  April  18th,  thinned  to  a stand,  and 
cultivated  in  its  order  with  the  corn  crop.  Here  flat  cultivation 
was  exclusively  practiced  during  the  season,  while  at  the  other 
two  stations  high  ridges  were  required  for  drainage. 

These  plantings  were  made  with  a view  of  testing,  by  mill 
and  laboratory  experiments,  the  adaptability  of  sorghum  as  a 
sugar  crop  to  Louisiana.  If  sugar  can  be  made  profitably  from 
sorghum  anywhere  in  the  United  States,  it  should  be  done  in 
Louisiana.  Chemical  analyses  show  a larger  percentage  of  sugar 
and  a smaller  quantity  of  glucose  in  sorghum  grown  in  Louisiana 
than  anywhere  else  in  this  country.  At  least  the  published 
analyses  now  at  hand  verify  this  assertion.  Again,  could  our 
sugar  planters  be  persuaded  that  sorghum  could  be  made  to 
yield  a profitable  quantity  of  sugar,  say  even  1000  pounds  per 
acre,  they  would  soon  aboi)t  it  as  an  adjunct  to  the  cane  crop. 
Once  establish  the  fact  that  sugar  can  be  profitably  made  from 
sorghum,  and  it  will  become  exceedingly  popular  with  all  cane- 
growers,  for  the  following  reasons: 

1st.  By  planting  different  varieties  and  at  different  times  it 
can  be  made  to  ripen  in  Louisiana  at  any  time  from  July  to 
[N^ovember,  thus  giving  employment  six  months  to  an  expensive 
machinery,  which  is  now  engaged  only  sixty  days  in  grinding 
the  cane  crop. 

2d.  The  cost  of  seed  required  to  plant  a crop  of  sorghum  is 
vvery  small — quite  insignificant  compared  with  the  large  amount 
required  for  cane. 

3d.  The  ease  and  cheapness  with  which  this  crop  can  be 
grown. 

4th.  The  value  of  the  seed  for  forage — a by-product  without 
cost,  save  the  expense  of  carefully  housing. 

Again,  there  are  vast  tracts  of  rich  alluvial  lands  in  the 
middle  and  northern  portion  of  the  State  which  are  too  far  north 
for  cane  and  which  will  grow  excellent  crops  of  sorghum.  These 
lands  are  now  in  cotton,  but  could  it  be  demonstrated  that  they 
could  grow  sorghum  profitably,  central  factories  would  spring 
up  in  every  direction  and  this  crop  would  supplant  cotton  in 
part,  if  not  entirely. 


170 


With  these  possibilities  in  view,  the  Director  has  persistently 
planted  sorghum  for  three  years  upon  the  Sugar  Experiment 
Station,  and  has  attempted  every  year  to  make,  successfully, 
sugar  from  it  by  the  milling  process.  Chemical  analyses  have 
shown  that  our  juices  were  rich  in  sucrose  and  low  in  glucose,  but 
our  sugar-house  experiments  have  failed  to  extract  it  successfully. 
We  have  made  the  masse  cuite  full  of  grains,  but  our  centrifugals 
failed  to  purge.  All  this  was  due  to  the  starch  present  in  thre 
juice  (extracted  by  pressure  with  the  mill),  which,  during  the 
subsequent  process  of  concentration,  was  oonverted  into  dextrine^ 
and  this  substance,  our  hete  noir^  prevented  the  elimination  of  the 
sugar.  Our  past  experiments  have  demonstrated  the  inapplica- 
bility of  the  crushing  mill  to  sorghum.  They  have  also  shown 
that  high  temperatures  must  be  avoided.  Therefore,  new  meth- 
ods of  extracting  the  juice  and  processes  of  cooking  in  vacuo 
must  be  resorted  to  before  we  can  successfully  extract  sugar  from 
sorghum. 

Fort  Scott,  Kansas,  and  Eio  Grande,  Kew  Jersey,  have  both 
demonstrated  that  diffusion  was  applicable  to  the  extraction  of 
juice,  and  goodly  quantities  of  sugar  had  thus  been  obtained. 
After  planting  the  above  crops,  thei  Bureau  of  Agriculture, 
which  has  immediate  control  of  the  stations,  received  a petition 
in  the  form  of  a series  of  resolutions  from  the  Ascension  branch 
of  the  Sugar  Planters’  Association,  asking  that  it  make  an 
appropriation  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a diffusion  battery  for 
sorghum,  and  to  continue  the  exjieriments  so  auspiciously  begun 
at  Fort  Scott  and  Bio  Grande.  The  planters  were  anxious  to 
know  if  the  flattering  results  obtained  in  Kansas  could  not  be 
realized  here.  The  Bureau  having  received  at  one  time  the 
deferred  half  of  the  annual  Hatch  appropriation,  decided  to 
grant  the  request,  so  far  as  the  limited  means  at  their  disposal 
would  permit.  Accordingly  it  passed  a series  of  resolutions 
appropriating  money  for  the  enterprise,  and  authorizing  the 
Director  to  proceed  at  once  to  obtain  the  necessary  machinery. 

As  soon  as  these  resolutions  were  passed,  increased  areas 
were  planted  in  sorghum  at  each  station,  using  seed  received 
from  Kansas,  at  Kenner,  and  Early  Amber  and  Orange  at  the 
other  two. 


171 


Acting  under  these  resolutions,  bids  were  invited  for  building 
(1),  a ‘^diffusion  battery  of  fourteen  cells,  capacity  of  battery 
one  and  a half  to  two  tons  per  hour ; (2),  a double  effect  of  four 
hundred  square  feet  of  heating  surface.”  Messrs.  Edwards  & 
Haubtman,  of  New  Orleans,  making  the  best  proposition  for  the 
erection  of  above  machinery  was  accorded  the  contract. 

Mr.  J.  P.  Baldwin,  of  St.  Mary  parish,  who  had  formerly 
been  an  attache  of  the  station,  and  who  has  great  mechanical 
ingenuity,  was  employed  in  May  to  superintend  the  erection 
of  the  machinery,  and  after  full  and  free  conference  with  him  and 
Mr.  E.  W.  Deming,  late  engineer  in  charge  of  the  Fort  Scott 
sugar- works,  and  now  supervising  engineer  of  the  Conway 
Springs  Sugar- works,  Kansas,  the  following  machinery  was 
ordered : 

Cutter  and  comminutor  or  pulper,  with  shafting  and  pulleys, 
from  George  J.  Fritz,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  conveyors,  elevators  and 
gearing  from  the  Link  Belt  Company,  Chicago;  and  Mr.  E.  W. 
Deming  kindly  superintended  the  construction  of  a fan,  a dupli- 
cate of  the  one  made  for  Conway  Springs  Sugar-works,  which 
he  shipped  us  from  Kansas. 

Considerable  work  had  to  be  done  to  conform  the  old  sugar- 
house  to  its  new  machinery.  Indeed,  the  task  of  planning  and 
transforming  the  old  conditions  to  the  new  was  one  requiring 
patience,  energy  and  excellent  mechanical  ingenuity.  That  it 
has  been  well  done  is  the  universal  testimony  of  all  visitors. 

After  the  above  work  bad  been  contracted  for,  the  gratifying 
intelligence  was  received  from  the  Hon.  Norman  J.  Colman, 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C.,  that  he  would 
allow  this  Station  five  thousand  dollars  of  the  one  hundred 
thousand  recently  appropriated  by  Congress  for  experiments  in 
making  sugar  from  sorghum.  This  supplement  to  the  appropri- 
ation from  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture  has  enabled  this  Station 
to  enlarge  its  equipment  and  extend  its  field  of  investigation. 

From  our  past  experience  with  sorghum,  it  was  inferred 
that  our  crop,  planted  on  the  16th  of  April,  would  not  be  ready 
for  the  sugar-house  before  the  1st  of  September.  Accordingly 
we  contracted  with  Messrs.  Edwards  & Haubtman  to  deliver  the 
machinery  by  the  15th  of  August,  thus  giving  us  fifteen  days 


172 


(ample  time)  for  its  erection  and  preparation  for  work.  Messrs. 
Edward  & Haubtman  failed  to  deliver  until  the  23d  of  August, 
which  failure,  in  connection  with  the  unprecedented  storm  of  the 
19th  of  that  month,  which  completely  prostrated  our  sorghum, 
proved  most  disastrous  to  our  successful  manufacture  of  sugar. 

In  1886,  sorghum  planted  April  5th  was  harvested  the  13th 
September.  In  1887,  sorghum  planted  April  21st  was  worked 
up  September  23d.  Both  years  they  were  worked  at  full  ma- 
turity, excepting  the  Early  Amber  and  Chinese,  which  were  ripe 
in  July  of  each  year. 

It  was  fair,  therefore,  to  calculate  that  without  any  natural 
intervention  the  sorghum  this  year  would  not  have  been  ready 
for  the  sugar-house  before  the  middle  of  September  j and  had 
not  the  storm  prevailed,  the  date  of  delivery  of  Messrs.  Edwards 
& Haubtman  would  have  still  afforded  us  ample  time  to  have 
completed  erection  before  the  maturity  of  the  crop.  Either, 
alone,  would  not  have  proved  disastrous  j both,  together,  were 
fatal.  [See  chemical  analysis,  further  on,  for  verification.] 

Of  the  varieties  mentioned  above,  the  Ambers  were  ripe  in 
July,  and  accordingly  were  worked  up  by  the  mill,  cooked  to 
masse  cuite,  and  left  in  hot  room  for  comparison  with  masse 
cuite  from  diffusion  juice. 


LABOBATOEY  WORK. 

During  the  summer  the  laboratory  has  been  engaged  in  the 
study  of  the  chemistry  of  sorghum.  To  this  end  weekly  analyses 
of  all  varieties  have  been  made  and  daily  study  prosecuted  as  to 
the  physiological  changes  occurring  in  the  growth  and  maturity 
of  sorghum.  The  following  are  the  notes  made  by  my  assistant, 
Mr.  W.  L.  Hutchinson,  up  to  September  1st,  at  which  time  he 
resigned  to  accept  the  professorship  in  chemistry  in  the  Agri- 
cultural and  Mechanical  College  of  Mississippi.  His  leaving 
put  an  end  to  his  interesting  investigations. 

June  21st. — Iodine  shows  no  starch  in  Minnesota  White 
Amber,  just  headed.  Single  polarization  gives  no  sucrose. 


173. 


The  following  were  found : Glucose,  3.65  per  cent,  j solids, 
6.66  per  cent. ; albuminoids,  ,17  per  cent. 

The  precipitate  produced  by  subacetate  of  lead,  after  being 
freed  from  the  lead,  gave  no  trace  of  oxalic  acid,  but  a quantity 
of  tartaric  acid.  So  great  was  the  latter  that  every  attempt 
at  its  entire  removal  failed,  so  that  no  positive  conclusions'  as  to 
the  other  acids  present  were  drawn. 

On  July  16,  fully  matured  samples  of  Early  Amber  were 
obtained,  the  juice  extracted  and  subjected  to  analysis.  The 
sucrose  was  determined  by  single  and  double  polarization  and 
by  Fehling’s  solution.  The  following  are  the  results : 

Sucrose:  Total  solids,  16.58;  single  polarization,  12.31; 
double,  12.28;  Fehliiig’s,  12.22.  This  juice  was  concentrated  to 
syrup,  and  the  latter  gave,  by  single  polarization,  sucrose  52.41; 
double  polarization,  53.58. 


STARCH  IN  SORGHUM. 

With  green  canes  just  heading  no  indications  of  starch  are 
given  by  iodine.  If  there  were  any  blue  it  was  completely 
obscured  by  the  intensely  brown  coloration.  This  brown  colora- 
tion indicated  dextrine  and  other  forms  of  soluble  starch. 

With  well-matured  canes  iodine  gives  an  intenselj^  blue 
color  towards  the  top,  decreasing  in  intensity  towards  the  butt. 
Canes  occupying  an  intermediate  condition  between  these  ex- 
tremes, or  in  that  stage  of  growth  when  maturity  begins  to 
appear,  as  indicated  by  the  presence  of  sucrose  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  stalk,  starch  will  be  found  in  the  butt  but  not  in  the  top. 

The  above  conclusions  of  Mr.  Hutchinson  have  been  fully 
confirmed  by  subsequent  experiments;  and  it  is  not  unusual  in 
our  laboratory  now  to  prognosticate  the  amount  of  sucrose  in  a 
cane  by  the  presence  of  starch,  so  intimately  are  they  associated. 
Both  sucrose  and  starch  seem  to  be  formed  simultaneously — the 
former  from  glucose  and  perhaps  other  bodies,  and  the  latter 
from  dextrine  and  other  soluble  forms. 

Glucose  occurs  in  largest  quantities  when  the  polariscope 
gives  no  indication  of  sucrose  by  single  polarization.  In  a sample 


174 


of  green  cane,  in  which  there  was  no  starch,  and  by  single  polar- 
ization no  sucrose,  but  by  double  polarization  1.53  per  cent.,  as 
high  as  7 per  cent,  of  glucose  was  found.  A.s  the  cane,  from 
which  the  above  sample  was  selected,  matured,  repeated  analysis 
made  at  short  intervals  showed  that  the  glucose  decreased,  until 
at  maturity  it  reached  as  low  0.8  per  cent. 


SINCTLE  vs.  DOUBLE  POLARIZATION. 

In  juices  from  matured  canes,  there  is  a very  close  agreement 
between  the  sucrose  obtained  by  single  and  double  ]X)larization* 
Hot  so  with  the  immature  canes,  and  the  greater  the  immaturity 
the  greater  the  disagreement.  In  all  of  the  laboratory  work  on 
samples  taken  from  the  field,  sucrose  was  therefore  determined 
by  single  and  double  polarization. 


ANALYSES  OF  VARIETIES  OF  SORGHUM. 

These  were  begun  on  July  11,  and  continued  weekly  until 
worked  up.  Tho  following  table  gives  the  results: 


175 


ANALY^S  OF  THE  VARIETIES  OF  SORGHUM  AT  DIFFERENT 
STAGES  OF  GROWTH. 


SUCROBE- 


Date 

OT 

"o 

'o 

in 

Akalysis. 

< 

§ 

o 

' y 

.a  -s 

® 2 

§ -2 

H 

in 

P 

Jnly 

11.. 

9.8 

2.2 

3.22 

Ang. 

6.. 

16.6 

12.4 

12.40 

H 

13.. 

16. 

12.3 

12.60, 

it 

20.. 

16.5 

12.1 

12.24 

27.. 

16.3 

12.2 

12.52 

Sept. 

4.. 

15.7 

11.7 

12  85 

ii 

8.. 

14.5 

10.2 

Jnly 

11.. 

11.5 

5.2 

6.22 

n 

19.. 

12.68 

8.3 

Aug. 

6.. 

16.20 

12.2 

12.10 

(t 

13.. 

13.20 

10. 

10.06 

(( 

20.. 

16.10 

12. 

12.07 

(( 

27.. 

16.20 

12. 

12.28 

Sept. 

4.. 

15.30 

12. 

12.00 

ii 

12.. 

11.40 

7.9 

July 

11.. 

11.80 

4.1 

5 12 

Aug. 

6.. 

16.90 

12. 

12.00 

(( 

13.. 

15.60 

11.6 

11.63 

<( 

20.. 

16.80 

11.7 

11.67 

<1 

27.. 

15.20 

11.1 

11.33 

Sept. 

4. . 

13.70 

0.7 

9.67 

<( 

12.. 

11.60 

8.1 

July 

11.. 

13.30 

8.3 

8.95 

19.. 

15.70 

12.1 

< i 

26.. 

14.80 

11.0 

(« 

30.. 

17.20 

12.3 

July 

11.. 

13-60 

8.4 

9 ’.26 

ti 

26.. 

15.70 

12.0 

(( 

30.. 

16.73 

12.1 

— 

July 

11.. 

13.2 

7.0 

7.78 

a 

26.. 

17.5 

13.5 

€i 

30.. 

16.3 

11.6 

July 

11.. 

8.9 

il53 

H 

20.. 

10.57 

^3 

Aug. 

6.. 

12.10 

5.8 

5.41 

(< 

13.. 

11.8 

7.9 

8.25 

<( 

20.. 

14.3 

9.5 

9.79 

<< 

27.. 

13.2 

9-3 

9.25 

Sept. 

4 .. 

12.8 

9.5 

9.53 

ii 

12.. 

10.4 

7.7 

July 

11.. 

11.1 

6.2 

8.89 

20.. 

11.01 

5.0 

Aug. 

7.. 

10.1 

5.8 

5.41 

(i 

13.. 

11.8 

7.9 

8.25 

ii 

20.. 

11.8 

6.6 

6.93 

a 

27.. 

14.9 

11.0 

11.08 

id 

0 

Variety. 

® s 
l.§ 

i 

0 

2.95 

Early  Orange. 

19 

1.00 

19 

.76 

ii 

19 

.60 

it  ii 

19 

.73 

i i ii 

19 

1.23 

a ti 

19 

1.05 

it  it 

19 

3.20 

Link’s  Hybrid. 

it  it 

18 

1-64 

18 

1.28 

ti  it 

18 

1.27 

a it 

18 

.74  ‘ 

ti  ii 

18 

.86 

a ti 

18 

.95 

it  it 

18 

.99 

it  it 

18 

3.40 

Kansas  Orange 

17 

1.13 

it  ii 

17 

1.45 

it  it 

17 

2.78 

it  it 

17 

1.33 

a it 

17 

1.98 

ii  ti 

17 

1.43 

it  it 

17 

2.85  ! 

> Early  Amber,  i 
[ Nebraska,  j 

(....  16 

1 .20 

ti  it 

\ 16 

1.18 

ii  ii 

16 

1.74 

ii  ii 

16 

2.75 

Early  Amber,  Kan . . 15 

1.13 

it  it 

“ ..  15 

1.70 

it  it 

“ ..  15 

3.71  1 

f Early  Amber,  ] 
> Dep’tofAg.  < 

ii  ii 

u 

1.00 

....  14 

1.59 

a it 

14 

6.34 

Texas  Honey  Drip . . 12 

4.85 

ti  it 

“ ..  12 

2.99 

ti  it 

“ ..  12 

2.20 

ii  ii 

“ ..  12 

2.51 

it  ii 

“ ..  12 

2.78 

ii  ii 

“ . . 12 

2.78 

ti  it 

“ ..  12 

2.17 

ii  a 

“ ..  12 

1.70 

Honey  Drip. . . 

11 

4.25 

a a 

11 

2.99 

a a 

11 

2.20 

»(  it 

11 

1.97 

it  ti 

11 

.80 

a it 

11 

176 


ANALYSES  OF  THE  VARIETIES  OP  SOROHUM  AT  DIFFERENT 
STAGES  OF  GROWTH — CONTINUED. 


• Sucrose . 


GQ 

P 

Date  of 

Analysis. 

1.3 

0 

CC 

iJ 

1 

Single  pola 
ization. 

>uble  pol 

ization. 

OQ 

c 

o 

p 

Variety. 

imber  of 
leriment. 

H 

P 

O 

Sept.  4 . . 

8 6 

5.5 

5.45 

1.47 

Honey  Drip 

..  11 

“ 12.. 

,9.5 

4.9 

2 22 

(( 

u 

. . 11 

July  11.. 

‘8.5 

2.0 

4.18 

3.40 

Golden 

Rod 

“ 20.. 

6.5 

2.00  • 

c( 

. . 10 

Aug.  7.. 

13.6 

8.0 

8.7i 

1.63 

ii 

10 

13.. 

13.3 

7.0 

7.39 

2.45 

a 

(( 

. . 10 

“ 20.. 

11.7 

6.3 

6.50 

1.21 

<.i 

ii 

. . 10 

“ 27.. 

10-2 

5.5 

6.05 

.81 

u 

u 

. . 10 

Sept.  4.. 

“ 12.. 

10.2 

5.6 

5.62 

1.47 

ii 

u 

. . 10 

9.5 

4.9 

2.35 

(. 

a 

. . 10 

July  11.. 

13.3 

6.9 

8.81 

4.25 

New  Orange 

..  . 9 

“ 20.. 

16.3 

11.0 

2.83 

(( 

ii 

9 

Aug.  7.. 

“ 13.. 

13.80 

10.3 

10.36 

1.68 

u 

ii 

9 

12.50 

8.8  • 

8.92 

1.71 

(( 

(( 

9 

1‘  20.. 

12.20 

6.9 

7.33 

2.94 

(( 

(( 

9 

27.. 

12.20 

8. 

8.16 

2.82 

(( 

u 

9 

Sept.  4 . . 

10.20 

6.2 

6.20 

2.68 

<< 

ii 

..  9 

“ 12.. 

9.10 

7.1 

2.54 

ii 

9 

July  11.. 

10.60 

4.8 

6.67 

2.68 

Kansas  Orange. . . 

8 

“ 20.. 

13.11 

8.2 

2.21 

i i 

8 

Aug.  7.., 

“ 13.. 

13.90 

8. 

8.S 

1.83 

u 

\i 

8 

14.8 

10.6 

10.74 

1.36 

( 1 

a 

8 

“ 20.. 

12.7 

8.1 

8.35 

1.37 

(( 

ti 

8 

27.. 

13.1 

7.9 

8.0 

1.71 

ii 

8 

Sept.  4.. 

10.1 

6.5 

'6.74 

2.15 

(I. 

8 

“ 12.. 

5.3 

1.60 

(( 

ii 

8 

July  11.. 

ii.i 

6.0 

2.43 

Early  Orange 

...  7 

“ 20.. 

11.71 

7.2 

. . . ♦ 

2.21 

u 

ii 

7 

Aug.  7.. 

11.0 

7.8 

7.10 

1.77 

i 1 

ii 

7 

“ 13.. 

11.0 

11.18 

1.90 

u 

ii 

7 

“ 20.. 

ii'.z 

9.0 

9.31 

1.71 

u 

ii 

’7 

“ '27.. 

12.3 

9.5 

9.49 

1.72 

(( 

ii 

7 

Sept.  4.. 

10.9 

7.1 

7.21 

1-92 

u 

ii 

. . . 7 

“ 12.. 

8.1 

4.9 

1.95 

u 

ii 

7 

July  11.. 

9. 

2.3 

3.95 

2.12 

Enyama 

“ 20.. 

9.71 

4.8 

• • • ♦ 

2.31 

(< 

6 

Aug.  7.. 

14.80 

10.0 

10.80 

1.14 

. . . 6 

“ 13.. 

13  20 

9.0 

9.18 

1.43 

(( 

6 

“ 20.. 

14.70 

10.6 

10.88 

1.08 

6 

27.. 

14.60 

10.5 

10.50 

.82 

u 

6 

Sept.  4.. 

8.5 

5.2 

5.05 

1.47 

u 

6 

“ 12.. 

• • • • 

6.5 

.54 

l( 

6 

July  11.. 

10.9 

5.4 

6-9 

1.82 

White  India 

‘ 20.. 

14.83 

11.0 

1.70 

(t 

a 

Aug.  7.. 

14.60 

10.2 

ii!6’ 

1.14 

a 

ii 

5 

“ 13.. 

13.50 

9.5 

9.9 

1.59 

n 

ii 

5 

“ 20.. 

10.30 

6.6 

7.01 

2.36 

<( 

ii 

5 

“ 27.. 

13-6 

9.20 

9.18 

.72 

(c 

a 

177 


ANALYSES  OF  THE  VARIETIES  OP  SORGHUM  AT  DIFFERENT 
STAGES  OF  GROWTH— CONTINUED. 


Date  of 

g 

o 

Analysis. 

tj 

Sept.  4 . . 

H 

O 

H 

13. 

“ 20.. 

14.1 

July  11.. 

6.5 

“ 20.. 

7.91 

Aug.  7.. 

14.20 

“ 13.. 

10.5 

“ 20.. 

10.2 

“ 27.. 

12.2 

Sept.  4.. 

8.1‘ 

“ 20.. 

10.5 

July  11.. 

9.8 

“ 20.. 

9.1 

Aug.  7.. 

14.9 

“ 13.. 

14.5 

“ 20.. 

13.7 

“ 27.. 

13.7 

Sept.  4 . . 

12.2 

20.. 

10.6 

July  11.. 

7.0 

“ 20.. 

7.81 

Aug.  7.. 

9.70 

“ 13.. 

7.10 

“ 20.. 

7.70 

“ 27.. 

• • . . 

Sept.  4.. 

7.6 

Jnly  11.. 

6.8 

“ 20.. 

8.81 

Aug  7.. 

10.80 

“ 13.. 

9.20 

“ 20.. 

9.20 

“ 27.. 

10.50 

Sept.  4.. 

8.0 

“ 12.. 

10. 

SUCBOBE > 


eS 

« 

*0 

1 s 

c § 

S 

'St  ^ 

9 -S 

g .S 

o 

V 

g 

P 

(S 

9.90 

9.80 

1.27 

10.00 

• • • . 

1.25 

.4 

2.00 

3.29 

2.6 

3.00 

9.6 

9!7i 

1.43 

6.0 

6.40 

2.30 

6.1 

6.54 

1.87 

7.7 

7-84 

.87 

5.7 

5.06 

2.00 

6.9 

2.14 

4.8 

5.78 

1.59 

4.0 

2.55 

9.0 

9. *53 

2.34 

10.1 

10.21 

.74 

9.2 

9.55 

1.14 

10.5 

10.50 

.78 

9.1 

9-10 

1.00 

6.7 

1.48 

2.0 

2*.  96 

1.9 

3.4 

• • • • 

3.00 

3.6 

4.80 

2.14 

3.4 

3.. 52 

2.76 

2.5 

3.05 

2.53 

7.1 

7.12 

1.94 

5.0 

4.99 

2.11 

1.0 

1.81 

3.40 

4.4 

3.09 

6.2 

7 ’.79 

1.83 

5.8 

5.83 

1.50 

4.0 

3.87 

3.14 

6.6 

6.82 

1.79 

5.4 

5.46 

1.74 

6.0 

.... 

2.27 

Varieties. 


White  India 

H ll 

White  Mammoth . . . 
<(  <( 

<(  >< 

ti  n 

il  (I 

it  <( 

<(  <( 

((  <( 

Link’s  Hybrid  .... 
<<  << 

K <( 

((  <( 

<(  kt 

<(  << 

((  (t 

(<  << 

Honduras 


1 

1 

1 


( 


< 


yt^  ^ or  Number  of  Ex- 
periment. 


178 


ANALYSES  OF  VARIETIES  OF  SOROHUM  OROWN  AT  BATON 

ROUGE,  LA. 


Datis  or 

Total 

SUCKOSE, 

( Single 

Glucose. 

Variety. 

Analysis. 

Solids. 

polarization.) 

Ang.  6 

12.00 

Early  Amber. 

“ 9 

15.9 

9.50 

3-80  - 

<(  (< 

“ 14 

18.1 

13.40 

1.12 

((  (( 

“ 28 

17.0 

12.10 

1.09 

u << 

Sept.  11 

14.7 

7.30 

1.82  . 

t(  <( 

Ang.  6 

11.20 

Early  Orange. 

“ 14 

15.9 

10.00 

2.38 

(<  ii 

“ 28 

17.0 

12.40 

2.07 

(<  (( 

Sept.  11 

11.9 

7.8 

4.52 

<(  it 

A Kg.  6 

.... 

9.4 

.... 

Link^8  Hybrid. 

“ 9 

16.1 

11.5 

1.87 

a a 

“ 14..:... 

16.4 

10.5 

3.00 

H (< 

“ 6 

6.3 

.... 

Honduras. 

“ 9 

15.8 

8.4 

4.70 

ii 

“ 14 

11.6 

4.1 

5.47 

ii 

ANALYSES 

OF  VARIETIES 

GROWN  AT 

LOUISIANA  EXPERIMENT 

STATION,  CALHOUN,  LA. 

Date  of 

Total 

Sucrose, 

(Single 

Glucose. 

Variety. 

Analtbib. 

Solids. 

polarization .) 

Oct.  1 

11.4 

1.27 

Early  Amber. 

“ 1 

11.8 

2.56 

Early  Orange. 

“ 1 

10.5 

2.20 

New  Orange. 

“ 1 

12.3 

1.56 

Link’s  Hybrid* 

1 

.... 

87 

Whit©  India. 

“ 1 

10.6 

1.36 

Golden  Rod. 

179 


An  inspection  of  above  tables  will  show  that  Early  Amber 
reached  its  maximum  in  July,  say  100  days  after  planting. 
Golden  Eod  and  Honduras  never  reached  maturity,  the  storm  of 
August  19th  prostrating  them  before  the  maximum  of  sugar  was 
reached.  The  other  varieties  attained  their  maximum  during 
August. 

Could  these  experiments  have  been  worked  during  August, 
it  is  believed  that  most  excellent  results  would  have  been 
attained.  Up  to  September  4th,  just  as  suckers  began  to  appear 
at  each  joint  on  the  prostrated  cane,  the  latter  had  lost  but  little 
in  sucrose  since  the  storm  of  the  19th  of  August.  After  the 
suckers  began  to  grow,  the  loss  was  rapid  and  heavy,  as  is 
shown  by  the  mill  juices  of  September  8th  to  20th. 

The  canes  at  Calhoun  were  not  injured,  the  storm  not  ex- 
tending as  far  north  as  this  Station.  They  have  therefore 
preserved  their  sugar  up  to  October  1st,  and  suffered  little  or  no 
loss.  » 


Experiments  in  Diffusion. 


All  the  madhinery  being  in  position  and  ready  for  use,  a 
trial  run  was  made  on  September  8th,  using  the  Early  Orange 
variety.  The  cutters  did  their  work  well,  so  did  the  diffusion 
cells,  except  now  and  then  a leak,  which  was  easily  closed.  The 
larger  heater  which  heated  the  juice  before  entering  the  cells 
was  out  of  order  and  could  not  be  used  either  in  this  or  the  next 
trial.  The  fan  which  had  been  furnished  as  adapted  to  the 
cleaning  of  sorghum  chips,  failed  utterly  to  do  its  work.  The 
shaker  which  was  geared  to  the  fan  ran  too  rapidly,  and  had  to 
be  run  by  an  independent  pulley,  at  a slower  motion.  The  depth 
of  the  shaker  was  far  too  narrow,  so  much  so  that  the  chips  of 
cane  thrown  violently  forward  by  the  force  of  the  cut  were  often 
propelled  beyond  the  shaker  and  fell  into  the  trash.  In  this 
way  a large  amount  of  cane  in  this  experiment  was  lost.  The 
shaker  was  lengthened  and  many  other  improvements  made 
until  good  work  was  accomplished.  On  account  of  these  defects 
only  1152  pounds  of  sorghum  (with  tops  and  blades)  were  used, 
and  only  two  cells  of  the  battery  were  filled.  The  following  are 
the  laboratory  analyses: 


Total 

Solids. 

Mill  juice 14.6 

Diffusion  juice — 

First  cell 

Second  cell .... 

i^o  sugar  or  syrup  made. 


Eatio  of 
Sucrose  to 

Sucrose. 

Glucose . 

Glucose. 

10.2 

1-05 

10.25 

1.1 

.1021 

9.11 

.7 

.0638 

9.11 

Pending  the  making  of  the  necessary  improvements  to  the 
fan  and  shaker  the  cubical  contents  of  the  cells  were  calculated 
in  the  following  manner:  The  cells  were  filled  with  water  and 
then  the  water  carefully  emptied  into  a sugar- wagon  and  weighed, 
allowing  62^  pounds  of  water  to  a cubic  foot.  Each  cell  con- 
tained 13.52  cubic  feet.  A cell  packed  with  sorghum  chips  and 


2 


181 


one  put  in  without  packing  were  also  emptied  and  weighed. 
Their  weights  were,  respectively,  353  pounds  and  276  pounds, 
making  26  })ounds  and  20  pounds  per  cubic  foot. 

Without  enteririg  into  the  full  details  of  daily  work,  the 
following  taken  from  our  records  will  suffice  to  tirlly  illustrate 
the  work  performed. 

Oonsidering  the  very  low  character  of  the  sorghum  worked, 
the  results  are  quite  satisfactory. 

Monday,  Heptember  10th,  1888 — Another  trial  of  the  ma‘ 
chinery  was  made  to-day  to  decide  whether  the  improvements  so 
hastily  made  >vere  effective.  Honduras  sorghum  was  used; 
weight,  with  tops  and  blades,  2158  pounds.  Everything  worked 
fairly  well.  It  was  found  that  both  the  cutter  and  comminutor 
were  projecting  the  chips  in  every  direction,  thus  causing  great 
waste.  A stop  was  made  and  these  boxed  in.  Four  cells 
were,  however,  tilled  and  the  juices  from  these  conce;itrated  in 
the  double  elfect  and  left  in  the  latter  all  night.  The  next 
morning,  to  our  surprise,  we  found  that  one  of  the  tubes  of  the 
double  ettect  had  leaked  during  the  night  and  had  diluted  the 
syrup  almost  to  the  original  juice.  Accordingly  it  was  withdrawn 
and  thrown  away,  and  the  leaking  tube  plugged  up.  The  labora- 
tory results  are  given : 

Eatio  of  Sucrose 

Sucrose.  Glucose.  to  Glucose. 


Mill  jnice 4.2  2.51  58.3 

Diffusion  juice — 

First  cell 1.3  .43 

Second  cell 1.3  .38  .... 

Third  cedi 2.3  .76  .... 

Fourth  cell 1.4  .55  


Wednesday,  September  12th. — Having  repaired  the  defects 
work  was  begun  at  9:30  o^clock  and  continued  until  nineteen 
cells  had  l>een  filled.  Everything  worked  admirably,  except  the 
heaters  which  were  not  under  control,  and  hence  varying  tem- 
perature used  in  diffusing.  Weather  very  warm  and  much 
suffering  experienced  by  everybody  at  work,  particularly  by  the 
men  at  the  diffusors  and  clarifier. 


182 


The  follovviug-  canes,  with  quantities,  were  used  : 


Liuli^s  Hybrid,  with  tops  aiul  bla<!e8 1,292  poouds. 

- Kansas  Oiang.‘,  “ 900  pounds. 

Texas  Honey  Drip,  “ “ 1,214  pounds. 

Honduras,  ’ “ “ 470  pounds. 

Honey  Drip.  “ 828  pounds. 

Golden  Ro-t,  “ “ 1,090  jiouuds. 

New  Oranuo,  “ “ 1,072  jnninds. 

Kansas  Orange,  “ “ 829  pounds. 

Early  Orange,  “ “ 1,370  {»ouud8. 


Total 


9,071  pounds. 


Less  tops  . , 
tr.isb. 


1,403  pounds 
1,179  pounds 


=28.40  per  cent. — 2,582  pounds. 


Clean  cane  diti'nsed 6,489  pounds. 

The  chips  packed  iu  very  tightly,  and  failed  to  discharge 
easily.  Drew  the  first  juice  off  at  cell  No.  7,  and  continued  to 
draw  until  twenty-five  discharges  had  been  made,  viz:  Nos.  7, 
8,  fi,  to,  11,  12,  13,  14,  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  13,  14.  1,  2,  3, 
4,  and  5.  ’ 

The  juice  from  No.  7 passed  over  seven  fresh  chips. 

The  juice  from  No.  8 passed  over  seven  second  chips  and  one 
fresh  chip. 

The  juice  from  No.  9 passed  over  seven  third  chips,,  one  sec- 
ond chip  and  one  fresh  chip. 

The  juice  from  No.  10  passed  over  seven  fourth  chips,  one 
third  chips,  one  second  chip,  and  and  one  fresh  chip,  etc.,  until 
the  14th  cell  was  reached.  While  No.  14  was  being  filled,  No.  1 
was  emptied.  Then  began  regular  diffusion.  The  20th  cell  was 
partially  filled,  but  not  used,  and  No.  21  was  at  the  same  time 
emptied.  Hence  the  absence  of  Nos.  6 and  7 in  the  discharges 
above. 

The  following  analy^ses  were  made: 

1.  Mill  juices  of  each  variety  used. 

2.  Diffusion  juices  from  each  cell. 

3.  Chips  as  they  were  emptied  froiu  each  ceil. 

4.  Clarified  juice  from  each  clarifier. 

5.  8yrup. 

0.  Kesidutim  scum. 


7.  Sugar. 

8.  Molasses. 


The  following  are  the  results: 


183 


HILL  JUICES. 


Yarietj.  Total  Solids.  Sacrosoft  CllmcosQ^ 

Link’s  Hybrid 11.4  7.9  .99 

Kansas  Orange 11.6  8.1  1.43 

Honey  Drip  10.4  7.7  2.17 

Honduras 10.0  6.0  2.27 

Giilden  Rod 9.5  4.9  2.38 

Nfew  Orange 9.1  7.1  2.54 

Kansas  Orange ....  ^ 5.3  1.60 

Early  Orange 8.1  ^ 4.9  1.95 

Enyama ^ 6.5  .54 


DIFFUSIOI^  CHIPS 

Sucrose. 


1st 

2d  

3d  

4th 

5th 

6th  with  12  washings 
7th  “11  “ 

8th  " 10  “ 

9th  “ 9 “ 

10th  “ 8 “ 

11th  “ 7 “ 

12th  “ 6 “ 

13  th  “ 5 “ 

14th  “4  “ 

16th  “ 3 “ 

16th  “2  “ 

mh  “ 1 “ 


1.4 
.6 
.5 
.6 
.2 
.55 
.75 
.85 

1.10  ' 
.8 
.7 
.5 
.6 

1.2 

.7 

1.5 

sample  lost. 


DIFFUSION  JUICES. 


From 

a 

II 

II 

II 

a 

<( 

C( 

(I 


1st  discharge 

2d  “ 

Sd  “ 

4th  “ 

6th  “ 

6th  “ 

7 th  “ 

8th  “ 

9 th  “ 

10th,  and  subsequent. 


Total  Solids. 

6.4 

5.5 

4.1 

4-1 

5.9 

5.1 

5.6 

4.7 


Sucrose. 

4.2 
3.8 

3.0 

3.1 

3.8 
3.7 

3.9 

3.3 


Glucose* 

1.11 

1.12 

.63 

1.19 

1.56 

1.40 

1.39 

1.56 


CLARIFIED  JUICES. 


Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

No.  1 

' 3.4 

1.06 

No.  2 

3.3 

1.26 

No.  3 

2.8 

2-2 

• • • • 

No.  4 

2.2 

1.7 

.66 

184 


/ 


SYRUP. 

ToUl  SoUds. 

Saorose. 

Glucose 

32.2# 

17.S 

7.35 

SCUMS. 

Tot«l  SolUU. 

Sacrose. 

Glucose. 

4.10 

1.9 

.83 

SUUAR. 

Sacrose. 

Glucose. 

91.2 

MOLASSES. 

2.85 

SneroM. 

Glucose. 

30.4 

14.28 

It  was  utterly  impossible  from  the  varying  amount  of  sucrose 
in  the  canes  used,  to  get  anything  like  uniform  results,  either  on 
the  juices  or  chips.  There  were  drawn  four  clarifiers  of  about 
500  gallons  each.  The  last  two  were  very  dilute,  owing  to  the 
excess  of  water  used  in  washing  the  chips  after  cells  were  filled. 
This  juice  was  heated  with  lime  and  brought  to  neutrality  j heater 
and  blanket,  which  was  quite  insignificant,  removed.  It  was 
then  settled  and  clear  juice  run  into  the  double  effect  and  con- 
centrated. 

There  was  a large  quantity  of  settlings,  and  some  scums, 
which  were  weighed  and  analyzed,  and  thrown  away  to  avoid 
interfering  with  the  well  clarified  syrup.  The  following  are 
weights  obtained : 

Syrup,  1562  pounds. 

Settlings  and  scums,  1070  pounds. 

Sugar,  49  pounds. 

Molasses,  752  pounds. 

The  following  are  the  notes  of  diffusion : 

Every  effort  was  made  to  hold  the  temperature  at  200  degrees 
Fahrenheit,  but  until  the  battery  has  been  used  in  one  entire 
round  this  is  almost  impossible  to  do,  since  sending  in  quickly 


186 


water  heated  to  200  degrees  Fahrenheit  into  cold  iron  cells  filled 
with  cold  chips,  the  loss  of  heat  by  radiation  and  convection  is 
very  great.  Six  minutes  were'  allowed  for  the  diffusion  of  each 
cell  after  the  hot  water  was  turned  on.  Every  effort  to  grain  in 
the  vacnnin  pan  proved  abortive,  as  the  following  notes  of  Mr. 
Baldwin,  who  had  charge  of  the  pan  and  was  assisted  by  Mr. 
Barthelemy,  will  show: 

^^Part  of  juice  concentrated  in  double  effect  on  first  watch 
remainder  on  second  watch,  when  the  juice  got  very  hot,  180 
degrees,  and  was  emptied  in  cars  to  cool;  finished  concentrating 
on  morning  of  13th  at  a temperature  of  155  to  160  degrees  Fah- 
renheit. Juice  dark-colored  and  some  feculent  matter  present. 
After  mixing  syrups,,  started  vacuum  strike  pan  at  2 p.  m.,  on 
13th;  temperature,  138  to  140  degrees  Fahrenheit;  very  thick; 
nothing  but  candy  would  form  in  the  pan.  Allowed  to  stand 
half  an  hour  until  candy  dissolved,  but  no  grain.  Stood  again 
one  hour;  at  7 P.  m.  still  no  grain.  Cooked  very  thick  and 
remained  in  pan  till  2 p.  M.  next  day,  when  it  was  all  boiled  to 
string  sugar  and  put  in  the  hot  room.  Injured  some  oy  being 
cooked  to  candy. 

In  the  hot  room  it  began  at  once  to  grain,  until  the  wagon 
was  quite  solid  with  small  grains  of  sugar.’’ 

It  was  centrifugalled  and  gave  the  following  results: 

Sugar,  49  pounds. 

Molasses,  752  pounds. 


RECAPITULATION. 

Cane  contained  349.75  pounds  of  sucrose. 


Syrup 

U' 

273.22 

ik 

u 

Scums 

u 

20.33 

u 

a 

Chips 

. a 

56.20 

a 

Sugar 

a 

44.58 

a 

a 

Molasses 

u 

228.61 

u 

u 

Sugar  obtained,  16.5  pounds  per  ton  of  sorghum. 
Molasses  “ 237.1 


186 


After  the  aualyses  of  the  mill  juices  were  known,  little  or  no 
hope  was  entertained  of  successful  sugar  results.  Indeed,  it  is 
wonderful  with  such  juices,  and  after  such  treatment,  that  any 
sugar  should  be  obtained. 

September  17th. — It  has  been  often  published  that  neither 
sorghum  nor  its  juices  will  stand  transportation  or  delay  in 
working  them  up  after  being  cut.  That  such  is  not  the  case 
with  us  is  abundantly  proven  by  the  following  and  many  other 
experiments  during  this  season: 

On  September  16th,  Mr.  Barrow,  assistant  at  the  State 
Experiment  Station,  was  sent  to  Baton  Rouge  to  harvest  and 
ship  a car-load  of  sorghum  from  that  station  to  tliis.  By  9 o’clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  he  had  cut  and  loaded  a closed  car 
with  Early  Orange  sorghum.  This  sorghum  was  quite  wet  from 
dew  and  had  its  leaves  and  tops  still  on — conditions  making 
fermentation  quite  feasible  to  almost  any  crop.  It  was  delivered 
at  Kenner  by  the  Mississippi  Valley  Railroad,  at  7 p.  m.  of  the 
same  day.  -It  was  unloaded  and  delivered  at  sugar-house  at  12 
o’clock  M.  of  the  17th  and  worked  up  as  delivered.  This  cane 
had  been  badly  blown  down  by  the  storm  of  the  Augu.s‘t  19th, 
and  was  filled  with  suckers  several  feet  long,  now  in  full  heads. 
It  was  quite  low  in  sugar,  as  the  following  analysis  of  selected 
stalks,  made  on  September  lltli,  showed  : 

Total  solids.  Sucrose.  Grlucoso. 

11-9  7.8  i.b‘4 

Began  diffusion  at  9 A.  pa.  Filled  twenty-three  cells  with 
chips  and  drew  off  thirty-one  cells  of  juice.  Finished  in  early 
evening,  after  two  slight  detentions.  Cells  dilfused  sixteen 
minutes  each,  except  three  times,  when  interrupted.  The  tem- 
perature varied  from  150  to  200^  Fahrenheit.  The  juice  was 
boiled  to  a syrup  in  double  effect,  and  made  into  string  sugar  in 
the  vacuum  pan.  Boiled  all  night,  finishing  the  next  day.  The 
string  sugar  was  run  into  the  hot-room,  where  it  was  grained  into 
almost  a solid  mass.  The  following  are  the  amounts  used: 


187 


Weight  ef  oa»e8^  i';  

Lees  weight  of  iopt. 

•*  leorei 

**  trash  in  the  yard 
^ **  chips  not  nsed .... 


2,445 
1,785 
1,558 

82—  5,867 


13,266  poands. 
(( 


Clean  oano  need 


7,399 


The  juices  from  this  were  concentrated  into  syrup,  giving 
1491  pounds;  scums  thrown  away,  313  pounds;  juice  made  into 
molasses,  259  pounds. 

Sugar  obtained,  115  pounds. 

Molasses  obtained,  672  pounds. 

Sugar,  per  ton  of  sorghum,  31.4  pounds. 

Molassses,  per  ton  of  sorghum,  181.8  pounds. 

EBOAPITULJlTION. 


I 


Cane  contained  (calculated)  • . 
Syrup  made  into  sugar  contained 
molasses  “ 

Scums  contained  ...... 

Chips  ...... 

Fibre  in  cane,  15,5  per  cent. 


435  pounds  sucrose. 


328 

it 

66 

57 

u 

66 

7 

u 

66 

32 

a 

66 

The  following  are  the  laboratory  results : 


Variety. 
Early  Orange 

it  n 

it 

■ 


MILL 

JUICES. 

Total 

Glucose 

Solids, 

Sncross. 

Glaeote. 

to  Saorose. 

11.4 

7.0 

3.33 

48 

per  cent 

11*3 

7.0 

3.58 

51 

«< 

11.7 

6.9 

3.30 

48 

it 

188 


DIFFUSION  JUICES 

Total 

•Imeasa 

Variety. 

Solids.  Soorose. 

Qlmoose. 

to 

Smcroie. 

Early  Orange 

• • • • 3 

1.79 

M 

per  MXii. 

(< 

44 

....  8.35 

a. 00 

61 

44 

n 

it 

....  3.00 

1.93 

64 

44 

t4 

44 

3.90 

9.17 

55 

«< 

ft 

44 

8.90 

3.33 

59 

44 

$i 

44 

....  4.10 

3.00 

45 

44 

44 

it 

....  3.50 

1.73 

49 

44 

44 

if 

3.70 

1.46 

39 

a 

44 

44 

4.10 

1.73 

43 

44 

44 

if 

8.50 

1.50 

48 

4, 

44 

<•  

3.60 

1.66 

46 

44 

44 

a 

4.20 

1.63 

38 

44 

44 

it 

3.90 

1.70 

44 

44 

44 

44 

3.30 

1.60 

48 

4, 

Variety. 

DIFFUSION  CHIPS. 

Total 

Solids.  Soorose. 

Glxieoeo. 

Qloeata 
to  Soorose. 

Early  Orange 

.3 

.14 

47 

per  eemt* 

(( 

it 

.3 

.18 

60 

it 

(. 

it 

.25 

.16 

64 

it 

it 

it 

.85 

.149 

43 

44 

it 

it 

.25 

.14 

56 

44 

it 

it 

.15 

.13 

90 

44 

it 

ft 

.16 

.10 

40 

a 

OLABIFIED 

JUICES, 

Sucrose. 

Glueoee. 

Glucose  to  Sucrose. 

8.6 

1.85 

51 

per  cent. 

3.9 

1.60 

41 

(( 

3.1 

1.67 

51 

it 

1.8 

.99 

55 

44 

1.3 

.66 

43 

44 

1.1 

.54 

49 

it 

SYBUPS. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Glucose  to  Sucrose. 

22. 

11.1 

60  per  cent. 

SCUMS. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Glucose  to  Sucrose. 

4.2 

2.22 

53  per  cent. 

189 


SUGAR. 

Sucrose.  Glucose. 

92.1  2.94 

MOLASSES. 

Sucrose. 

34. 

Here,  as  before,  the  dilution  was  great  owing  to  the  water 
used  in  washing  the  chips  after  the  cells  were  filled.  This  cane 
had  nearly  a constant  composition,  and  from  glucose  ratio  there 
has  been  little  or  no  inversion  either  in  cells  or  in  concentration 
of  syrup.  In  fact,  when  water  at  200^  Fahrenheit  is  sent  into 
cells  and  maintained  there,  for  six  minutes,  at  this  temperature 
little  or  no  inversion  takes  place,  notwithstanding  the  weather 
gauge  showed  this  day  a maximum  temperature  of  83°  Fah 
renheit. 

September  20th. — The  following  caiies  were  selected  for  this 
run:  Link’s  Hybrid,  White  India,  White  Mammoth,  and  the 
second  planting  of  Early  Amber.  The  suckers,  of  which  there 
were  many,  were  removed  by  hand.  Filled  nine  cells.  Every-v 
thing  worked  well. 


Glucose. 

22.72 


Weight  of  caues  used 

I^ess  weight  of  tops 

trash 

“ suckers 

“ chips  not  usi-d 


5,078  pounds. 


812 
653 
20  S 

74—  1,747 


Clean  cane  used 


3,331 


Juice  neutralized  \>ith  lime,  blanket  removed,  settled,  con- 
centrated in  double  effect,  and  grained  in  vacuum  pan ; then 
emptied  into  car  and  run  into  hot-room,  where  it  solidified  into 
crystals  of  sugar  of  small  size. 


Weight  of  syrup,  695  pounds. 
Weight  of  scums,  etc.,  150  pounds. 
Weight  of  sugar,  40  pounds. 
Weight  of  molasses,  235  pounds. 


190 


Sugar,  per  ton  of  sorghum,  24  pounds. 
Molasses,  141 

The  following  are  the  laboratory  results : 


MILL 

JUICES. 

Total 

Glucose 

Variety. 

Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

to  Sucrose. 

Link’s  Hybrid 

10.6  " 

6.7 

1.48 

22  per  cent 

White  India 

14.1 

10.0 

1.25 

12i 

White  Mammoth 

10.5 

6.9 

2.14 

33  “ 

White  Amber  (Neb.). . - 

10.7 

G.5 

1.92 

29  “ 

White  Amber 

10.4 

5.4 

3.12 

57 

DIFFUSION 

JUICES. 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Glucose  to  Sucrose. 

4.8 

3.05 

1.13 

37  per  cent. 

6.0 

3.50 

1.51 

43  “ 

6.0 

3.70 

1.51 

41  “ 

5.2 

3.20 

1.57 

49  “ 

5.6 

3-25 

1.61 

49  “ 

DIFFUSION  CHIPS. 


Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

.20 

.16 

.30 

.14 

-20 

.13 

.10 

.12 

.10 

.12 

CLARIFIED  JUICE. 


Total  Solids.  Sucrose.  Glucose. 

5.9  3.5  1.39 

2.1  l.A  .51 


Glucose  to  Sucrose. 

39  per  cent. 
38 


SYRUPS. 


Total  Solids.  Sucrose  Glucose. 

32.94  17.5  7.04 


Glucose  to  Sucrose. 
40  per  cent. 


191 

8GX71IS. 

Glocose  to  Sacroee. 
41  per  cent. 

STOAB. 


Snoroso.  Olneose. 

1.7  -73 


Saerese.  Glneose. 

92.3  2.93 

MOLAS0BS. 

20. 

Glucose. 

EECAPITULATION. 


Sucrose  in  syrup  ...........  121.62 

scums  2.55 

chips  16.56 

sugar  made 36.88 

molasses  made 79.90 

Fibre  in  cane,  15.04  per  cent. 


The  following  determinations  of  albuminoids  were  made : 


34. 

Saoreso. 


MILL  JUIOBS. 


Link’s  Hybrid 

Kansas  Orange 

New  Orange 

Early  Orange 

Early  Orange  (Baton  Ronge  cane) 
Early  Orange  **  “ “ 

Mill  Juices  for  September  30...... 


.430 

.215 

.822 

.425 

.371 

.345 

.307 


niFPasioN  JUIOBS. 


September  12. 0531 

September  17,  (Baton  Ronge  cane) 0748 

September  20  1270 


192 


(XAEIPIED  JUICES. 


September  12,  1st  clarifier. .0819 

September  12,  2d  “ 0212 

September  17,  Baton  Rouge  cane 0357  ' 

September  20 .0648  ' 


It  will  thus  be  seen  that  diffusion  juices  contain  much  less 
albuminoids  than  mill  juices. 


LATE  PLANTING  OF  SORGHUM. 

After  determining  to  erect  a diffusion  battery  to  work  up 
sorghum,  a late  planting  was  made  upon  land  from  which  a 
crop  of  oats  had  been  recently  harvested.  The  land  was  broken 
and  harrowed,  and  sorghum  planted  May  23d.  The  continued 
rains  during  June  and  July  prevented  necessary  cultivation. 
The  storm  of  August  19th  prostrated  it,  and,  though  far  from 
being  ripe,  never  recovered.  Most  of  these  seed  were  received 
from  Mr.  Wm.  P.  Clements,  of  Sterling  Sugar- works,  in  Kansas, 
and  was  mainly  hybrids  of  different  varieties.  They  were  care- 
fully followed  during  maturity  with  chemical  analyses,  and  at  no 
time  did  any  of  them  show  a large  sugar  content. 

On  October  9th,  a part  of  this  plat  was  cut  and  diffused,  but 
with  no  results  in  sugar.  The  diffusion  was  well  done,  leaving 
less  than  .15  per  cent,  of  sucrose  in  the  chips,  but  the  juice  was 
very  dilute,  and  contained  a larger  quantity  of  glucose  than 
sucrose.  After  concentration  to  masse  cuite,  it  was  left  in  the 
hot- room  for  several  weeks  with  no  indication  of  grain. 

On  November  15th,  the  rest  of  this  plat,  consisting  of  the 
Honduras,  Chinese  and  Golden  Rod  varieties,  were  gathered  and 
diffused.  The  yields  per  acre  for  the  first  two  were  twenty  tons. 
The  stalks  were  very  large  and  tall,  and  could  these  varieties  be 
made  even  moderately  sweet,  they  would  be  valuable  sugar 
plants.  But  their  sugar  content  was  very  low,  as  the  following 
analyses  show : 


193 


Honduraa  . 
Chinese  . . . 
Golden  Rod 


MILL  JUICES. 


b;?:. 

Sucroao. 

Glucose, 

5.7 

.80 

1.17 

8.1 

2.10 

2.23 

8.1 

1.60 

2.59 

MIXED  DIFFUSION  JUICES. 
3.4  .60  1.2.5 

SYRUP. 


4.8 


5.31 


Here  the  process  ol  clarityiiig  in  the  cell  ^by  the  use  of  lime 
was  tried  for  the  first  time  on  sorghum.  A much  larger  quantity 
of  lime  was  used  than  was  required  for  cane.  Eesults  indicated 
that  with  an  abundance  of  lime,  plenty  of  heat  and  a very  fine 
chip  a good  clarification  could  be  obtained  in  the  cell.  Further 
trials,  however,  of  this  process  on  sorghum  are  needed  to  decide 
fully  upon  its  efficacy. 

Since  glucose  was  so  largely  in  excess  of  sucrose,  no  attempt 
was  made  to  obtain  sugar.  The  syrup  was  concentrated  into 
molasses  and  sent  to  the  molasses  tank. 


194 


CONCLUSIONS. 

While  the  work  of  the  present  season  has  not  been  at  all 
favorable  to  the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  sorghum,  in  Louis- 
iana, yet  the  application  of  diffusion  to  the  extraction  of  juice 
both  from  sorghum  and  sugar  cane  has  been  clearly  demon- 
strated. But  this  has  been  a most  disastrous  year  for  sorghum,  in 
Louisiana.  Could  a fair  quality  of  sorghum  have  been  worked,  it 
is  believed  that  fully  100  to  125  pounds  of  sugar  to  the  ton  would 
have  been  easily  obtained.  In  1886,  the  Early  Orange  variety 
gave  13  i3er  cent,  sucrose;  in  1887,  10.5  per  cent.,  and  with  small 
glucose  ratios  each  year.  This  season  it  gave  only  7 per  cent, 
sucrose,  and  with  a glucose  ratio  of  about  50.  Even  with  this 
composition,  31J  pounds  sugar  per  ton  was  obtained.  What 
would  have  been  the  result  had  diffusion  been  applied  to  the 
sorghum  of  1886  f 

However,  the  stations  will  repeat  again  the  experiments  next 
year,  with  more  promise  of  success. 


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SUGAR  CANE. 

(FIELD  EXPERIMENTS.) 


BULLETIN  NO.  20 

OF  THE 

8UGflR*EXPERIMENT®8TflT10N. 

KENNER,  LA. 


WM.  G.  STUBBS,  Pli  R,  Director. 


ISSUED  BY 


THOMPSON  J.  BIRD, 

POMMISSIONER  OF  ^GRICULTURE,  pATON  p.OUGE, 


BATON  ROUGE : 
Printed  by  The  Advocate. 
1889. 


SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  i 
Kenner,  La.,  January,  1889.  5 

Major  T.- J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — Herewith  I hand  you  for  publishing  Bulletin  No.  20,  coveriag 
/‘Field  Experiments”  for  ’88  in  Sugar  Cane  made  on  this  Station. 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


FIELD  EXPERIMENTS. 


The  experiments  of  the  past  year  were  mainly  a continuation 
of  the  work  of  previous  years.  Several  experiments  involving 
questions  heretofore  satisfactorily  answered  have  been  eliminated, 
while  new  ones,  with  original  questions  have  been  inaugurated^ 

The  ex{)eriments  have  been  of  four  kinds,  viz : 

1.  (fermination  questions. 

2.  Physiological  questions. 

3.  Varieties  best  adapted  to  Ijouisiana. 

4.  Manurial  reqirements. 

GERMINATION  QUESTIONS.  ' 

By  reference  to  Bulletin  No.  14,  pages  1 et  sequentes,  the  ques- 
tion of  the  of  the  stalk  best  for  seed”  is  propounded  and 

discussed,  and  the  results  given  of  a series  of  experiments  to 
test  this  question.  For  two  years  these  experiments  have’  been 
made  as  ‘‘plant  cane.”  This  year  it  was  determined  to  follow 
the  plant  into  “stubble”  and  to  see  the  results  in  the  latter. 
Accordingly  the  experiments  begun  in  ’87,  have  been  continued 
as  stubbie  in  ’88.  The  following  from  Bulletin  No.  14  describes 
them : 

To  determine  this  question,  the  following  experiments  were 
instituted  with  a view  of  continuing  them  through  a series  of 
years  in  order  to  eliminate  as  for  as  possible  all  the  modifying 
factors,  incident  to  one  year’s  experiment.  Great  pains  were 
taken  to  select  healthy  stalks  of  uniform  length.  These  were 
cut  up  into  short  pieces  beginning  with  tha  green  immature  top. 
Two  eyes  were  left  upon  each  cutting  and  each  stalk  was  selected 
so  as  to  give  eleven  cuttings.  Seventy-five  of  these  cuttings 
containing  150  eyes  were  devoted  to  each  experiment. 

The  land  was  in  excellent  order,  having  had  a large  crop  of 
pea  vines  turned  in  early  in  the  fall  with  a four- horse  plow.  The 
cuttings  were  carefully  deposited  in  each  row  and  covered  by  a 
hoe.  The  following  are  the  experiments  : 


200 


PLAT  O -GERM  I NATION  QUESTIONS. 


Experiment  No.  1 — 75  white  immature  joints  of  two  eves  each. 

“ ‘‘  2 — 75  joints  next  to  No.  1,  partially  Avhite,  two  eyes  each. 


3— 75 

4— 75 

5— 75 

6— 75 

7— 75 

8— 75 

9— 75 

10— 75 

11— 75 


“ “ 2,  full  red 

;;  3^  a 

il  u ^ ll 

“ “ .5,  “ 

“ “ 6, 

“ 7, 

8,  “ 

butts  two  eyes  each. 


These  experiments  were  })lanted  February  9,  1887,  and  occa- 
sional observations  were  made  and  the  stalks  upon  each  row 
carefully  counted  until  suckering  began.  At  the  harvest  in  ’87, 
the  stalks  on  each  row  were  counted  and  weighed — the  juice 
extracted  and  carefully  analyzed. 


The  stubble  in  spring  of ’88  was  off  barred,  dug  with  stubble 
digger  and  the  dirt  returned.  The  subsequent  cultivation  was 
with  cultivator  and  plow.  Xo  manure  was  used  either  year. 
Below  are  given  tables  of  results  for  both  years. 

Table  Xo.  1 contains  the  number  of  stalks  up  at  each  observa- 
tion, the  number  harvested  with  weights,  the  average  weight  of 
each  stalk,  the  yield  and  number  of  stalks  per  acre  for  ’87. 
Table  Xo.  2 gives  the  chemical  analyses  of  the  juices,  with 
purity  coefficient,”  ‘‘glucose  ratios”  and  available  sugar  per 
ton  for  1887.  Table  Xos.  3 and  4 are  the  same  for  1888. 


201 


TABLE  1. 

PLAT  O-GERMINATION  QUESTIONS. 


Planting  different  parts  of  the  Stalks  of  cane,  February  9th,  1887. 


Part  of  the  stalk 
planted. 

N umber  of  stalks  from  150  ey»  s planted, 
counted. 

Tons  per  acre. 

No.  of  stalks 

per  acre. 

(?< 

<D 

o 

.d 

o 

CO 

o 

s 

O 

05 

tH 

da 

« 

S 

to 

Oi 

da 

o 

^ fc-  c 

Weight 

of 

t- talk  8. 

Average 
weight 
of  each . 

I Upper  white  joints 

5 

24 

24 

24 

26 

34 

97 

247  lbs. 

2.54  lbs. 

18.14 

14.287 

2 Next  to  “ “ 

12 

39 

41 

41 

45 

45 

140 

407 

2.91  “ 

32.06 

21.050 

3 

i(  <( 

No 

2 

10 

45 

48 

54 

63 

69 

165 

485 

u 

2.94  “ 

38.18 

25.987 

4 

(<  u 

ii 

3 

4 

27 

34 

39 

45 

51 

152 

428 

u 

2.82  “ 

33.75 

23.940 

5 

<(  ({ 

n 

4 

1 

27 

36 

45 

51 

53 

154 

442 

u 

2.87  “ 

34.80 

24.255 

b 

ti  <« 

n 

5 

1 

25 

35 

43 

52 

58 

149 

426 

It 

2.86  “ 

33.56 

23.467 

7 

(<  a 

u 

6 

0 

19 

20 

25 

33 

40 

147 

400 

(( 

2.72  “ 

31.48 

23.152 

8 

t(  a 

u 

7 

0 

13 

18 

23 

27 

32 

133 

320 

ii 

2.41  “ 

25.24 

20.947 

9 

i(  (i 

n 

8 

1 

19 

23 

28 

34 

39 

130 

340 

i i 

2.61  ‘* 

26.82 

20.552 

19 

((  (( 

9 

0 

12 

14 

20 

26 

36 

97 

214 

ii 

2.21  “ 

16.  H8 

15-276 

11  Butts* 

0 

11 

15 

20 

41 

41 

73 

160 

ii 

2.19  “ 

12.62 

11.520 

This  row  was  seriously  injured  in  tbe  Summer  by  proximity  to  a fig  tree. 


TABLE  2. 

PLAT  O— FIELD  AND  SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS,  Nov.  :i. 


Nnuiber  attd  kind  of 
Experiments. 

Yield  per  acre, 
in  tons. 

ANALYSES. 

Purity  co- 
efficient 

Glucose  ratio. 

Lbs.  available 
sugar  upon  70 
p.  c.  extraction. 

Degree 

Baume. 

Total 

solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Per 

ton . 

Per 

acre. 

1 Upper  white  joints 

18.14 

7.4 

13.31 

10.3 

1.24 

77.38 

12.04 

118 

2141 

2 Next  to 

a ti 

32.06 

7.8 

14.01 

11.2 

1.35 

79.94 

12.05 

128 

4104 

3 

(( 

it 

No.  2.... 

38.18 

7.6 

13.71 

10.3 

1.28 

75.12 

12.42 

117 

4467 

4 

a 

a 

“ 3.... 

33.75 

7.3 

13.21 

10.0 

1.60 

75.70 

16. 

99 

3341 

5 

iC 

a 

‘‘  4.... 

34.80 

7.5 

13.61 

10. 0 

1.60 

73.47 

16. 

99 

3445 

6 

ii 

ii 

5.... 

33.56 

7.8 

14.01 

10.9 

1.35 

77.80 

12.38 

124 

4161 

T 

n 

a 

“ 6.... 

31.48 

7.3 

13.11 

10.5 

1.28 

75.63 

12.19 

120 

3777 

8 

tl 

it 

» 7.... 

25.24 

7.8 

14.01 

10.6 

1.35 

81.36 

12.73 

120 

3029 

9 

ii 

a 

“ 8.... 

26.82 

8. 

14.41 

10.5 

1.35 

72.86 

12.85 

119 

3192 

19 

(( 

(< 

» 9.... 

16.88 

7.9 

14.31 

11.5 

1.35 

81.36 

11.73 

133 

2245 

11  Butts 

« 

12.62 

8.4 

15.01 

12.0 

1.21 

79.94 

10.08 

143 

1805 

In|«Ted  by  shade. 


202 


TABLE  3. 


PLAT  O— FIELD  RESULTS-STUBBLE  CANE— Nov.  14,  1888. 


Part  of  the  stalk  planted. 

No.  of  stalks 

harvested. 

1 Weight  of 

1 stalks. 

I Average 

weight  of 

each. 

Tons  per 

acre. 

No.  of  stalks] 

per  acre.  | 

1 TTriTier  -t 

white  ioints 

76 

136  lbs. 

1.79  lbs. 

10.71 

11970 

2 Nfivt  . 

119 

206  “ 

1.73  “ 

16.22 

17742 

3 “ 

No.  2 

133 

257  “ 

1.89  “ 

19.72 

20947 

4 “ 

No.  3 

127 

226  “ 

1.70  “ 

17.79 

20002 

5 - 

No.  4 

130 

244  “ 

1.88  “ 

19.21 

20475 

6 “ 

No.  5 

142 

238  “ 

1.68  “ 

18.74 

22305 

7 

No.  6 

124 

220  ‘‘ 

1.77  “ 

17-32 

19.536 

8 “ 

No.  7 

132 

i 256  “ 

1.94  “ 

20.16 

20790 

9 “ 

No.  8 

104 

! 192  “ 

1.84  “ 

15.12 

16380 

10  “ 

No.  9 

89 

i 146  “ 

1.64  ‘‘ 

11.49 

14017 

11  Butts*', 

53 

I 75  “ 

1.42  “ 

8347 

*A  fig  tree  near  tliis  row  injured  yield. 


TABLE  4. 

PLAT  0-FIELD  AND  SUGAR  HOUSE  RKSULTS  (STUBBLE), 
NOV.  14,  1888. 


Experiment. 


1 Upper  white  joints 

2 Next  to  “ “ 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 
9 

lO 


No.  2 
“ 3 

ti  4 

“ 5 

“ 6 
“ 7 

“ 8 
9 

“ 10 


! 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons,  j 

Degree  Bauine. 

LNAL 

oo 

"o 

90 

o 

H 

YSES 

6 

X 

O 

t-i 

o 

=3 

oc 

Glucose.  i 

Purity  Co-efficient. 

1 ' 

Glucose  Ratio.  j 

1 i 

10.71 

8.4 

15.2 

13.5 

.89 

88.81 

6.59 

16.22 

8.2 

14.8 

1^3 

.75 

89.86 

5.63 

19.72 

8.4 

15.1 

13.5 

.77 

89.40 

5.70 

17.79 

8.4 

15.2 

13.7 

.80 

90.13 

5.84 

19.21 

8.3 

14.9 

13.5 

.82 

90.60 

6.07 

18.74 

8.6 

15.5 

14.0 

.69 

90.32 

4.92 

17.32 

8.3 

15.0 

13.0 

.82 

86.66 

6.30 

20.16 

8.1 

14.6 

12.7 

.87 

86.98 

6.85 

15.12 

7.5 

13.6 

11.4 

.89 

83.82 

7.80 

11.49 

7.8 

14.1 

12.3 

.91 

87.23 

7.39 



8.8 

15.8 

13.9 

.98 

87.97 

7.05 

168.  available  sugar 
[upon 70  per  ct.  extract 


170.10 

169.75 

172.27 

17.5.00 

171.78 
181.5-1 

164.78 
159.53 
140.91 
153.09 
174.02 


1821.77 

2753.34 

3397.16 

3113.25 

3299.89 

3401.49 

2853.98 

3216.12 

2130.56 

1759.00 


•Injured  by  shade. 


203 


CONCLUSIONS. 

In  1887,  the  following  facts  were  noted : ' 

1.  The  upper  joints  germinated  much  more  rapidly  than 
the  lower  ones. 

2.  That  many  sprouts  from  the  green,  white,  immature  top 
died  during  an  extended  drouth  in  March  and  April. 

3.  That  the  upper  matured  joints  were  fully  the  equal  if  not 
the  superior  to  the  lower  joints,  for  seed. 

In  1888,  barring  the  whole  joints,  the  upper  part  of  the  cane 
gave  slightly  better  results  in  stand,  in  tonnage,  and  in  sugar, 
confirming  the  results  of  the  previous  years.  It  is  therefore 
again  asserted,  that  could  a practical  way  be  established  for 
utilizing  as  seed  the  upper  thirds  of  all  the  cane,  and  grinding 
the  remainder,  an  immense  gain  would  yearly  accrue  to  our 
industry.  Cannot  some  generous  planter  devise  a way  for  the 
economical  solution  of  this  (luestion 

HOW  M4NY  STALKS  OF  CANE  TO  PLANT?  — WHICH  IS  THE 
BEST  FOR  SEED,  PLANT  OR  STUBBLE  CANE? 

These  questions,  begun  in  experimental  form,  in  1887,  with 
plant  cane,  have  been  followed  into  “ stubble.” 

The  following,  taken  from  Bulletin  No.  14,  pages  fi  et  seq.^ 
fully  describe  the  experiments  of  the  first  year,  with  results: 

What  number  of  stalks  of  cane  shall  we  plant  to  secure 
the  best  results  ? 

This  question  is  variously  answered  in  practice  ; one  to  four 
stalks.  If  we  plant  in  seven-foot  rows  (the  usual  width)  and  use 
cane  five  feet  long,  weighing  two  and  one  half  pounds  each,  there 
will  be  required  to  plant  an  acre,  one  stalk  and  a good  lap,  about 
two  tons  of  cane ; two  and  a lap,  four  tons ; three  and  a lap,  six 
tons 5 and  four  and  a lap,  eight  tons.  Cane  was  worth  in  Louisi- 
ana, during  the  past  season,  from  $3  to  $5  per  ton.  If,  therefore, 
it  can  be  shown  that  one  stalk  and  a lap,  or  even  two  and  a 


204 


lap,  furnish  an  abundance  of  seed,  it  is  a serious  loss  of  money 
to  plant  three  and  four. 

Whether  it  is  best  to  use  plant  or  stubble  cane  for  seed  was 
combined  with  the  above,  so  as  to  make  the  experiments  answer 
both  questions  simultaneously.  Accordingly  a plat  of  ground 
one  acre  deep  was  laid  off  for  the  experiments,  and  divided  per- 
pendicular to  its  depths  into  two  equal  parts:  The  front  was 
planted  with  first-year  stubble,  and  the  rear  with  jilant  cane, 
thus  duplicating  each  one  of  the  questions  with  both  kinds  of 
seed. 


In  the  same  plat  were  also  tried  a few  experiments  confirm- 
atory of  those  already  described,  viz. : What  part  of  the  cane  is 
best  for  seed  ? Good  canes  were  selected  and  cut:  First — into 
two  equal  parts,  the  tops  planted  in  one  experiment,  and  the 
butts  in  the  next;  and,  second — into  three  equal  parts,  the  tops 
given  to  one  experiment,  the  middles  to  another,  and  the  butts 
to  a third. 

There  being  ground  enough  left  in  this  plat  for  another 
experiment,  the  following  was  tried,  duplicated  alike  with  plant 
and  stubble  seed  : Unslaked  lime,  at  the  rate  of  three  tons  per 
acre,  was  spread  evenly  over  the  top  of  the  row,  after  the  cane 
w^as  planted  and  covered,  to  see  if  the  heat  generated  by  the 
natural  slaking  of  the  lime  would  not  induce  early  germination, 
and  ultimately  to  test  the  value  of  large  applications  of  lime  to 
our  soils. 

The  following  are  the  experiments  in  full: 


Xo.  1. 
No.  2. 
No.  3. 
No.  4. 
No.  5. 
No.  G. 
No.  7. 
No.  8. 
No.  9. 
^ No.  10. 
No.  11. 


One  cane  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 
Two  canes  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 
Three  canes  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 
Four  canes  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 
One  cane,  no  lap,  uncut. 

Upper  halves  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 
Lower  halves  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 
Upper  thirds  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 
Middle  thirds  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 
Lower  thirds  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 
Unslaked  lime,  three  tons  per  acre. 


205 


\ 


These  experiments  were  planted  February  10,  and  the  young 
plants  carefully  counted  twice  before  suckering  began.  At  har- 
vest, each  experiment  was  weighed,  stalks  counted,  juice  sepa- 
rately extracted  and  carefully  analyzed.  Table  5 and  6 give  the 
results  for  1887  and  No.  7 for  1888. 


TABLE  5. 


PLAT  O— GERMINATION  QUESTIONS,  GATHERED  NOVEMBER  4.  1887. 


Number  and  kind  of  Ex- 
periments. 

March  13 

May  25. 

November  4. 

No.  of 
Sprouts. 

No.  of 
Sprouts. 

Plant. 

Stubble. 

No.  of 

Stalks. 

oiS 

.a  JLi 

’S  ce 

1 Tons  per 

I acre.  ! 

No.  of 

Stalks. 

1 Weight  of 

I Stalks,  lbs. 

Tons  per 

acre. 

Plant. 

02 

Plant. 

Stubble 

1. 

1 cane  (cut) 

36 

PO 

89 

77 

371 

1114 

33.42 

420 

1109 

33.27 

2. 

2 “ “ 

87 

83 

172 

154 

409 

1232 

36.96 

413 

1338 

40.14 

3. 

3 ‘‘  “ 

136 

144 

220 

214 

430 

1144 

34.32 

440 

1336 

40.08 

4. 

4 << 

120 

158 

250 

279 

409 

1296 

38.88 

479 

1410 

42.30 

5. 

1 “ uncut 

30 

48 

53 

77 

357 

1146 

34.33 

413 

1432 

33.96 

6. 

Upper  halves 

108 

106 

148 

154 

421 

1360 

40.80 

436 

1292 

38.76 

7. 

Lower  halves 

.53 

57 

123 

109 

388 

1334 

40.02 

402 

980 

29.40* 

8. 

Upper  thirds 

139 

101 

168 

147 

420 

1278 

38.34 

344 

918 

27.54* 

9. 

Middle  thirds 

100 

109 

165 

180 

385 

1276 

38.28 

310 

860 

25.80* 

10. 

Lower  thirds 

117 

46 

177 

104 

407 

1134 

34.02 

296 

740 

22.20* 

11. 

Unslaked  lime 

114 

103 

165 

155 

396 

1184 

35.52 

273 

605 

18.15* 

^lajiired  more  or  less  by  shade  of  a live  oak  tree. 


2C6 


TABLE  6. 

PLAT  O— GERMINATION— QUESTIONS  CONTINUED. 


Number  and  kind  of 
Experiments. 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

ANALYSKS. 

Co  efficient  Purity. 

j Glucose  Ratio. 

lbs.  available  sugar 

nY\f\-n  7ft  o.  AYt.par.f 

Degree  , 

Banme.  | 

Total  Solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

1 ( 

Per  ton.  [ 

1 

Per  acre. 

1 

1 Cane  cut, 

plant 

33.42 

7.05 

12.71 

9.9 

1.77 

77.89 

17.86 

101.5 

3392. 

1 “ 

a 

stubble 

33.27 

7.3 

13.24 

11.3 

1.57 

85.35 

13.88 

125.30 

4169. 

2 “ 

(( 

plant 

36.90 

7.4 

13.39 

10.2 

1.84 

76.17 

18.03 

104.16 

3850. 

2 “ 

a 

stubble 

40.14 

7.4 

13.49 

10.2 

2.24 

76.61 

21.96 

95.76 

3844. 

‘‘ 

plant 

34.32 

7.3 

13.19 

10.1 

1.92 

76.57 

19.00 

101.08 

3469. 

3 “ 

stubble 

40.08 

7.5 

13.69 

10.3 

1.90 

75.23 

18.44 

104.20 

4180. 

4 “ 

a 

plant 

38.88 

7.5 

13.59 

9.9 

2.04 

73.58 

20.60 

95.76 

3723. 

4 “ 

a 

stubble 

42.30 

7-5 

13.59 

10.9 

1.90 

80.20 

17.43 

112.70 

4767. 

5 

1 “uncut 

) plant 

34.33 

7.3 

13.24 

10.8 

1.90 

81.57 

17.59 

111.30 

3821, 

5 

1 “ 

<< 

stubble 

33.96 

7.4 

13.49 

10.4 

2.00 

77.83 

19.23 

103.60 

3418. 

6 

Up'r  halves  plant 

40.80 

7.3 

13.24 

10.8 

1.90 

81.57 

17.59 

111.30 

4541. 

6 

K 

a 

stubble 

38.76 

7.5 

13.69 

10.2 

2.00 

74.50 

19.60 

100.80 

3907. 

7 

Lower 

plant 

40.02 

7.3 

13-19 

10.8 

2.14 

81.88 

19.51 

106.26 

4253. 

7 

a 

stubble 

29.40* 

7.4 

13.49 

10.3 

2.00 

76.64 

19.41 

102.20 

2004. 

8 

Up’r  Thirds  plant 

38.34 

7.3 

13.14 

10.4 

1.90 

79.90 

18.26 

105.70 

4053. 

8 

H 

<( 

stubble 

27.. 54* 

7.6 

13  89 

10.6 

2.00 

77.03 

18.86 

106.40 

2930. 

9 Middle 

plant 

38.28 

7.4 

13.44 

10.5 

1.90 

78.12 

18.09 

107.10 

4100. 

9 

U 

<( 

stubble 

25.80* 

7.6 

13.89 

10.5 

2.00 

75.. 59 

19.04 

105.00 

2709. 

10  Lower 

u 

plant 

34.02 

7.6 

12.74 

10.0 

1.86 

78.49 

18.60 

101.00 

3436. 

10 

K 

<< 

stubble 

22-20* 

7.9 

14.29 

11.2 

1.82 

78.37 

16.25 

118.58 

2521. 

11  un’kd  lime 

plant 

35.52 

8.4 

15.24 

12.4 

1.40 

81.36 

11.29 

134.20 

5122. 

11 

s'ubble 

18.15 

8.3 

15.09 

12.9 

1.74 

85.42 

13.48 

144.06 

2615. 

^Injured  by  proximity  of  live  oak. 

The  cane  used  in  the  above  experiments  was  excellent,  and 
the  subsequent  seasons  were  all  that  could  be  desired.  The  re* 
suits  secured  may  not  be  obtainable  every  season.  However, 
these  experiments  strongly  point  to  the  conclusion  that  with 
good  cane  in  well  prepared  soil  and  with  good  seasons,  two 
canes  and  a lap  furnish  an  abundance  of  seed,  and  the  largest 
profits.  This  will  be  more  plainly  seen  by  deducting  from  the 
tonnage  made,  the  tonnage  required  to  plant  as  follows : 


207 


Planr. 

StubOlH. 

Tonnage  made  j 

per  Acre, 

_ __  

1 

Tonnage 

planted. 

® . 

<D 

o 

0) 

7a 

'O 

2 ^ 

® t- 

- o 

O 

H 

1 

Tonnage 

planted. 

1 

Net  Tonnage 

per  Acre. 

i 

1 stalk . . 

38.42 

2.00 

31.42 

38.27 

2.00 

31.27 

2 stalk . . 

36.96 

4.00 

32.96 

40.14 

4.00 

36.14 

8 stalk . . 

84.32 

6.00 

28.32 

40.  OS 

6.00 

34.08 

4 stalk . . 

38.88 

8.00 

32.88 

4i.80 

8.'  0 

32.30 

TABLE  7. 


PLAT  0— FIELD  KESULTS— STUBBLE  CANE— Nov.  14,  18b'8. 


Number  and  kind  of  Ex- 
periment. 


No. 


1. 

1. 

2. 

2. 

:b 

:l 

4. 

4. 

5. 

5. 

6. 
0. 
7. 

7. 

8. 
8. 
9. 
9. 

10. 

10. 

11. 

11. 


1 cane  eii r,  plant  . . 

1 “ “ stubble 

2 “ “ plant.. 

2 “ “ .'■tnblde 

0 “ ‘‘  i)lanf.. 

8 “ “ stubble 

4 “ ])lant.. 

4 “ “ etnbble 

1 “ uncut  plant  . 

1 “ ‘‘  stubble 

Upper  halves  plant 

“ “ 8tub!)le 

Lower  “ plant.. 

“ stubble 

Up'ier  thirds  [>lant 
stul)ble 


Middle 
Lower 

i i 

Ijime  pi 
Lime  stubble 


plant. . 
stubble 
plant. . 
8tul>bk 


nt 


OC 

— ® 

OD  ® 

Weight  of 
stalks. 

1 

'o 

® .3 

r;  'll 

? t 
< 

2 

, ® 
i ” 

X 

o 

8- 

No.  of  talks  1 
per  acre 

Remarks. 

815 

516  tbs 

1.64  lbs 

15.46 

18900 

356 

668 

1.89 

20.04 

21360 

355 

578 

1.63 

17.34 

21300 

419 

770 

1.^6 

23.10 

25140 

377 

544 

1.44 

16.32 

22620 

483 

719 

1.68 

21.57 

25980 

433 

691 

1.62 

20.73 

25980 

461 

866 

1.88 

25.98 

27660 

35" 

742 

2.07 

22.26 

21480 

33  S 

622 

1.84 

18.66 

20280 

39-< 

870 

2.19 

26.10 

23880 

374 

784 

2.09 

23.52 

22440 

400 

804 

2.01 

24.12 

24000 

209 

521 

2.. 50 

15.63 

12540 

Inj  ured 

ty 

shade. 

405 

826 

2.04 

24.78 

24300 

310 

492 

1.59 

14.76 

18600 

Injured 

^y 

shade. 

414 

750 

1.81 

22.50 

24840 

298 

454 

1.52 

13.62 

17680 

Injured 

by 

shade. 

378 

604 

1.62 

18.12 

22380 

277 

432 

1.56 

12.96 

16620 

Injured 

by 

shade. 

394 

678 

1.72 

20.34 

23640 

238 

1352 

1.50 

10.56 

14280 

Injured 

by 

shade. 

Through  au  accident  in  the  laboratory,  the  sample  of  juices 
were  mixed,  which  vitiated  the  accuracy  of  results,  hence  no 
table  is  given  for  1888  corresponding  to  Table  No.  6 for  1887. 

In  1887,  two  stalks  and  a lap  gave  the  largest  net  yields, 
both  with  cane  from  plant  and  stubble.  It  was  also  shown  that, 
contrary  to  expectation,  the  stubble”  seed  gave  slightly  supe- 
rior residt,  both  in  tonnage  and  sugar  content.  In  1887,  the 


208 


uncut  cane  proved  the  equal  for  seed  with  that  cut  in  the  usual 
way. 

In  1888,  it  is  difficult  to  draw  aconclusiion  as  to  the  number 
of  stalks  to  plant  in  order  to  secure  a maximum  stubble  crop. 
It  confirms  the  result  heretofore  obtained,  that  the  original 
sprouts  and  the  suckers  i:)roduce  stubble  equally  as  well.  This 
is  shown  b^^  the  fact  that  Experiment  No.  4,  where  last  year  60 
per  cent,  of  the  harvested  cane  was  original  sprouts,  both  with 
plant  and  stubble  for  seed,  gave  this  year  larger  results  than 
No.  1,  where  the  sprouts  constituted  less  than  25  per  cent.  It  is 
not,  then,  the  “suckers  only  which  give  the  stubble  of  next 
year.” 

Here,  also,  is  shown  again  that  the  upper  part  of  the  cane 
is  as  good  (and  perhaps  better)  as  any  other  portion,  for  seed. 

The  stubble  from  stubble  seed  shows  a slight  superiority  to 
that  from  plant  seed. 

PHYSIOLOGICAL  EXPERIMENTS. 

The  question  of  the  influence  of  suckers  upon  cane  has  been 
decidedly  answered  in  favor  of  the  suckers.  The  plat  upon  which 
no  suckers  were  permitted  to  grow  in  1886  has  given,  both  in 
1887  and  1888,  a good  stand  and  fair  yields  of  first  and  second 
year  stubble.  The  experiments  mentioned  on  page  — , show 
that  the  original  sprouts  and  suckers  produce  stubble  equally 
well.  All  of  these  experiments  corroborate  those  previously 
made,  and  show  conclusively : 

1.  That  suckering,  or  tillering,  is  a necessary  and  healthy 
condition  of  the  sugar  cane. 

2.  Taat  stubble  comes  both  from  the  original  sprouts  and 
fiK)m  suckers. 

WHAT  DISTANCE  APART  SHALL  WE  GIVE  OUR  CANE  ROWS? 

To  test  this  question,  a plat  of  ground  was  selected  that  had 
been  two  years  in  oats,  followed  each  year  by  peas  broadcast. 
The  ground  was  broken  and  carefully  laid  off  in  experiments  of 
three  rows  each : 


209 


Experiment  1,  three  rows  3 feet  wide. 

Experiment  2,  three  rows  4 feet  wide. 

Experiment  3,  three  rows  5 feet  wide. 

Experiment  4,  three  rows  6 feet  wide. 

Experiment  5,  three  rows  7 feet  wide. 

Experiment  6,  three  rows  8 feet  wide. 

These  rows  were  two  acres  long,  and  were  divided  into 
equal  parts.  Upon  the  upper  part,  plant  was  used  for  seedj  and 
on  the  lower,  stubble.  Each  of  these  parts  was  again  equally 
divided,  and  upon  the  southern  half  of  each  part  manure  was 
used,  the  same  amount  to  each  experiment.  This  gave  each  row 
the  same  amount  of  manure,  but  very  varying  quantities  per 
acre.  Bradley’s  Fertilizer  was  used  on  the  part  planted  with 
stubble,  and  Bowdker’s  Fertilizer  on  that  with  plant.  These 
goods  were  especially  prepared  in  Boston,  for  Mr.  Frank  Ames, 
for  his  sugar  plantation,  and  by  him  presented  to  the  Station. 

The  previous  culture  of  this  plat  (thirteen)  was  1885,  in 
cane;  1886-’87,  in  fall  oats,  followed  by  “ solid  peas,”  which  were 
removed  for  hay.  The  ground  was  broken  with  four-horse  plows 
in  September,  directly  after  the  pea-vines  were  removed.  It  was 
harrowed,  rows  laid  off,  and  cane  planted  in  the  open  furrows 
(two  stalks  and  a lap),  October  24th ; covered  with  plow,  and 
land-bedded  out,  and  the  middles  and  drains  opened.  All  except 
one  row  in  the  six-foot  plat  germinated  early  in  the  spring,  and 
gave  a good  stand.  This  row  happened  to  fall  about  an  old  open 
water-furrow,  previously  used  to  divide  the  plats  of  oats  and  to 
drain  the  soil.  It  was  several  inches  lower  than  the  other  rows, 
and  the  cane  did  not  appear  until  some  weeks  after  the  stand 
was  secured  elsewhere.  This  row  never  caught  up  with  the  rest, 
and  its  effects  are  plainly  shown  in  all  of  the  results  of  the 
six-foot  row  experiments.  It  also  clearly  illustrates  the  value  of 
thorough  drainage  and  the  disadvantage  of  spots  depressed  even 
a few  inches. 

On  May  10th,  the  manures  were  applied  after  the  cane  had 
been  off-barred.  This  was  distributed  by  hand,  throwing  the 
fertilizer  from  the  open  furrow  on  one  side  across  the  row  to  the 
open  furrow  on  the  other  side.  The  soil  was  then  returned  to 


210 


the  cane  and  the  middles  split  out.  Up  to  this  time  the  cultiva- 
tion had  been  uniform  and  easy,  but  subseduently  the  three  and 
four  foot  experiments  received  no  cultivation.  Two  attempts 
were  made,  after  the  cane  had  reached  several  feet  in  height,  to 
cultivate  these  rows  with  a two-horse  plow,  by  driving  the  mules 
‘Handem,”  but  a failure  was  made  each  time.  The  soil  was  too 
stiff.  The  other  experiments  were  cultivated,  like  the  rest  of  the 
cane  on  the  Station,  in  the  usual  way. 

The  difficulty  of  cultivation  must  always  remain  as  a serious 
objection  to  narrow  rows  for  cane  in  stiff*  soils.  In  light  soils  a 
one-horse  plow  may  do  all  the  work  effectually.  However,  in 
these  experiments  our  narrow  rows  do  not  show  any  loss  from 
lack  of  cultivation,  nor  from  the  absence  of  high  ridges  and  deep 
middles,  though  the  subsequent  seasons  were  extremely  un- 
favorable. 

A diagram  of  plat  No.  13,  with  yield,  sucrose,  glucose  and 
available  sugar  per  acre,  is  here  presented.  Also  the  results  of 
- experiments  with  manures,  and  yields  and  analyses : 


211 


PLAT  13- 


Yield  per 
Acre,  tons 
A nalysis 
Sucrose 
Glucose 
Available 
sugar  per 
Acre,  lbs. 

Yield  per 
Acre,  tons 
Analysis 
Sucrose 
Glucose 
Available 
sugar  per 
Acre,  lbs. 

Yield  per 
Acre,  tons 
Analysis : 
Sucrose  11  20 
Glucose  .75 
Available 
sugar  per 
Acre,  lbs. 

Yield  per 
Acre,  tons 
Analysis 
Sucrose 
G ucose 
Available 
sugar  per 
Acre,  lbs. 


DIAGRAM. 


-DIFFERENT  DISTANCES  IN  THE  ROW.  3 ROWS  EACH. 


wttoN'r, 


3 ft.  rows. 

4 It.  rows. 

5 ft.  rows. 

6 ft.  rows.  7 ft.  rows. 

8 ft.  rows. 

31.37 

23.53 

20.82 

16.22 

17.10 

19.75 

13.00 

1.01 

11.9 

.96 

12.00 

.83 

12.70 

s92 

12.30 

.86 

12.90 

.40 

5046.18 

3545.78 

3136.32 

2570.54 

2635.79 

2190.57 

35.91 

31.44 

27.71 

21.29 

21.91 

18.40 

11.20 

.86 

12.20 

1 07 

11.20 

.86 

11.90 

1 06 

9.50 

.87 

12.50 

.96 

4982.15 

4665.70 

3845.87 

3023. 

2515.27 

2849.06 

34.41 

25.93 

24.91 

21.69 

24.89 

20.65 

4432.58 

3659.24 

3575.30 

3060.99 

3576.48 

2914.13 

39.38 

38.55 

34.04 

30.87 

29.69 

21.59 

14.10 

.78 

12.50 

1.15 

13.40 

.97 

12.80 

1.15 

12.70 
, 1.08 

12.40 

.97 

7128.57 

6748.56 

5694.89 

4788.55 

4605.57 

3177.91 

riant  Cane  for  Seed.  Stubble  for  Seed. 


212 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  1^— DIFFERENT  WIDTHS  OF  ROWS  IN  PLANT 

CANE. 


Widths  of  rows,  feet.  I 

Fertilizer  used. 

Amount  Fertilizer  pei 
' acre. 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons. 

o 

s 

« 

i) 

a> 

be 

Q 

Total  solids. 

T.SES 

6 

Tj 

P 

s 

3 

r/J 

Glucose. 

Purity  co  efficient. 

1 

Glucose  Ratio. 

Lbs.  available  sugar 
upon  70  per  ct.  ex- 
traction. 

s 

<v 

n 

1 

! ^ 

IX 

.3 

Bradley  , . . 

1336  fts 

39.38 

9. 

16.2 

14.1 

.78 

87.03 

5.33 

181.02 

7128.57 

4 

1002 

38.55 

8.4 

15.1 

12.5 

1 . 15 

82.78 

9.12 

150.90 

6748.25 

5 

ii 

800 

34.04 

8.8 

115.8 

13.4 

.97 

84.81 

7. -23 

167.30 

5694.89 

6 

(£ 

668 

30.87 

8.5 

15.3 

12.- 

1.15 

83.66 

8.98 

1.55.12 

4788.. 55 

7 

£(' 

573 

29.69 

8.4 

15.2 

12.7 

1.08 

83.. 55 

8.50 

155.12 

4605.51 

8 

i £ 

504 

21.59 

8.2 

14.8 

12-4 

.97 

83.78 

7.82 

153.30 

3177.91 

3 

No  manure 

31.41 

7.3 

13.2 

11.2 

.75 

84  09 

6.75 

141.12 

4432.58 

4 

U 

25.93 

7.3 

13.2 

11.2 

.75 

84.09 

6.75 

141.12 

36.59.24 

5 

££ 

24.91 

7.3 

13.2 

11  2 

.75 

84.09 

6 . 7.5 

141.12 

3515.30 

6 

a 

21.69 

7.3 

13.2 

11.2 

.75 

84.09 

6.75 

141.12 

3060.91 

7 

ii 

24.69 

7.3 

13.2 

11.2 

.75 

84.09 

6.75 

141.12 

3516.46 

8 

i « 

20 . 65 

7.3 

13.2 

11.2 

.75 

84.09 

6.75 

141.12 

2914.13 

3 

Bowdker’s. 

1336 

35.91 

7.5 

13.5 

11.2 

.86 

82.96 

7.67 

138.79  i 

4982.15 

4 

(< 

1002 

31.44 

7.8 

14.0 

12.2 

1.07 

87.14 

8.77 

148.40  1 

4665.70 

5 

800 

27.72 

7.4 

13.4 

11.2 

.80 

83.58 

7.67 

138.74 

3845.87 

6 

a 

667 

21.29 

7.9 

14.2 

11.9 

1.06 

83.80 

8.90 

144.34 

30-23.00 

7 

<< 

573 

21.91 

6.7 

12.0 

9.5 

.87 

79.16 

9.15 

114.80 

2515.27 

8 

i “ 

504 

18.40 

7.8 

14. 

12.5 

.96 

89.28 

7.68 

154.84 

2849.06 

3 No  manure 

31-37 

8.0 

14.4 

13. 

1.01 

90-27 

7.76 

160.86 

5040.18 

4 

i 

23.53 

7.5 

13.6ill.9 

.96 

87.. 50 

8.06 

146.44 

3545.73 

5 

! 

20.82 

7.9 

14.2112.0 

.83 

84  50 

6.91 

150.64 

3130.32 

6 

u 

16.22 

8.2 

14.8  12.7 

•92 

85.81 

7.32 

158.48 

2570.54 

7 

a 

17.10 

8.0 

14.4  12.3 

.86 

85.41 

6.99 

154.14 

2635.79 

8 , 

1 

19.75 

8.4 

15.1 

12.9 

.90 

85.43 

6.97 

161.70 

3190.57 

213 


COMPARISON  OF  RESULTS  OF  PLAT  13. 


3-FOOT  KOWB 

4-rOOT  ROWS 

5 FOOT  ROWS 

6-foot  rows 

7-FOOT  ROWS 

8-FOOT  ROWS 

<0 

0) 

' s 

® 

Is 

1^' 

1 « 

li 

ii 

a 

a 

a 

a 

n 

o 

o 

o 

> CO 

o 

K 00 

o 

^ CO 

H 

H 

H 

<1  * 

H 

H 

< 

H 

Bradley’s  

39.38 

7128.37 

38.55 

6748.25 

34.04 

5694.89 

30.87 

4788.55 

29.69 

1605.51 

21.59 

3177.91 

Xo  manure 

31.41 

4432.58 

25.93 

3659.34 

24.91 

3575.30 

21.69 

.3060.99 

24  89 

.3576.48 

20.65 

2214.13 

Bowdker’s 

35.91 

4982.15 

31.44 

4665.70 

27.72 

3845.87 

21.29 

3033.00 

21.91 

2515.27 

18.40 

2849.06 

Xo  manure  .... 

31  37 

5046.18 

23.53 

.3545.73 

20.82 

31.36.32 

16.22 

2570.54 

17.10 

2635.79 

19.75 

3190.57 

Avei  age 

34.. 52 

5402.37 

29.86 

4654.73 

26.87 

4048.09 

22.. 52 

3380.77 

23.39 

3318.26 

20.12 

3032.92 

Excess  of  3-foot 

rows  over  . . - 

4.66 

747.64 

7.65 

1354.28 

12.00 

2021.60 

11.13 

2084.11 

14.40 

2369 . 45 

Excess  of  4- loot 

• 

rows  over  . . . 

2.99 

606.64 

7.34 

1273.96 

6.47 

1336.47 

,9.74 

1621.81 

Excess  of  5-foot 

rows  r>vPir  . . . 

4.35 

667.32 

3.48 

729.83 

6.75 

1015.17 

Excess  of  6 foot 

SOWS  nvor  . . . 

62.51 

2.40 

347.85 

Excess  of  7-foot 

row.s  ovp.r  . . . 

285.34 

The  sugar  conteut  in  these  experiments  seems  to  depend 
upon  factors  other  than  widths  of  rows,  though  the  average  of 
the  three-foot  rows  experiments  show  (slightly)  the  highest 
amount  of  sucrose  and  lowest  of  glucose. 

This  was  expected  on  account  of  imperfect  cultivation  and 
closeness  of  rows.  The  following  table  gives  the  average  sucrose 
and  glucose  of  each  group  of  experiments : 

TABLE  SHOWING  AVERAGE  SUCROSE  AND  GLUCOSE  OF  EACH 
GROUP  PLAT  13. 


Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Group 

Average 

of  3-foot  rows 

12.76 

.88 

1 

U 

4-  “ 

ii 

12.20 

1.06 

2 

ii 

5-  “ 

ii 

12.20 

.89 

3 

ii 

6- 

i i 

12.80 

1.04 

4 

a 

7-  “ 

(( 

•90 

5 

a 

8-  ‘‘ 

u 

12.60 

.94 

6 

In  the  above  experiments  the  cane  planted  with  stubble’^ 
had,  for  two  years,  reeeived  an  application  of  cotton-seed  meal, 
phosphate  and  kainite  on  oats,  while  that  planted  with  plant 
had  received  only  phosphate  and  kainite.  This  accounts  in  part 
at  least  for  the  increased  yields  of  the  Bradley  fertilizer  and  its 
no  manure”  over  the  Bowdker  and  its  no  manure.” 


214 


To  plant  ail  acre  in  cane,  with  rows  7 feet  apart,  using  ‘^two 
stalks  and  a lap”  for  seed,  will  require  about  4 tons  of  cane  ; at 
the  saihe  rate  there  will  be  required  for  seed : 


In  3- foot  rows. 

9J  tons  per 

acre. 

“ 4 

u 

u . 

7 

u 

a 

u 

a 5 

a 

u 

5.6 

u 

u 

iC 

“ 6 

a 

a 

4§ 

a 

u 

“ 7 

a 

u 

4 

a 

u 

u 

“ 8 

u 

u 

u 

u 

Subtractiug  these  quantities  from  average  yield  above  will  .. 
give  net  cane  per  acre  over  the  amount  used  in  planting  as  fol- 
lows : 

3-foot  rows,  25.19  tons. 

4 ‘‘  22.86 

5 21-27 

6 q “ 17-86  “ 

7 19.39 

8 “ “ 16-62 

CONCLUSIONS. 

It  is  unwise  as  well  as  unscientific  to  draw  conclusions 
from  a single  year’s  experience,  yet  the  above  results  strongly 
suggest  thought  and  reflection.  Have  we  not  in  our  efforts  at 
easy  and  thorough  cultivation  passed  tne  boundary  of  maximum 
yield  of  sugar  content  in  the  width  of  our  row^s  ? Ho  not  wide 
rows  and  late  cultivation  also  tend  to  large  immature  canes  at 
harvest*?  The  frequent  remarks  of  planters  that  ‘^cane  never 
grows  well  until  laid  by,”  and  “cane  never  grows  fast  until  it 
shades  the  ground,”  cause  the  inquiring  mind  to  ask  the  reasons 
for  these  popular  axioms.  May  not  the  frequent  rupture  of  the 
roots  in  cultivation,  which  wide  rows  permit  to  be  extended 
(perhaps)  beyond  the  requirements  of  the  plane,  and  the  growth 
of  grass  and  weeds,  which  flourish  longer  (because  unshaded)  in 
wide  rows  (the  killing  of  which  often  requires  the  late  cultiva- 
tion), have  much  to  do  with  originating  these  popular  beliefs  ? 
It  is  certainly  desirable  in  this  climate  to  have  early  maturing 
(iane.  To  do  this  obstacles  or  checks  upon  its  growth  must  be 
presented  in  some  form  in  order  that  it  may  do  the  only  thing 


215 


Ibft  it— i.  e.,  mature.  These  obstacles  may  be  found  in  want  of 
drainage  or  lack  of  fertility.  The  last  obstacle  may  be  presented 
by  withholding  fertilizers,  absence  of  deep  plowing,  want  of  rain 
and  crowding  the  land  with  cane,  etc.  May  not  a width  of  row* 
just  sufficient  for  good  cultivation,  varying  according  to  soil,  be 
better  than  the  conventional  7-foot  row  now  almost  everywhere 
found.  The  station  will  continue  to  test  this  question. 

YAEIETIES  OF  CANE. 

Since  the  inauguration  of  this  Station,  over  seventy"  speci- 
mens of  foreign  canes  have  been  received  from  the  United  States 
consuls,  in  various  parts  of  the  world.  These  were  sent  to  us 
through  the  courteous  requests  of  Hon.  Norman  J.  Colman,  now 
Secretary  of  Agriculture,  and  Hon.  Thomas  F.  Bayard,  Secre- 
tary of  State,  at  Washington.  Of  these  there  are  now  growing- 
on  the  Station  forty  eight  varieties.  Each  of  these  has  been 
carefully  examined  and  analyzed,  and  the  material  obtained 
has  been  found  so  voluminous  and  important  that  it  is  deemed 
best  to  embody  same  in  a separate  bulletin  upon  ‘^Varieties  of 
Cane,”  which  will  be  issued  in  the  near  future. 

MANORIAL  RESULTS. 

One  of  the  chief  aims  of  this  Station  is  to  hud  a fertilizer 
that  will  produce  a maximum  tonnage  with  a maximum  sugar- 
content  upon  the  soils  of  Louisiana.  The  soils  upon  this  Station 
are  classified  as  “mixed”  and  “black,”  and  from  the  analyses 
given  in  Bulletin  No.  14  are  found  deficient  rather  in  physical 
qualities  than  in  chemical  ingredients.  The  former  limits  the 
available  supply  of  the  latter,  and  renders  large  applications 
of  manures  necessary  for  the  production  of  large  crops. 

What  kinds  of  manures,  and  in  what  forms  and  quantities, 
has  been  the  object  of  the  experiments  which  follow.  It  should 
be  remembered  that  any  physical  or  mechanical  amendment  to  a 
soil,  such  as  “underdraining,”  “deep  plowing,”  “sub-soiling,” 
etc.,  is  in  itself  a manure,  since  it  enables  the  roots  of  a plant  to 
forage  over  an  increased  area,  and  thus  obtain  larger  supplies 
of  available  food. 


216 


The  Station  had  seven  plats  devoted  to  manurial  require- 
ments, three  of  which  may  be  designated  as  strictly  scientific,  and 
the  rest  as  popular.  The  three  scientific  plats  were  devoted 
(1),  to  nitrogenous  manures;  (2),  to  phosphoric  acid  manures; 
(3),  to  potassic  manures. 

The  object  of  these  plats  are  : 

1.  To  tell  the  rexjuiremeuts  of  these  soils  for  each  in- 
gredient. 

2.  To  tell  the  form  best  adapted  to  cane. 

3.  To  tell  the  quantity  most  profitable  for  cane. 

Accordingly,  all  the  available  forms  of  these  ingredients 
have  been  used  in  varying  quantities.  To  test  the  requirements 
of  a soil  for  any  particular  ingredient,  every  other  ingredient 
must  be  present  in  excess.  Hence  each  particular  ingredient 
tested  has  been  combined  with  an  excess  of  other  ingredients. 
The  first  ground  was — 

PLAT  VIII— POTASSIC  MANHKES. 

SECOND  YEAR  STUBBLE  CANE— HARVESTED  OCTOBER  14-17.. 

This  plat  was  designed  to  test  primarily  the  requirements  of 
this  soil  for  potash,  and  then  to  determine  the  form  and  quantity 
bdst  adapted  to  cane.  There  has  been  used  the  muriate,  sul- 
phate, nitrate,  carbonate  and  kainite,  and  such  quantities  of 
each  have  been  taken  as  to  represent  60, 120  and  180  lbs.  of  pure 
potash  per  acre,  or  1-3,  2-3  and  3-3  rations.  These  are  excessive 
quantities,  but  they  are  used  with  the  hope  of  determining 
whether  potash  in  any  form  or  quantity  effected  the  tonnage  or 
sugar  content  of  cane.  It  was^off  barred  and  dug  April  16th. 
Manures  applied  and  middles  split  out  April  18th.  Subsequent 
cultivation  with  a disc  cultivator.  It  was  laid  by  with  a 4-horse 
plow.  A diagram  of  the  plat,  together  with  the  results  ot  the 
experiments,  are  hereunto  attached. 


218 


DIAGRAM-PLAT  VIII. 

POrASSIC  MANURES. 


No.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

lbs.  available  sugar  70  pel 
cent  exti  action  per  acre 

6 

11.45 

12.2 

1.85 

7 

15.26 

12.3 

1.59 

8 

9.24 

12.2 

1.72 

9 

18.02 

13.6 

1.47 

10 

15.. 33 
12.6 
1.44 

No.  of  Experiment; 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

Yield  per  acre  iu  tons  . . . 

11.13 

13.72 

7.84 

15.72 

7.14 

12.7 

11.5 

12.1 

11 .6 

i.49 

1.66 

1.41 

1.55 

lbs  available  sUiiar  20  per 

cent  extraction  pei-  acre 

No.  of  Experiment.. 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons  . . . 

9.03 

12.11 

7.38 

15.38 

13.54 

Sucrose 

12  20 

12.80 

12.00 

12.90 

12.60 

Glucose 

1.89 

1.84 

1.89 

1.84 

1 83 

lbs.  available  sugar  20  per 

cent  extraction  per  acre 

’ 

No.  of  Experiment. 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

8.05 

10.29 

6.23 

9.84 

6.58 

Sucrose 

12  50 

12.70 

11.60 

11.60 

11.10 

Glucose 

1.82 

1.91 

2 04 

1.58 

1.55 

lbs.  availai>le  sugar  70  per 

cent  extraction  per  acre 

No.  of  Experiment 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

Yield  per  acre  in  tons 

7.14 

8.54 

4.69 

13.96 

14.38 

Sucrose 

11.40 

11.50 

11.40 

11.00 

10.90 

Glucose 

1.82 

1 40 

1.41 

1.42 

1.43 

lbs.  available  sugar  70  per 

ceot  extraction  per  acre 

<s 

O 

P 

a 

1 

« a 

. 

c 

X 

53 

Muriate  Potash  Group. 


Kainite  Group. 


Sulphate  Potash  Group 


Carbonate  Potash 
Group. 


Nitrate  Potash  Group 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  VIII  — PO TASSIC  MANURES. 


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221 


By  comparing  each  group  first  with  ‘^no  manure,  and  then 
with  its  meal  phosphate,  we  get  the  increased  gains  due  to 
potash. 


No.  of 
Group. 

Tons. 

Lbs.  avail- 

able sugar. 

1 

Increase  Meal  Phosphate  over  “ no  manure” 

2.21 

267 

1 

“ i Muriate  Potash  over  Meal  Phosphate 

3.91 

585 

1 

“ ^ <<  “ 

6.57 

1111 

1 

U ii  (<  u u u 

3.88 

729 

2 

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3.29 

562 

2 

^ Kainite  over  Meal  Phosphate 

2.59 

* 

2 

2 

“ f “ “ “ 

3-3  “ “ “ 

4.59 

545 

3 

“ Meal  Phosphate  over  “ no  manure  ” 

1.65 

, 237 

3 

“ ^ Sulphate  Potash  over  Meal  Phosphate 

(1  ^ ((  H <4  <<  (4 

3.08 

510 

3 

6.33 

1000 

3 

<(  ((  l(  (4  ((  l( 

4.. 52 

673 

4 

“ Meal  Phosphate  over  “ no  manure” 

1.82 

417 

4 

‘‘  i Carbonate  Potash  over  Meal  Phosphate 

2.24 

254 

4 

4 

(t  ^ 4 4 4 ( 4 4 ii  ii 

“ 3-3  “ “ “ “ “ 

1.82 

109 

5 

“ Meal  Phosphate  over  “ no  manure  ” 

2.45 

257 

5 

i Nitrate  Potash  over  Meal  Phosphate 

1.40 

256 

5 

44  ^ 4 4 4 4 4 4 . 4 4 4 

6.78 

866 

44  ii  ii  ii  44  4 4 

7.24 

786 

Average  increase  of  Nitrate  Potash  over  Meal  Phosphate. 

5.14 

636 

44  44  Muriate  “ “ “ “ 

4.76 

808 

“ “ Sul(»hate  “•  “ “ “ 

4.48 

730 

“ “ Kainite  “ “ 

1.46 

“ “ Carbonate  “ “ “ “ 

.86 

This  plat,  planted  iu  cane  in  spring  of  ^86  and  cultivated  as 
stubble  cane  since,  has  received  each  year  the  same  application 
of  manures,  upon  the  same  experiments.  For  three  years  they 
have  received  excessive  quantities  of  potash  in  the  forms  given 
above,  and  the  results  published  each  year.  The  carbonate  of 
potash  has  not  produced  the  results  expected.  Indeed,  both  the 
pure  carbonate  of  potash  and  the  ashes  of  cotton  hulls  have 
appeared  to  exercise  detriment  rather  than  profit  to  cane.  The 
other  forms  of  i^otash  used  in  excessive  quantities  have  given 
increased  yields,  due  doubtless  to  the  indirect  action  of  these 
salts  upon  the  soil.  The  question  of  profit  is  not  here  included, 
since  the  cost  of  several  mixtures  above  given  are  far  in  excess 
of  the  value  of  the  increased  products. 


222 


PHOSPHORIC  ACID  MANURES. 

PLAT  VII— SECOND  YEAR  STUBBLE. 

The  object  of  this  plat  is  to  test  the  form  and  quantity  of 
phosphoric  acid  best  adapted  to  cane  ; using  it  in  a soluble  form 
in  dissolved  bone  black  and  acid  phosphate,  in  a precipitated 
form  as  precipitated  bone  black  and  precipitated  acid  phosphate, 
and  in  an  insoluble  form  as  bone  dust  aud  finely  ground  Charles- 
ton phosphate,  called  “ floats”;  also  in  the  natural  form  of  Or- 
chilla  guano.  Each  used  in  1-3,  2-3  and  3 3 rations.  This  plat 
was  harvested  in  ’87  during  a very  wet  spell,  and  was  accord- 
ingly badly  cut  up  by  the  carts.  An  experiment  was  tried  of 
rectifying  this  evil  at  once  by  the  following  treatment.  As  soon 
aftei^  harvest  as  the  soil  would  permit,  the  dirt  was  taken  from 
the  stubble  with  4-horse  plow  and  a stubble  digger  run  over  it* 
The  earth  was  then  re-turned  with  4-horse  plow,  and  by  aid  of 
Le  Dow  Disk  cultivator  it  was  thrown  up  well  around  the  cane. 
The  middles  were  then  split  out,  quarter  drains  opened,  and  the 
plat  remained  undisturbed  until  spring,  when  it  was  olf-barred, 
manured  and  treated  like  the  other  plats.  This  fall  working 
was  not  productive  of  the  good  expected.  This  was  the  last 
l^iece  of  stubble  on  the.  place  to  germinate,  and  the  stand  was 
nowhere  excellent.  Whether  the  injury  done  by  hauling  over  it 
wet,  or  the  subsequent  fall  plowing  or  both,  did  the  injury,  was 
not  apparent.  On  account  of  defective  stand  only  two  groups 
of  this  plat  were  worked  into  sugar,  the  rest  being  windrowed 
for  seed  to  be  used  in  spring  planting. 


PARTIAL  RESULTS— PLAT  VII-PHOSPHOKIC  ACID  MANURES. 


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The  stand  was  better  w here  phosphates  were  used,  but  was  everywhere  so  irregular  as  to  iireclude  accurate 
couclusions  from  results.  It.  however,  confirms  previous  deductions  that  phosphates,  in  an  available  form,  are 
needed  by  these  soils. 


224 


PLAT  11— SECOND  YEAR  STUBBLE. 

The  object  of  these  experiments  was  to  test  the  efficacy  of 
certain  popular  manures,  together  witli  the  quantities  most  de- 
sirable for  largest  results.  Varying  quantities  of  cotton  seed, 
cotton  seed  meal  and  tankage  have  been  used  alone  and  in  con- 
nection with  acid  phosphate,  floats,  kainite,  ashes,  cotton  hulls, 
etc.  It  was  off-barred  and  manures  applied  April  14th.  The 
subsequent  treatment  like  the  plats  described. 


/ 


I 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  II— SECOND  YEAR  STUBBLE. 


•pOi^ggAI-BJI 

n9itA\ 

' 

[ Lbs.  avail- 

able sugar, 
70  per  cent 
extraction. 

•9I0U 

J9X 

1104 

1355 

2423 

19(31 

i 



1703 

2181 

953 

1086 

969 

•uo^. 

J9J 

CO  (?<  c©  -o 

CO  CfJ  CO  CO 

rH  r-^ 

153 

154 

140 

153 

148 

•01:^1?^ 

osoon^O 

12.06 

12.17 

12.75 

12.75 

8.88 

9.38 

9.57 

8.48 

9.59 

lU!)lOp^8-O0 

A4Tjn(j 

82.27 

81.55 

i 

81.63 

81.63 



85.13 

85.33 

82.96 

85.03 

86.01 

ANALYSES. 

•9soon^^ 

1.40 

1.40 

1.53 

1.53 

1.12 

1.20 

1.12 

l.Od 

1.18 

•9soiong 

11.6 

11.5 

12. 

12. 

1 

12.6 

12.8 

11.7 

12.5 

12.3 

•spipg 

moj^ 

14.1 

14.1 

14.7 

14.7 

14.8 

15. 

14.1 

14.7 

14.3 

•snox 

ni  9Joy 

J9d  p[9ix 

8.30 

10.30 

17.84 

14.44 

16.72 

14.84 

11.16 

14.16 

6.81 

7.12 

6.56 

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TABLE — Continued. 


•p9:^89Aa'BH 

ngqAV 

Lbs.  available 
sugar,  70  per 
cent  extrac. 
tion. 

*9106 

I9J 

1806 

1197 

1878 

2444 

•ao!^ 

J9J 

150 

163 

179 

174 

9900n[J3 

8.84 

7.87 

6.95 

6.74 

•!»n910^9-00 

CO  CO  00 

0^0  CO 

O lO  1— < 

00  00  03  X 

1 •980J9n'q 

73  1 

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r-<  O 03  03 

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72  1 

kh  ; •98oj;ong 

< t 

12.4 

i 13.2 

14.3 

13,8 

< 1 'SPHOS 

14.5 

15.5 

15.7 

'l5.8 

•SQOX 
ai  9Joy 

J9d  P[9I^ 

12.00 

7.34 

10.48 

14.08 

22S 


The  inspeetion  of  abov^e  table  will  show  that  mauy  of  the 
^^opiilar  manures  are  exceedingly  valuable:  that  the  dittereut 
vforms  of  nitrogen  in  cotton  seed,  cotton  seed  meal,  tankage  and 
^sulphate  ammonia,  and  dried  blood,  are  about  equally  efficacious 
-r,2;S  sources  of  nitrogen,  and  that  large  tonnage  is  not  always 
productive  of  largest  sugar  yields,  and,  therefore,  manuring 
should  be  done  judiciously  both  as  to  quantity  aud  quality. 


TILED  VEILSUS  UNTILED  LAND. 

PLATS  IV.  AND  y. — I'lKST  YEAR  STUBBLE. 


These  plats  of  equal  area  lie  side  by  side  aud  with  no  api>a- 
rent  difference,  save  is  tiled  and  lY.  untiled.  They  were 
planted  in  cane  on  ■March  b,  1887  and  have  since  received  the 
Same  treatment. 

The  following  are  the  manures  used  on  each  i)lat: 

( obO  tbs  Cotton  Seed  Meai. 
i'?Sxi)erimeRt  No.  1 — ' .~>b()  ti.s  Acid  Phosphate. 


I 500  Ihs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

t 500  l!)S  Acid  Phosphate. 

5 — Nothing. 

( 500  ths  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

4 — } 500  lbs  Orcliilla  Phosphate, 
f 500  lbs  Kainite. 

- s ~d)0  lbs  Cotton  Seed  .Meal. 

\ .500  tbs  Orcliilla  Phosphate. 
0 — Nothing. 

C 500  tbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
7—4  5(M)  lbs  Bone  Dust. 

( 500  tbs  Kainite. 

^ ) 500  lt)S  Cotton  Seeh  Meal. 

\ 500  tt)S  Bone  Dust. 

0 — Nothing. 

( 500  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 


10 — 4 500  tbs  Floats. 

( 500  lbs  Kainite. 


^ t 500  11)8  Cotton  Seed  Meal, 
j 500  lbs  Floats. 

12 —  Nothing. 

( 500  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

13 — 4 500  ll)S  Ashes  Cotton  Hulls, 
f 500  ms  Kainite. 

M j Cotton  Seed  IMeal. 

( 500  tl)S  Ashes  Cotton  Hulls. 

15 —  Nothing. 

16 —  500  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

17 —  500  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

18 —  500  ms  Kainite. 

19 —  Notliiug. 


TABLE— RESULTS  PLAT  IV.  AND  V.  UNTILED  AND  TILED  LAND— FIRST  YEAR  STUBBLE. 


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230 


DIAGKAM  — PLAT  IV  and  V.— Stubble  Cane. 


UNTILED.  TILED. 


No.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre,  Tons 

1 

14.49 

14.70 

.65 

27.97 

2 

20.44 
13.70 
1.07 
34  54 

3 

9.75 

1 

22.49 

13.60 

1.10 

37.56 

25.99 

Pounds  available  sugar.. 

No.  of  Experiment 

4 

5 

G 

4 

5 

Yield  per  acre,  tons 

16.89 

17.68 

10.43 

23.52 

22.37 

Sucrose 

14.60 

13.40 

13.90 

13.70 

13., 50 

Glucose 

.81 

.91 

.79 

.77 

.67 

Pounds  available  sugar.. 

31.58 

29.88 

18.88 

41.63 

39.59 

No.  of  Experiment 

7 

8 

9 

’ 1 

Yield  per  acre,  tons 

16.45 

18.87 

10.45 

21.93 

20.04 

Sucrose* 

.3.90 

14.00 

'.78 

33.18 

12.60 

.62 

17.00 

13.90 

Glucose. ................. 

.66 

.77 

Pounds  availa  le  sugar.. 

29.61 

39.25 

No  of  Experiment 

10 

11 

12 

10 

11 

Yield  per  acre,  tons 

12.36 

13.48 

9.10 

21.18 

16.61 

Sucrose 

13.71 

13.30 

13.10 

13.. 30 

13.60 

Glucose 

.68 

.69 

.59 

.53 

.63 

Pounds  available  sugar. . 

22.00 

23.18 

15.56 

37.07 

29.49 

No.  of  Experiment 

13 

14 

15 

13 

14 

Yield  per  acre,  tons 

9.45 

12.36 

8.45 

16.45 

17.61 

Sne.rn.cA 

14.60 

.53 

14.40 

.47 

14.80 

.58 

15.30 

.55 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar. . 

18.24 

23.72 

32.08 

35.75 

No',  of  Experiment 

16 

17 

18 

16 

17 

Yield  per  acre,  tons 

9.80 

9.20 

7.. 88 

11.70 

12.99 

Sucrose 

12.30 

12.80 

14.40 

13.20 

14.30 

Glucose 

.60 

.54 

.54 

6.10 

.52 

Pounds  available  sugar.. 

15.68 

15.46 

14.02 

20.12 

24.55 

No.  of  Experiment 

19 

19 

20 

19 

19 

Yield  per  acre,  tons 

SnernsA. ...... ... 

7.79 

14.4 

.57 

12.50 

7.79 

14.4 

.57 

12.50 

5.88 

6.58 
14.60 
.53 
• 12.93 

6.58 

14.60 

.53 

12.93  1 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar.. 

Cotton  Meal. 

Acid  Phopphate.  ' 


Cotton  Meal. 
Oichilla. 


Cotton  Meal. 
Bone  Meal. 


Cotton^Meal. 

Floats. 


Cotton  Meal. 
Cotton  Hull  Ashes, 


o 


No.  16  is  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  alone. 
No.  17  is  Acid  Phosphate,  alone. 
No.  19  is  Kainite,  alone. 


231 


DEDUCTIONS  FROM  A3JOVE. 


There  are  two  sets  of  experiiuents  both  in  the  tiled  and  uu- 
Liled  piatvS,  Calling-  them  first  and  second  we  shall  have  in 


1. 

-inrfease  ExperinuMit  1 tiled  over  iintiUal 8.(X) 

“ 1 “ ••  


Total 4e.4o 


iset  ti. 

Imerease  FiXperiment  e tiled  over  untiled 5.50 

cc  i.  a n 

8 

•»  11  ••  - “ 

“ ••  14  “ “ 

17  “ “ 

•••  U>  ••  “ “ 

Total 20. -^1 

Less 


leerea.ve  oi‘ 14  Experiments,  tiled  over  untiled. 01. 19  and  12  FiXperiments  8063 

Average  increase  per  acre 4.38  672 

*'  first  set 6.0t)  758 

second  set 2.68  551 


fts.  available 

Tons. 

sugar. 

. 8.(X) 

959 

. 6.63 

lOOv) 

. 5.48 

964 

. 8.82 

507 

1 .(H) 

i:384 

. 3.79 

444 

. 2.73 

43 

.12.45 

.5206 

lbs.  available 

Tons. 

sugar. 

, 4.69 

971 

1.17 

— 

631 

1203 

. 

909 

. .42 

43 

.20.21 

2757 

1.47 

18.74 

Here  the  average  increase  of  all  the  tiled  ot^er  untiled  is  at 
tiie  rate  of  4,37  tons  per  acre. 

Taking  first  set  of  untiled,  that  furthest  from  the  tiled,  and 
we  have  an  increase  of  6.00  tons,  758  lbs.  the  available  sugar ^ 
which  more  nearly  represents  the  true  difference  between  tiled 
aad  untiled  land  since  the  second  set  runs  within  a few  feet  of 
the  tiled  land  and  the  benelicial  effects  of  the  tiles  are  perfectly 
apparent,  both  in  the  working  of  the  laud  and  the  increase  of 
crops.  On  this  Jpiece  the  difference  between  it  and  its  fellow 
Hied,  is  only  2.08  tons  and  557  lbs.  available  suger. 

A review  of  the  actual  results  of  tile  draining  is  herewith 
given,  which  contains  figures  and  fiicts  more  conviiiciiig  than 
logic : 


232 


REVIEW  OF  RESULTS  OF  TlLED-DR A INED  LANDS. 


Pl.ANT  C\NK  IX  IBS7. 


Yield  of  first  set  of  tile«l  plats,  per  acre 

Yield  of  first  set  of  uniile<l  plats.  ]>er  acre 

fous. 

...  17 . 64 

Ponudfi^ 

availaWfe 

snga?., 

3819 

2839 

Difference  

i;80 

Yield  of  secoini  set  of  tiled  plats,  ptn-  acre 

Yield  of  second  set  of  untiled  niats,  per  acre.. 

...  2i.02 

. . . l‘J . 45 

3328 

2972 

Ditt'erence 

Average  yield  of  tiled  plats,  |>cr  acre 

Average  yield  of  untiled  plats,  i)or  acre 

...  22.94 

...  18.54 

3574 

2905 

Difference 

4.40 

Increased  yield  of  Iirst  set,  in  tonnage 

Increased  yield  of  first  set,  in  sugar 

Increased  yield  of  sec(»nd  set,  in  touiiiige  .. 

Increased  yield  of  second  set  in  sugar 

iTicreased  viel  l average,  in  tounaee 



34.5 

13.2 

12. 

24.2 

per  eenf. 
per  ceni. 
per  cent, 
per  cent, 
per  cent, 
per 

Increased  yield  average,  in  sugar 

23. 

S'irKi’.M',  Cam:  ix  18’^’“'. 

F'oai>ii» 
HvailaWe 
Ton?,  sng.Ti,r. 


Yield  <»f  lirst- set  of  tilt'd  ))I}ifs,  [icr  acre 18. (to 

Yield  of  iirst  set  of  untiled  [dats,  [»er  ac^'c 11.(17  2:ih7 


Dilference 

Yield  of  second  set  of  tiled  plats,  per  acre 17.24  284^^ 

Yield  of  second  set  of  untiled  plats,  per  acre 14.56  2472 

Difference 2.68  374 

Average  yield  oJ'  tiled  plats,  ])er  acre 17.64  2i59ft 

Average  yield  of  nniiled  })lats,  per  acre 111. 27  2362 

Difference 4.37  637 

Increased  yield  of  iirst  .set,  in  tonnage 50.6  per  eevit. 

Increased  yield  of  first  set.  in  sugar 40.  per  cent. 

Increased  yield  of  second  set,  in  tonnage 18.4  per  cent. 

Increased  yield  of  second  set,  in  sugar 15.  pt^r  cent. 

Average  yield  of  field,  in  tonnage 34.5  per  oeMt, 

Average  yield  of  field,  in  sugar 27.5  per  cent. 


* Results  are  too  low,  owing  to  loss  of  data  in  Experiiiieiits  Nos.  2 and  8. 


233 


Tbe  actual  benefits  just  enumerated  are  sufficient  recom- 
meudations  for  tile  drains  j but  to  tliem  must  be  added  that 
lauds  tiled-drained  are  made  warm,  sweet  and  mellow  roots 
penetrate  easier  and  deeper,  and  thus  ])rovi<le  themselves  with 
better  apparatus  for  i)rocuring  water  in  times  of  drouth.  In 
wet  weather  the  excess  is  drained  oif,  instead  of  being  evapor- 
ated. Evaporation  is  a cooling  process  requiring  much  of  the 
heat  of  the  soil.  Again,  it  takes  a much  larger  quantity  of  heat 
to  warm  up  a soil  filled  with  water  than  a dry  one.  Water  is  also 
a poor  conductor  of  heat,  and,  therefore,  wet  soils  are  warmed 
downward  very  slowly.  As  the  Avater  drains  from  a soil  the  air 
enters  it  and  aids  in  Avarming.  SnoAv  melts  at  least  a Aveek 
earlier  on  an  average  upon  drained,  than  on  undrained  land 
similarly  situated.  Vegetation  advances  far  more  rapidly  on 
drained  land.  Stiff  soils  are  made  open  and  porous,  easier 
worked  and  earlier  handled  after  rains.  The  time  and  labor 
saA^ed  in  a feAV  years  Avili  pay  for  the  tiles.  The  o|)eu  ditches 
are  objectionable  for  many  reasons,  some  of  AA'hich  are  constant 
cost  of  cleaning,  waste  of  land,  ploAving  can  only  be  done  one 
way  ; the  loss  of  the  cream  of  the  soil  by  being  constantly 
washed  in  small  particles  through  the  quarter  drains  into  the 
ditches,  and  thence  into  the  canal  and  swami)s. 

Drainage  is  of  the  first  importance  to  the  sugar  planter, 
since  cane  revels  in  well  drained  land.  The  successful  sugar 
planter  recognizes  the  necessity  of  diainage  and  a heap  of  it. 
Last  year  there  fell  on  this  station  75  inches  of  rain.  Each  inch 
represents  27,154  gallons  of  Avater  i)er  acre,  or  in  round  numbers 
2,536,550  gallons,  or  8485  tons  by  AA^eight  per  acre  for  the  year. 
This  would  give  an  average  of  25  tons  of  AAmter  to  be  evapor- 
ated daily  from  each  ac^re  of  land  did  none  run  off  the  surface. 
If  it  run  off  Avhat  a poAverful  eroding  and  carrying  power  on  our 
soils.  If,  as  our  engineers  say,  that  1 lb.  of  coal  will  evaporate 
8 lbs.  water,  it  aa^ouM  require  oA^er  3 tons  of  coal  per  day  for 
each  acre  of  land  throughout  the  year  to  evaporate  the  Avater 
which  falls  on  it.  This  enormous  rainfall  forces  the  necessity  or 
drainage.  But  Avhich  is  best,  surface  drains  Avith  loss  of  soil,  or 
under  drains,  which  not  only  relieve  the  soil  of  excess  of  mois 
ture,  but  makes  it  warm  and  melloAv.  Tile  drainage,  like 
diffusion,”  is  surely  but  slowly  coming. 


234 


PLAT  xy — First  Year  Stubble  Cane. 

lu  the  spring  of  188G  this  plat  was  sown  broadcast  in  cow 
peas.  A luxuriant  growth  of  vines  was  obtained.  In  September 
the  plat  was  divided  into  two  equal  parts.  The  pea  vines  on  the 
west  side  were  removed,  cured  into  hay,  and  fed  to  the  stock. 
The  entire  plat  was  then  turned  over  with  a 4-horse  plow. 
There  was  thus  presented  a basis  for  an  experiment  with  and 
without  pea  vines,  to  test  the  value  of  first,  the  roots  alone,  and 
second,  the  roots  and  vines.  A portion  of  this  plat  was  planted 
with  plant  and  the  rest  with  stubble  cane.  It  was  also  divided 
into  5 groups  of  4 experiments  each. 

First  and  second  groups  next  to  the  river  were  fertilized  at 
the  time  of  planting,  the  fourth  and  fifth  groups  furthest  from 
the  river,  in  the  spring,  and  the  third  or  middle  group  was  not 
fertilized  at  all.  Each  group  had  thus  two  experiments  with 
pea  vines  turned  under,  and  two  with  vines  removed.  The  ma- 
tiiures  were  duplicated  on  both.  In  group  1,  cotton  seed  meal, 
acid  phosphate  and  kainite  were  used  as  manure.  In  experi- 
-inent  1,  the  meal  and  pliosphate  were  combined  in  proportion  of 
2 to  1.  In  experiment  2,  in  equal  quantities.  The  kainite  was 
.constant  in  both. 

Group  2 was  manured  like  group  1,  except  the  kainite  was 
^omitted. 

Group  2 was  unmanured. 

In  group  4,  experiment  1,  the  nitrogen  was  supplied  in  form 
of  nitrate  soda,  sulphate  ammonia  and  cotton  seed  meal.  Of  the 
whole  amount  of  nitrogen  supplied  | was  in  form  of  nitrate  soda, 
f in  sulphate  of  ammonia,  and  2-8  in  cotton  seed  meal.  This 
was  combined  with  acid  phosphate  and  kainite. 

Experiment  2 of  same  group,  had  ab  its  nitrogen  in  form  of 
nitrate  of  soda,  which  was  also  combined  with  acid  phosphate. 

In  group  5,  experiment  I,  dried  blood  and  sulphate  of  am- 
monia supplied  the  nitrogen,  while  sulphate  of  ammonia  alone 
was  used  in  experiment  2.  Both  had  also  acid  phosphate  and 
kainite. 

The  results  of  this  plat  with  above  treatment  in  plant  cane, 
were  given  in  Bulletin  Xo.  14.  This  year  it  has  been  cultivated 
in  stubble  cane  and  .received  all  of  its  manures  at  the  same  time, 
on  April  16th. 

The  following  diagram  will  serve  to  locate  the  plat  and  this 
table  will  give  the  results : 


235 


DIAGRAM— FLAT  X V— Stumjle 


I’ea  viues  I'ta  vines 
turned  under  removed. 


Xo.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre,  tons 

Sucrose.  • • . 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar 
per  acre 


Xo  of  Experiment 

Yield  psr  acre,  tons 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar 
per  acre 


Xo.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre,  tons 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar 
jiei'  acre 


Xo.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acre,  tons 

Sucro.se 

Glucose 

1‘ounds  available  sugar 
per  acre 


Xo.  of  Experiment 

Yield  per  acie,  tons 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

J’ounds  available  sugar 
pei‘  aci’c. 


^'^Sligbtly  injured  by  proximity  of 
pecan  tree. 

ITliis  stand  on  this  row  detective. 
See  reason  elseAvbeie, 


1 

2 

1 

! 2 

19. T1 

21.17 

•23.14 

2 2. -23 

i 12.70 

11.00 

12.50 

..53 

.73 

.60 

3304 

3401 

3610 

3 

4 

3- 

4* 

•20.. 5.5 

•24.01 

‘21.42 

‘21.58 

t 13.10 

12.80 

12.20 

14.30 

.40 

.76 

.65 

..53 

3.507 

4014 

3353 

4079 

5 

« 

5 

G 

14.09 

18.02 

15.86 

14.93 

t 14.5 

14.70 

13.80 

11.90 

.48 

.50 

.61 

.60 

•2722 

::()30 

2^04 

2424 

7 

8 

7 

8 

t 21.44 

•24.01 

•26.18 

‘2;i.05 

12.00 

.84 

3017 

0 

10 

» 

10 

t 18.70 

20.09 

27. -20 

•20.08 

11. .50 

12.80 

12.70 

.80 

1..57 

1 .54 

3181 

3979 

3816 

OanEo, 


Group  1 - 


Gi  ou))  2'.. 


Group  3. 

Xo  mau«r«--. 


Group  4 


Group 


RESULTS  PLAT  XT.—STUBBLE  CANE. 


1 


•pdiSOA.IPJJ 


x .(  9J0R 


ce  s s 
::;  o - - 
5§-5r 
< 


■3  » 


I 3 


.lad 


uo^  aed 


OSOOUff) 


o'j 

A4|,IUJ 


•3S().)ll[j9 


OS'O.TOllg 


ro  'T  05  7>  x:  -r 
•O  O?  'Xi  r:  Oi 

O CO  O O X 50 

CO  CO  -r  -c*  O)  OJ  CO  OJ 


05  05  05  X X O )0 
'/J  75-  x X X 05  :c 


Oi  X CO  O X L 


01  CO  <M 


CO  -O  CO  X 


CO  CO  .o  CO 


•RUOX 
TIT  H.I.IV 
.Hid  4M^L\ 


•R^auv 

U^IJ  JO 
TIOI  {lRO(iKl(  J 


r-J  ‘3'  _ 

w 5^  w 


-o  — -o  ■-  cr 

O J,  i) 


V ® 
»«0  3 


a Cl-  -M 

O , 


C ^ X 


d t.  o - o 
® o » o o 

cciHCii-a^ 


O 30 

s 


V ® 
^ 3 


-d 

= cu 


o-  ® 


® ® 


2 


o o 

o < 


•5| 

®X 


o 

'o  ,2 

•i::  1=  o 'c 
X O <5  W 


Js' 

05,'" 


;a3Ssd^i5i2iSoi5i2ciSsao 

ooo.-eooo 

Oiiocc)  O'cC50^o  dCc5ir?O‘,— 1.— 5’0* 


* l— - .—V 

OI  ^ P 


JO  -OSI 


P o o»  P 


c o 


X)  X 


00  50 

i2i2 


d o; 
oo  ou 

O M 

X o 


tj  ^ “ 

.-t^  O ■:« 


-a  m 'j: 

iSiSiS 


^ 2 .ti 

^2p 


o o o 
o o o 

CO  CO  ^ 


0>  CO  CO 


O 1(0  OO  CO 


Cl  .-I 

05  00 

CO  CO 


s 


lO 

<a 

o 

05 

GO 

o 

i- 

OJ 

ca 

o 

o> 

00 

1> 

CD 

CD 

OJ 

rH 

OQ 

<M 

a 

•xS 

.£ 

5 

> 

r;; 

05 

>• 

03 

05 

> 

o 

05 

o 

O) 

C3 

O 

a 

U 

a 

(-1 

B 

o 

a 

05 

D 

<o 

P4 

H 

a 

oi2i(2iai2  o; 

."S  O o o o * 


' O O O .ti 

0 o o ^ 

1 <M  CO  T-l 


238 


There  were  two  modifying  factors  in  the  above  results 
which  are  worthy  of  notice  before  discussing  this  subject.  Ex 
periments  3 and  4 of  pea  vines  removed  were  slightly*  influenced 
by  proximity  of  a large  pecan  tree.  The  injury,  however,  this 
year,  on  account  of  excessive  moisture,  being  far  less  than  last 
year  and  really  scarcely  perceptible  to  the  eye.  The  outside 
row  of  “pea  vines  buried  under”  was  last  year  cut  early  in 
October  for  seed,  while  the  rest  of  the  plat  was  not  harvested 
till  late  in  November.  From  this,  or  some  other  cause,  the  stand 
on  this  row  was  defective,  giving  low  results  to  every  experiment 
it  permeated.  The  rest  of  the  plat  was  a most  excellent  stand. 
Therefore,  in  summing  results,  due  consideration  must  be  given 
to  this  fact. 

Using  Group  3,  where  no  manure  was  used,  it  was  found 
that  the  increase  of  cane  due  to  pea  vines  buried  under  was  1.62 
tons.  This  year,  with  stubble  cane,  it  was  upon  the  same  basis 
of  reckoning  not  quite  1 ton ; but  if  we  eliminate  experiment  5 
of  the  pea  vines  buried  under,  and  use  only  the  other  experi- 
ments, we  shall  find  the  increase  over  3 tons  per  acre,  which 
more  nearly  represents  the  true  increase  due  to  the  vines  buried 
ander  in  ^86. 

In  fully  comprehending  the  import  of  above  experiments,  it 
is  necessary  to  know  the  quantity  of  each  valuable  ingredient 
used  in  each  experiment.  The  following  table  gives  the  quanti- 
ties of  each,  together  with  yields  and  increase  over  unmanured 
plats. 


Experiment  No.  1 
“ “2 

U i.  3 

“ “ 4 

a i,  y 

u <<  g 

U 9 

“ 10 


c i £ 

- 2 ^ 
5 ’S'  ^ 

O J r 

1|-i 

Pounds  of 
Potash  p<‘r 
acre. 

Average  tons 
per  acre. 

© fc. 

. 5 ^ 

S « ScfX 
© > = « 
> eS  X c3 

Excess  over 
average. 
No  manure. 

^ E 

5 ® o 

3.5 

50 

22 

21.42 

6.05 

35 

S5 

22 

23.20 

7.83 

35 

50 

21.00 

5.63 

35 

85 

23.10 

7 .73 

40 

42 

12 

23.81 

8.44 

45 

42 

12 

23.33 

7.96 

40 

42 

12 

22.98 

7-61 

42 

42 

12 

26.38 

11.01 

An  inspection  of  above  will  show  that  Potash  in  small  quan- 
tities is  without  effect  upon  these  soils.  This  is  decidedly  posi- 


239 


tive  when  it  is  reuiembered  that  two  of  the  experiments  without 
kaiuite  were  slightly  iujured  by  proximity  to  a large  tree,  and 
yet  the  average  results  of  experiments  without  and  with  Kainite 
are  about  the  same.  See  also  Plats  11.,  IV.  and  V. 

It  is  also  shown  that  excessive  <juantilies  of  Phosphoric  Acid 
have  not  been  decidedly  beneficial,  and  that  an  approach  tO' 
e<iual  parts  of  Xitrogen  and  Phosphoi  ic  xVcid  is  perhaps  the  best 
mixture  for  stubbie  cane  on  tliese  lands.  Upon  this  plat  has- 
been  used  incidentally  various  forms  of  nitrogen  alone  and  com- 
bined. Those  formulas  in  which  Sulphate  of  Ammonia  was  used 
to  furnish  wholly  or  partly  the  Aitrogen  have  given  signally  the 
best  results.  These  results  are  due  partly  to  the  slight  excess: 
of  nitrogen  in  these  formulas  and  perhaps  to  the  slightly  better 
adaptability  of  tliis  salt  for  furnishing  Nitrogen  to  cane  over 
other  forms — a fact  often  noticeable  in  our  experiments  here^- 
But  while  this  salt  shows  slightly  superior  advantages  as  a 
manure  for  cane  these  are  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the 
high  prices  which  this  article  commands — making  it  almost  pro- 
hibitory to  the  average  ] dan  ter. 

PI.AT  NO.  14— SPRING  PLANT  CANE. 

This  plat  was  in  caiie  in  ’85  and ’8(1  and  corn  and  })eas  in  ’77, 
The  peas  were  removed  for  hay.  The  ground  was  broken  in 
the  fall  of  ’87  with  4-hoi  se  plow.  It  was  planted  in  the  spring- 
Tliis  plat  was  divided  into  three  parts. 

PART  1 

was  devoted  to  nitrogenous  manures.  Former  experiments  hav- 
ing demonstrated  that  what  was  known  as  a full  ration  of  nitro- 
gen, 72  pounds  per  acre,  was  injurious  to  cane — it  was  discarded 
in  these  trials.  Only  the  one-third  ration,  24  pounds  jier  acrCy 
and  the  two-thirds  ration,  48  pounds  per  atue,  Avere  used.  OottoB 
Seed  Meal,  Fish  Scrap,  Dried  Blood,  Sulphate  of  Ammonia  and 
Nitrate  of  Soda  Avere  used  to  furnish  the  Nitrogen  and  such 
(tiiautities  of  each  Avere  taken  as  to  furnish  respectively  24  and 
4S  pounds  Nitrogen  per  acre.  These  were  combined  Avith  500 

pounds  Acid  Phosphate  and  80  jiounds  Muriate  Potash,  contain- 
ing 70  pounds  Soluble  Phosphoric  iVcid  and  40  pounds  Potash. 
This  mixture  is  called  Basal  Mixture,  and  Avas  used  alone  in 
combination  Avith  alPthi*  forms  and  quantities  of  Nitrogen.  The 
following  are  the  manures  used  with  results:' 


ftllSULTS  Oip'  PAKT  XIV— NlTKOGiiNOUS  MANURtiS— IPLANT  CANE. 


agitAV 


t ? 


|®.2 

|g| 

aS 


i 


•or;  8.1  9SOOU[0 


j iU9T0ip9 
j -09 


i X I -gsoDuxf) 

I w 

02  I 

>- 


•asoaong 


•9pi;o8 


! 'gao;  uj 
|‘9J0B  J9d  pjaiA 


X '•  ( 

'^>  • Ti  — 


'/J  • X X 


C'j  o c;  cc  t-* 

^ l— I T-.^ 

X cr.  o c; 
jc  r":  rr  <>>  cc 


X;  o Krj  »o 


r-J  CO  r-.  -O; 
cc  ro  oi  oi  th 
CO  Oi  »0  CO  'O  uO 


I.O  1-0  i.O 


'A 

X 

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o S o : 

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*kH  ^ 


■03 

S., 

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a 

o o 


. JO  ’O^  j ©»r3^»ocoi>xo50^^ 


241 


DIAGRAM. 

PART  I.  PLAT  XIV.— PLANT  CANE. 


Mixed  Minerals, 
i Cotton  Meal. 

? Yield  per  acre 26,83 

) Sucrose 13.20 

Glucose 83 

Lb>.  available  sugar 4492 

Mixed  Minerals, 
f CottoQ  Meal. 

? Yield  per  acre 26.25 

5 Sucrose 13.00 

Glucose  89 

Lbs.  available  sugar 4289 

Mixed  Minerals,  ) 
^ Fish  Scrap.  ^ 

Yield  x»er  acre 25.55 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

A VM, liable  sugar 

Mixed  Minerals. 


Yield  per  acre 19.07 

Sucrose 12.20 

Glucose 70 

Lbs.  available  sujrar 2979 


Mixed  Minerals, 
f Fish  Scrap. 


Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar. 


25.20 

12.90 

.75 

41.56 


Mixed  Minerals. 
^ Dried  Blood. 


Yield  i)er  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sujrar. 


21.81 


Mixed  Minerals, 
t Dried  Blood. 


Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose  

Glucose 

Lbs.  available  sugar. 


22.75 

13.20 

.81 

3822 


Mixed  Minerals, 

. i Sulphate  Ammonia. 


Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 


23.80 

13.1 

.79 

3975 


Mixed  Minerals, 
f Sulphate  Ammonia. 


Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar. 


23.56 

13.40 

.80 

4029 


10 


11 


12 


No  Manure. 


Yield  per  acre *. . 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

libs,  available  su^ar. 


17.87 

12.60 

.65 

2913 


Mixed  Minerals, 
i Nitrate  Soda 


Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar. 


20.55 

12.90 

.62 

3411 


Mixed  Minerals, 
f Nitrate  Soda. 


Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Lbs.  available  sugar. 


24.85 

11.60 

.72 

3653 


242 


COMPAKISON  OF  RESULTS. 


Yield  of  umnanured  plat 

..  17.87 

Excess  over 
nnfertilized  plat. 

Excess  over 
Mixed  Minerals. 

“ Mixed  Minerals  plat. 

..  19.07 

1.20  tons. 

7.76 

“ i ration  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

..  26.83 

8.96 

6.48 

“ ^ “ Ftsli  Scrap 

..  25.55 

7.68 

6.58 

“ ^ “ Dried  Blood 

..  21.81 

3.94 

2.94 

“ ^ “ Sulphate  Ammonia  .. . 

..  23.80 

5.93 

4.73 

“ ^ “ Nitrate  Soda 

..  20.55 

2.68 

1.48 

Average  of  all  the  ^ rations 

. 23.71 

5.84 

4.64 

Yield  of  f ration  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

..  26.25 

8.38 

7.18 

“ f “ Fish  Scrap 

..  25.20 

7.33 

6.13 

“ f “ Dried  Blood 

..  22.75 

4.88 

3.68 

“ f Sulphate  Ammonia  . . 

..  23.. 56 

5.69 

4.49 

“ f “ Nitrate  Soda 

f 

Average  of  all  the  f rations 

..  24.85 

6.98 

5.78 

..  24., 52 

6.65 

5.45 

I 


It  is  apparent  from  the  above  that  no  form  of  Nitrogen  is 
greatly  superior  as  cane  food  to  the  others — a fact  hitherto 
noticed  in  our  results.  While  Cotton  Seed  Meal  has  given 
slightly  the  best  results,  it  was  also  apparent  early  in  the 
season  that  it  occupied  a most  favorable  position,  while  Sulphate 
of  Ammonia  and  Dried  Blood  were  unfavorably  situated.  The 
results  clearly  show  that  any  of  above  forms  of  Nitrogen  can  be 
safely  used  by  our  sugar  planters  so  far  as  availability  is  con- 
cerned, and  the  only  question  now  for  them  to  consider  is  their 
relative  cost.  That  form  which  gives  us  Nitrogen  at  the  least 
cost  is,  perhaps,  the  most  desrable  for  cane. 

Another  feature  of  above  experiments  is  worthy  of  note. 
Last  year,  under  most  favorable  seasons,  it  was  shown  that  72 
lbs,  of  Nitrogen  per  acre  were  excessive  and  extravagant.  This 
year,  with  an  extraordinary  amount  of  rainfall  and  with  a 
limited  growth,  48  lbs.  per  acre  have  not  been  productive  of 
largely  increased  yields  over  24  lbs.  The  average  of  yields  from 
J rations  (24  lbs.  per  acre)  is  23.71  tons  per  acre,  while  that  of  | 
rations  (48  lbs.  per  acre(  is  only  24.52  tons,  or  an  excess  of  only 
.81  ton.  This  shows  that  during  the  season  just  ended  that  the 


243 


Ciuie  was  unable  to  appropriate  more  Kitrogeu  than  that  con" 
taiued  in  350  lbs.  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  and  that  the  excess 
applied  above  this  quantity  is  still  unused  in  the  soil  and  may 
be  counted  on  as  reserved  food  for  the  coming  year.  But  this 
was  with  plant  cane,  following  a previous  crop,  on  land  in  every 
fiiir  tilth. 

PART  II. 

This  part  of  Plat  XIV.  was  devoted  to  the  trial  of  various 
formulas  hitherto  given  to  the  public  as  adapted  to  cane, 

Xo.  13,  cojisisting  of  280  Ihs  Nitrate  of  Potash, 

650  tbs  Acid  Phosphate, 

510  lbs  Gypsum, 

is  proscribed  by  Prof.  George  Ville,  of  the  Government  School 
at  Vincennes,  Prance,  as  specially  adapted  to  plant  cane.  It  is 
an  expensive  compound  and  experience  here  has  shown  excessive 
in  Phosphoric  Acid  and  deficient  in  Nitrogen. 

No.  14  is  a formula  prescribed  by  the  Experiment  Station 

upon  St.  T)enis,  upon  the  island  of  Reunion  (formerly  Bourbon) 
and  is  highly  endorsed  by  the  planters  of  this  island  and  Mau- 
ritius. It  too  is  expensive  and  the  quantity  per  acre  much  in 
excess  of  the  ordinary  requirements  of  our  orops.  It  is  as 
follows : 

\ 140  tbs  Sulphate  of  Ammonia, 

I 100  “ Nitrate  of  Soda, 

No.  14  ^ 120  Dried  Blood, 

I 560  “ Acid  Phosphate, 

80  “ Muriate  Potash. 

Here  the  Nitrogen  is  presented  in  three  forms,  which  Es 
believed  to  best  meet  the  requirements  of  the  plants. 

Nos.  15,  16  and  17  are  special  manures  made  for  cane  crops 
by  the  Agio  Continental  (late  Ohlendorff^s  Guano  Works,  15 
Leadenhall  sti'eet,  London,  E.  C;  They  are  styled  : 

Ohlendorff^s  “A”  Special  Cane  Manure. 

Ohlendorff’s  “B”  Early  Cane  Manure. 

OhleudorflPs  “C”  Dissolved  Peruvian  Guano. 


244 


They  are  all  first-class  goods,  as  the  analyses  elsewhere  will 
'Sliow.  The  Xitrogeii  of  these  goods  is  in  form  of  Aiuinonia  and 
organic  matter.  They  were  applied  to  Experiments  Xos.  15,  16 
and  17  respectively,  and  at  rate  of  600  fts  i)er  acre  of  each.  Mr. 
C.  C.  Crawford,  Xo.  6 Tchoupitoiilas  street,  New  Orleans,  is 
agent  for  sale  of  these  wares  and  the  Station  is  indebted  to  him 
for  the  goods  used  in  these  experiments. 

The  following  is  the  diagram  and  table  of  result  of  these 
4rials : 


i)1agra:m  of  part  ii.— flat  xiv. 

PLANT  CANE. 


Viilii’.s  I’onunla.  Yield  per  ncic 26.01 


Sucrose lo.20 

Glucose 84 

Lbs.  avuilab’c  sugar 4357 


14  St.  Denis  Formula.  Yield  per  acre 30.05 

Sucrose 13.10 

Glucose 90 

Lbs  available  sugar 4943 


15  Ohieudorf’s  I Yield  per  acre 29.16 

Special  Cane  Manure.  S Sucrose  Il.i70 

Glucose * 90 

Lbs.  available  sugar 4225 


IG  Ohlendorfs  I Yield  per  acre ■ 24.73 

E.arly  Cane  Manure.  ^ Sucrose 12.40 

Glucose 91 

Lbs.  available  sugar 3825 


A7  Ohlendorfs  Dissolved  / Yield  per  acre 22.00 

Peruvian  Guano.  ^ Sucrose 15.70 

Glucose 85 

Lbs.  available  sugar 3527 


4 


I 


KESULT8  OF  FAKT  11.  FLAT  XIV.— PLANT  CANE. 


[)0|S'0A.n!H  ii^qAV 


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“ C ” Dissolved  Peruvian  Guauo 22.00  14 .5  12.7  .65  87  5«  6.69  160  2527 


246 


The  St.  Denis  formula  has  given  the  largest  yields  in  this 
plat.  It  furnished  00  lbs.  Nitrogen,  78  lbs.  Phosphoric  Acid, 
and  40  lbs.  Potash  to  the  acre,  and  was  compounded  out  of  the 
materials  used  elsewhere  on  this  plat.  Ohlendorh’s  A’’  gave 
the  next  largest  tonnage,  it  furnished  45  lbs.  Nitrogen  (in  form 
of  Sulphate  of  Ammonia),  and  about  05  lbs.  Phosphoric  Acid 
and  20  lbs.  Potash. 

PART  III— PLAT  XIV. 


The  object  of  this  part  of  the  plat  Avas  to  determine,  if  pos- 
sible, the  i)roportions  in  Avhich  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  Acid 
Phosphate  should  be  mixed  to  give  the  best  results  on  plant 
cane. 

Cotton  Seed  Meal  has  been  used  alone  on  Experiment  18. 
In  the  other  experiments  it  has  been  combined  in  such  propor- 
tions Avith  Acid  Phosphate  as  to  give  the  following  ratios  of 
Nitrogen  to  Phosphoric  Acid,  viz  : 1 — 3,  1 — 2,  1 — 1,  2 — 1,  and. 
3 — 1.  In  this  combination  no  account  has  been  taken  .of  sraaU 
amount  of  Phosphoric  Acid  in  Cotton  Seed  Meal  or  of  the  still 
smaller  amount  in  the  insoluble  form  in  the  Phosphate.  The 
Nitragen  is  reckoned  at  7 per  cent  in  the  Meal  and  the  Soluble 
Phosphoric  Acid  at  14  per  cent,  in  the  Phosphate.  The 
combination  was  used  at  rate  of  750  lbs  per  acre.  The  following 
are  the  quantities  used: 


Experiment  No.  18 — 
“ “ 19— 

“ “ 20— 

“ 21— 
“ 22— 

“ “ 23— 

“ “ 24— 


650  pounds  Cotton  Sted  Meiil. 


^ 300 

I 450  “ 

\ 375  “ 

i 375  “ 

Nothing. 


II  is  ii 

Acid  Pbospliate  5 
Cot.  Seed  Meal  ( 
Acid  Phosphaie  ^ 


Nitrogen  1 to  Phos.  Acid  3 
“ Ito  “ 2 


< 500  pounds  Cot.  Seed  Meal  ( 
\ 250  “ Acid  Phosphate  ( 

( 600  “ Cot.  Seed  Meal  \ 

^1.50  “ Acid  Phosphate  ) 

) 650  “ ' Cot.  Seed  Meal  ) 

( 100  “ Acid  Phosphate  5 


‘‘  1 to  “ ‘‘  1 

“ 2 to  “ “ 1 

“ 3 to  “ “ 1 


This  portion  of  plat  was  left  in  the  field  till  January  11th  in 
order  to  test  diffusion  on  standing  frosted  cane.  It  was  kilLe^tl 
by  the  frost  of  December  17th,  but  not  seriously  injured.  Its. 
sugar  content  was  intact  when  wmrked. 


247 


DIAGRAM  OF  PART  111— PLAT  XIV. 


iS 


19 


*20 


21 


22 


•23 


24 


C 'ttoii  Meal  (alone).  Yield  per  acre 18.69 

Siiciccse 11.90 

Gluco-e .71 

Lbs.  a vailable  sugar 2839 

Nitrogen  1 Yield  pm*  acre 19.48 

to  Sucrose 14.20 

Phosphoric  Acid  3.  Glucose 39 

Lbs.  available  sugar 3623 


iNitrogeu  1 Yield  pe,r  ac  e 20.07 

I to  Sucrose 14.80 

Phos[)horic  Acid  2.  Gl.icose 56 

Lbs.  available  sugar 3914 


No  Manure.  Yield  per  acre 16.97 

Sucrose 11,40 

Glucose 76 

Lbs.  available  sugar 2435 


Nitrogi-n  1 Yield  per  acre 22.75 

to  Sucro.se 12.20 

Phosphoric  Acid  1,  Glucose 75 

Lbs.  available  sugar . 3536 


Nitrogen  2 Yield  per  acre 24.50 

to  Sucrose 13.40 

Phosjihoric  Acid  1.  Glucose 71 

Lbs.  available  sugar 4241 


Nitrogen  3 Yield  per  acre 33.80 

to  Sucrose 13.40 

Pho.spboric  Acid  1.  Glucose 78 

Lbs.  available  sugar 4082 


RESULTS  OF  PART  III— PLAT  XIV.  PLANT  CANE. 


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249 


SUMMARY  OF  RESULTS. 

The  year  just  closed  lias  served  to  emphasize,  in  a most 
liositive  manner,  the  deductions  of  former  years,  ^ever  before 
have  iiroperly  compounded  manures  exhibited  such  results  in 
tonnage  and  sugar  content.  This  is  easily  explained  by  refer- 
ence to  the  weather  table  at  the  end  of  this  bulletin,  showing- 
one  of  the  wettest  seasons  ever  knoAvn.  Early  in  May  the  rains 
began,  forcing  the  roots  of  the  cane  near  the  surface,  thus  re- 
stricting their  foraging  areas.  Those  plants  which  were  properly 
manured  grew  Avell  dcA^eloped  stalks,  despite  the  limited  areas, 

' wet  weather  and  unfavorable  seasons  ; while  those  unmanured? 
limited  in  all  their  resources,  made  small  and  Avatery  stalks. 
It  has  not  been,  however,  a year  of  heaA^y  tonnage  or  large 
sugar  content ; but  pre-eminently  one  of  Ioav  glucose  content, 
thereby  making  nearly  all  of  the  sugar  present  aAmilable.  The 
experiments  here  are  sufficiently  pronounced  in  their  results  to 
convince  the  most  skeptical  of  the  efficacy  ot  manures  on  cane, 
when  they  are  properly  compounded  and  intelligently  applied. 

Many  of  the  questions  last  year  were  propoqnded  to  plant 
cane,  with  satisfactory  replies.  This  year  the  stubble  has  been 
permitted  a hearing,  and  its  replj"  is  fully  in  accord  Avith  the 
recorded  eAudence  of  the  plant  cane.  Let  us  hear  the  yeaUs 
testimony. 

1st.  That  the  upj)er  portion  of  the  cane  is  the  equal,  if  not 
the  superior,  to  the  loAver  part,  giving  uumistakeable  evidence 
of  this  both  in  its  tirst  and  second  years’  growth. 

2ud.  That  there  was  but  little  diffierence  in  the  stubble  of 
those  plats  Avhereon  different  number  of  stalks  Avere  used  in 
idantiug. 

3d.  That  seed  from  good  first  year  stubble  has  given  as 
good  results  the  first  and  second  year  as  seed  from  plant. 

4th.  Conclusively  that  stubbles  (rattoous)  come  equally  as 
well  (and  i^erhaps  better)  from  the  original  sprouts  as  from 
.suckers. 

5th.  That  ^^^itrogen  in  some  form  is  badly  needed  by  our 
soils  to  groAA^  cane,  and  while  Sulphate  of  Ammonia  furnishes  it 
in  a form  slightly  better  adapted  to  our  wants,  there  is,  how- 


250 


•ever,  no  marked  superiority  over  any  of  the  leading  forms ; a 
gratifying  fact,  permitting  the  use  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  a cheap 
home  product,  instead  of  an  expensive  imported  article. 

6th.  That  excessive  quantities  of  Nitrogen  are  ahvays  injur- 
ious to  sugar  content,  and  this  year  have  only  been  partially 
'Utilized  by  the  crop,  suggesting  waste  and  extravagance.  Quan- 
tities varying  from  21  to  42  lbs.  (that  which  is  found  in  from  300 
to  600  lbs.  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal)  to  the  acre,  are  strongly  sug- 
gested as  the  limits  of  profitable  production  by  the  experiments 
•of  the  past  three  years.  However,  to  produce  maximum  results. 
Nitrogen  should  be  properly  combined  with  Mineral  Manures. 

7th.  The  Mineral  Manures  alone  are  without  decided  effects 
(save  on  new  grounds  and  pea  vine  fallows,  and  often  here  much 
improved  by  proper  combination  with  Nitrogen),  but  combined 
properly  with  Nitrogen,  are  productive  of  the  highest  results. 

8th.  That  the  Phosphoric  Acid  needed  by  our  soils  is  best 
supplied  in  the  soluble  form  as  Acid  or  Superphosphate.  The 
insoluble  forms  in  Charleston  Floats,  Orchella  and  Grand  Cay- 
man Guanos,  seem  also  to  be  available  after  awhile ; the  time 
vdepending  upon  character  of  soil  and  fineness  of  fertilizer. 

9th.  That  excessive  quantities  of  Phosphoric  Acid,  while  not 
beneficial,  are  not,  as  commonly  supposed,  lost — since  this  sub- 
-stance,  neither  leaching  nor  evaporating,  may  serve  the  plant 
in  the  future.  The  practice  of  supplying  excessive  quantities  to 
the  plant  is  , to  say  the  least,  not  economical.  The  limits  of  pro- 
vfi table  production  seem  to  be  between  40-75  lbs.  per  acre. 

10th.  That  Potash*  under  any  form,  in  small  quantities,  is 
without  visible  effect  either  upon  tonnage  or  sugar  content ; but 
when  used  in  excessive  quantities  for  several  years  upon  same 
soil,  has  given  increased  tonnage  without  enhancing  the  sugar 
•content. 

11th.  That  the  influence  of  a crop  ol  pea  vines  turned  under 
is  more  perceptible  to  the  stubble  than  to  the  plant  cane. 

12th.  That  draining  lands  by  tiles  has  increased  the  yields 
'in  ’86-87  by  about  35  per  cent  and  ’88  by  50  per  cent. 

13th.  That  the  effects  of  tiles  are  yearly  increasing  and  are 
-now  ijerceptible  in  adjoining  plats. 

14th.  That  growing  cane  in  narrow  rows  has  given  this  year  . 


251 


increased  conn  age  and  sugarage  per  acre,  and  is  wortiiy  of  fni'- 
ther  investigation. 

loth.  That  the  station  has  this  year  grown  forty -eight 
varieties  of  foreign  cane,  some  of  which  are  full  of  promise. 

With  these  deductions  the  intelligent  planter  can  easily 
formulate  a manure  adapted  to  his  soil  and  crop.  If  his  lands 
are  fresh  or  have  just  been  in  pea  vines,  his  jdant  cane  will  need 
only  small  quantities  of  Nitrogen,  but  a goodly  portion  of  Phos- 
phoric Acid.  One  part  of  Nitrogen  to  two  parts  of  Phosphoric 
Acid  will  i)robably  be  the  best  proportion  for  his  mixture*^ 
These  are  obtained  by  mixing  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  a 14  per 
cent  Acid  Phosphate  in  equal  parts. 

On  succession  c.ane,  or  stubble  cane,  or  even  plant  cane 
upon  poor  or  black  stiff  lands,  more  Nitrogen  is  required,  and- 
the  quantity  should  be  increased  just  in  proportion  to  the 
poverty  or  stiffness  of  the  land  and  the  age  of  the  stubble. 
Nitrogen  may  equal,  or  even  greatly  exceed,  the  Phosphoric 
Acid.  A mixture  of  two  i)arts  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal  to  one  part 
of  Acid  Phosphate  furnishes  Nitrogen  and  Phosphoric  Acid  in 
about  equal  parts;  while  three  parts  of  Meal  and  one  of  Acid 
Phosphate  will  give  one  and  a-half  times  more  Nitrogen  than 
Phosphoric  Acid — a mixture  very  desirable  sometimes  upon  old 
stubble  or  land  long  subjected  to  continuous  (succession)  cane 
Under  no  circumstances  ought  the  above  mixtures  to  be  used  in< 
quantities  larger  than  900  lbs.  per  acre,  and  it  is  highly  desir- 
able that  the  minimum  limit  should  not  fall  below  500  lbs. 
More  than  this  maximum  quantity  cannot  be  assimilated  by  the 
cane  plant  prior  to  the  desired  time  of  maturing,  viz.,  early  in 
September.  Less  than  the^^minimum  quantity  gives  an  early 
vigor  of  leaf  and  root  to  the  young  plant,  which  is  too  soon 
summarily  checked  by  the  exhaustion  of  the  manure,  and  the 
plant  either  i)rematurely  ripens  or  languishes  into  a slow  and 
unhealthy  growth. 

In  the  application  of  manure  great  care  should  be  exercised: 
that  it  becomes  as  thoroughly  mixed  with  the  soil  as  possible. 
It  is  advisable  to  apply,  at  least,  a portion  of  the  manure  under 
the  cane  at  the  time  of  planting.  Phosphatic  and  Potassic- 
manures  can  then  be  used  with  impunity,  for  they  neither  leaefe 


252 


nor  evaporate.  Indeed,  it  is  positively  asserted  that  Potassic 
manures,  to  succeed  best,  should  always  be  applied  several 
months  before  needed  by  the  plant.  Only  Nitrogen  manures 
suffer  loss  by  leaching,  and  hence  a portion  of  these  may  with 
propriety  be  withheld  till  the  cultivation  of  the  plant.  How- 
ever, in  our  soils,  the  leaching  out  of  Nitrates  is  done  in  such 
small  quantities  as  to  elicit  little  or  no  uneasiness.  As  a rule, 
Phosphatic  and  Potassic  manures,  particularly  the  latter,  should 
be  put  at  the  depth  required  by  the  roots  of  the  plants.  They 
become  fixed  as  soon  as  they  come  in  contact  with  the  soil. 
While  Nitrogenous  manures  should  always  be  placed  above  the 
roots  of  the  plant,  since  they  have  a tendency  downward,  some 
of  them  are  best  applied  as  top  dressing,  while  all  do  best  when 
not  buried  too  dee])ly. 

Below  is  appended  the  analyses  of  the  different  fertilizers 
used  in  the  above  described  experiments.  They  are  inserted 
with  the  double  i)urpose,  first,  of  giving  to  the  professional 
student  the  exact  data  for  working  up  accurately  the  above  re- 
cited experiments,  and  second,  of  familiarizing  our  planters  with 
the  names  and  composition  of  the  various  fertilizers  now  on  our 
market.  The  monthly  record  of  the  weather  for  the  year  1888, 
together  with  a condensed  statement  of  tlie  year,  is  also  given. 
A close  examination  of  these  tables  will  materially  aid  in  ex- 
plaining the  crop  results  of  the  past  year. 


ANALYSIS  OF  FERTILIZERS  USED  BY  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION  IN  YEAR  188S. 


CC  (M  fC  X)  IM 


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254 


KECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FOR  JANUARY,  1888. 


Date. 

Tempekatuee.  . 

Rainfall. 

£ 

2 

rt 

5 

5 

2 

s 

1 Indies. 

5 

. 

di 

« 

■£ 

Ci 

cc 

05 

1 

50° 

50° 

43° 

.51° 

32° 

.35 

2 

42 

55 

40 

55 

33 

3 

46 

62 

46 

62 

41 

4 

56 

72 

66 

72 

62 

.5 

66 

77 

68 

77 

65 

(■) 

68 

75 

68 

77 

66 

7 

70 

74 

68 

76 

65 

8 

69 

75 

63 

77 

55 

9 

58 

56 

51 

58 

44 

.64 

10 

45 

49 

48 

49 

39 

.76 

11 

46 

50 

48 

50 

45 

12 

58 

72 

68 

74 

60 

13 

64 

68 

57 

69 

55 

14 

69 

73 

70 

75 

67 

1.5 

71 

70 

45 

76 

36 

16 

38 

48 

42 

48 

37 

17 

47 

56 

52 

57 

33 

18 

37 

43 

36 

43 

28 

.20 

19 

32 

43 

34 

45 

30 

20 

49 

56 

53 

59 

45 

1.55 

21 

65 

68 

57 

69 

52 

22 

56 

57 

54 

57 

23 

24 

25 

54 

63 

55 

63 

.24 

26 

51 

52 

53 

60 

46 

27 

54 

63 

52 

67 

39 

28 

51 

60 

45 

29 

58 

65 

53 

ei 

38 

30 

51 

70 

60 

70 

47 

, 

31 

51 

60 

62 

69 

42 

Aver. 

54.2 

61.7 

54 

3.77 

Maximum  Temperature,  77^. 
Minimum  “ 30°. 


Daily  Rainfall,  .12. 


255 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERlMEN'r  STATION: 
FOR  FEBRUARY,  1888. 


Date. 

Temper  ATUKE. 

Rainfall. 

S 

Si 

s 

5 

s 

a 

- 

Inches. 

rO 

cS 

ci, 

p. 

x 

as 

.5 

rM 

■ri 

cc 

“Zs 

S 

S 

1 

60° 

69° 

60° 

72° 

54° 

2 

62 

63 

63 

63 

52 

3 

63 

65 

59  1 

63 

61 

1. 

4 

55 

63 

58  1 

65 

53 

5 

56 

65 

58  j 

65 

51 

.:15 

(i 

54 

57 

54  ! 

1 57 

50 

7 

53 

65 

58  i 

: 67 

47 

8 

55 

69 

61  j 

i 69 

56 

9 

61 

74 

66  ! 

1 

56 

10 

67 

73  1 

i 65 

73 

64 

11 

61 

72 

61 

72 

60 

1 . 13 

12 

47 

57 

50 

57 

45 

13 

53 

65 

53 

65 

44 

14 

55 

71 

60 

71 

45 

1.5 

65 

65 

60 

67 

52 

16 

59 

60 

55 

62 

48 

17 

60 

55 

55 

65 

49 

18 

53 

68 

61 

70 

46 

19 

67 

70 

65 

73 

50 

20 

66 

, 65 

60 

66 

54 

C 

21 

58 

59 

58 

59 

56 

< 2.95 

22 

60 

61 

58 

61 

56 

23 

63 

63 

58 

2.20 

24 

62 

■ 63 

55 

67 

60 

2.17 

25 

57 

63 

53 

64 

47 

26 

55 

62 

50 

62 

47 

27 

53 

55 

45 

56 

40 

28 

42 

57 

44 

57 

37 

29 

56 

68 

54 

68 

39 

Aver. 

57.6 

64.2 

57.6 

9.80 

Maximum  Temperatiiio,  76°. 
Minimum  “ 37°. 


D:i,ily  Rainfall,  .316. 


256 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUOAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FOR  MARCH,  1888. 


Date. 

Temperature. 

Rainfa  ll. 

March. 

i 

cc 

a 

1 

1 

S 

s 

a 

p 

‘a 

S 

Inches. 

1 

61° 

76° 

63° 

77° 

50° 

2 

70 

76 

63 

77 

54 

3 

65 

75 

78 

56 

4 

78 

1. 

5 

57 

.59 

55 

59 

55 

6 

51 

59 

52 

59 

46 

7 

43 

57 

53 

59 

41 

8 

47 

61 

49 

61 

40 

y 

58 

70 

64 

71 

45 

10 

67 

75 

65 

76 

61 

.03 

11 

50 

53 

48 

54 

44 

j 

12 

46 

55 

49 

55 

40 

i 

13 

48 

60 

50 

I 64 

36 

i 

14 

54 

65 

51 

66 

41 

1 

15 

54 

60 

51 

1 60 

46 

i 

16 

50 

68 

55 

68 

37 

{ 

17 

55 

74 

62 

74 

47 

18 

62 

77 

65 

77 

50 

19 

67 

65 

63 

69 

62 

1 . 55 

20 

68 

76 

60 

76 

61 

.03 

21 

50 

62 

55 

62 

43 

22 

50 

57 

47 

57 

45 

23 

56 

64 

53 

65 

40 

24 

63 

67 

65 

69 

49 

.30* 

25 

70 

74 

70 

74 

61 

.92 

26 

72 

74 

70 

76 

56 

1.42 

27 

72 

76 

71 

76 

68 

.08 

28 

71 

68 

59 

76 

69 

.46 

■ 29 

55 

66 

60 

67 

52 

30 

62 

74 

63 

74 

53 

31 

65 

77 

65 

78 

55 

Aver. 

57 

65 

55. 

5.79 

Maximum  Temperature,  78°.  Daily  Rainfall,  ,18. 

Minimum  “ 36°. 


257 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

FOR  APRIL,  1888. 


Date. 

Temperature. 

Rainfall. 

April.  j 

1 

9 a.  m.  j 

i 2 
d> 

CO 

oi 

i 

g 

_g 

CS 

g 

p 

3 

'3 

Inches. 

1 

67° 

780 

700 

780 

610 

2 

72 

79 

70 

79 

66 

3 

75 

81 

68 

82 

63 

4 

71 

83 

73 

83 

64 

5 

77 

84 

74 

84 

69 

G 

74 

■ 84 

84 

67 

7 

84 

74 

85 

67 

8 

77 

86 

81 

67 

9 

75 

81 

' 72 

81 

67 

10 

75 

81 

70 

82 

j 64 

11 

76 

82 

69 

' 83 

63 

.13 

12 

66 

65 

62 

66 

65 

.23 

13 

65 

74 

62 

74 

14 

66 

76  , 

63 

77 

1 

56 

15 

70 

79 

67 

80 

55 

16 

72 

81 

66 

81  j 

1 56 

17 

72 

81 

68 

81 

56 

18 

73 

77 

68 

78  i 

58 

19 

75 

83 

70 

84 

65 

20 

75 

81 

73 

83  1 

63 

21 

67 

73 

65 

73 

58 

22 

74 

80 

70  1 

81 

54 

23 

76  . 

85 

68  ! 

85 

60 

.52 

24 

66 

69 

65  i 

71 

63 

.03 

25 

74 

74 

67  , 

74 

58 

26 

72 

72 

66  1 

73 

64 

27 

73 

75 

66 

75 

62 

28 

75 

78 

70  1 

79 

60 

29 

77 

75 

70  ! 

82 

60 

30 

70 

80 

69 

80 

66 

Aver. 

72.3 

78.7 

69.2  i 

1 

.91 

Maximum  Temperature,  85°.  Daily  Raiufall,“.029. 

Minimum  “ 549. 


258 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
' FOR  MAY,  1888. 


Date. 

Tempej:ati' 

RE. 

Rainfall. 

d 

P 

3 

p 

2 

Inches. 

pH 

Ph 

S 

Ci 

cc 

Pi 

S 

1 

67° 

75° 

66° 

75° 

58° 

2 

78 

81 

69 

83 

54 

5 

74 

83 

74 

63 

58 

4 

80 

75 

70 

81 

65 

5 

77 

70 

67 

80 

65 

() 

72 

68 

72 

82 

64 

.79 

7 

77 

70 

77 

80 

68 

.61 

8 

78 

84 

75 

85 

60 

9 

78  1 

83 

75 

! 84 

63 

10 

81 

69 

70 

i 89 

68 

11 

78 

HI 

68 

i 86 

68 

1.10 

12 

80 

79 

75 

' 87 

()4 

.(54 

13 

‘ 71 

78 

68 

78 

<53 

14 

' 79 

87 

73 

' 89 

58 

15 

i 75 

82 

72 

1 83 

62 

16 

1 80 

85 

72 

i 88 

(52 

17 

i 83 

84 

75 

88 

66 

18 

1 82 

86 

76 

I 90 

67 

19 

83 

73 

70 

1 83 

(59 

3.30 

20 

74 

80 

75 

! 80 

66 

1.22 

21 

76 

82 

74 

82 

63 

22 

:9 

84 

75 

88 

(58 

‘42 

79 

85 

75 

86 

6(5 

24 

81 

67 

69 

88 

67 

1.14 

25 

81 

69 

74 

87 

64 

1..53 

26 

79 

85 

: 77 

87 

65 

27 

83 

85 

77 

90 

71 

28 

87 

80 

76 

92 

72 

29 

82 

74 

i 

90 

70 

30 

82 

76 

' 72 

8.5 

68 

1.44 

31 

74 

80 

i 

80 

67 

Aver. 

78.7 

78.7 

72.7 

11.77 

Maximum  Temperature,  92°.  Daily  Rainfall,  .:I79. 

Miuimum  “ 54°. 


259 


KECOKD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STAITON 

FOR  JUNE,  1888. 


Datk. 

Temper  ATriiiE. 

Rainfall. 

I 

1 

1 

S 

1 

1 I 

Inches. 

ci 

Z-i 

p'l 

c; 

CTi 

rc 

Ci 

JS 

1 

81° 

7,5° 

89° 

65° 

2 

81 

84° 

74 

8,5 

66 

3 

80 

83 

76 

83 

70 

4 

/ 1 

79 

75 

85 

66 

5 

82 

66 

6 

86 

74 

74 

88 

70 

2.:  54 

7 

82 

83 

74 

83 

()7 

8 

84 

76 

77 

89 

67 

0 

80 

84 

77 

89 

70 

10 

87 

87 

77 

91 

69 

11 

85 

87 

7H 

91 

71 

12 

84 

87 

78 

89 

78 

lo 

84 

86 

76 

i 90 

72 

.75 

14 

78 

75 

76 

81 

72 

.10 

15 

84 

84 

76 

' 89 

! 72 

.89 

16 

87 

82 

77 

ft7 

i '2 

.21 

17 

83 

81 

76 

85 

73 

.94 

18 

81 

84 

77 

1 86 

72 

.28 

19 

84 

81 

77 

86 

74 

.16 

20  1 

! 84 

87 

80 

90 

75 

21  1 

80 

82 

79 

85 

76 

.16 

22  I 

81 

81 

76 

91 

76 

.79 

23 

84 

79 

76 

87 

73 

.52 

24 

84 

79 

76  • 

92 

73 

'.1)1 

25 

85 

77 

76 

91 

73 

.83 

26 

76 

78 

75 

80 

73 

.40 

27 

79  ! 

86 

82 

87 

71 

28 

85  j 

90 

82 

91 

76 

29 

78 

88  i 

81 

90 

73 

.31 

:0 

88  1 

89 

83 

92 

76 

Aver. 

82.4 

80.1  1 

77.1 

8.69 

Maximum  Temperature,  '.>2°.  Daily  Rainfall, 

Minimum  ' 65°. 


\ 


260 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

FOR  JULY,  1888. 


1 c 

July.  1 ^ 

Temperatube. 

Rainfall. 

a 

c3 

a 

a 

9 p.  m. 

a 

a 

a 

:8 

Minimum. 

Inches. 

1 

84° 

. 85° 

84° 

93° 

73° 

2 

89 

83 

81 

92 

74 

f> 

89 

84 

80 

89 

74 

.28 

4 

86 

84 

80 

87 

74 

.17 

.5 

87 

85 

81 

87 

75 

.18 

86 

89 

81 

92 

74 

.01 

7 

86 

85 

79 

92 

75 

1.28 

8 

90 

87 

78 

94 

74 

.18 

9 

: 8!> 

89 

81 

9:5 

74 

.10 

10 

! 85 

82 

82 

93 

75 

.0-2 

11 

i 85 

84 

82 

87 

75 

.77 

12 

85 

1 88 

83 

94 

76 

.52 

El 

87 

I 92 

80 

95 

76 

14 

87 

93 

80 

97 

77 

1.5 

88 

84 

84 

98 

77 

16 

90 

80 

78 

98 

78 

.20 

17 

86  1 

86 

79 

88 

75 

.16 

18 

84  i 

86 

80 

89 

74 

.95 

19 

86 

83 

80 

89 

73  . 

.10 

20 

81 

87 

73 

21 

83 

88 

78 

89 

73 

22 

84 

80 

93 

72 

23 

89 

92 

81 

93 

72 

24 

80 

91 

82 

97 

75 

25 

86 

92 

80 

95 

75 

26 

91 

92 

83 

94 

27 

86 

88 

78 

97 

76 

.03 

28 

90 

87 

92 

71 

29 

88 

91 

82 

94 

73 

.01 

30 

88 

92 

83 

94 

75 

31 

96 

81 

80 

96 

77 

.42 

Aver. 

00 

81 

78 

1 

1 

5.49 

Maximum  Temperature,  98°.  Daily  Rainfall,  .18. 

Minimum  71°. 


5 


261 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  Sl’ATION 
FOR  AUGUST,  1888. 


Date. 

Temperature  . 

Rainfall. 

a 

j 

-♦-3 

? ! 

05 

a 

2 

2 

a 

.a 

Inches. 

bt) 

a 1 

03 

c3 

£ 

< 

05 

cc 

05 

S 

^ ! 

1 

39°  . 

94° 

80° 

95° 

74° 

.02 

2 

90 

84 

81 

95 

76 

.45 

3 

88 

79 

78 

92 

77 

.60 

4 

86 

86 

79 

89 

75 

.10 

5 

86 

82 

80 

9:5 

74 

.15 

() 

8() 

84 

82 

94 

75 

7 

87 

83 

80 

94 

74  i 

.28 

8 

73 

82 

79 

82 

71 

1." 

9 

84 

83 

78 

89 

70 

.02 

10 

84 

80 

79 

91 

72 

11 

84 

83 

79 

89 

71 

12 

79 

81 

79 

83 

73 

.11 

13 

83 

87 

80 

: 88 

73 

14 

83 

80 

76 

87 

73 

15 

75 

75 

75 

: 76 

72 

3.90 

16 

81 

83 

78 

86 

72 

..50 

17 

82 

88 

80 

88 

73 

18 

81 

83 

78 

86  . 

76 

.04 

19 

77 

75 

75. 

87 

73 

2.91 

20 

86 

77 

77 

80 

74 

1.75 

21 

8(i 

81 

79 

87 

76 

.02 

22 

87 

82 

77 

87 

87 

.03 

23 

86 

83 

77 

89 

74 

.01 

24 

79 

80 

77 

83 

73 

1.50 

25 

80 

77 

77 

83 

73 

.38 

26 

82 

85 

80 

87 

73 

.02 

27 

83 

84 

80 

88 

72 

28 

82 

79 

79 

89 

75 

1.20 

29 

82 

84 

79 

87 

74 

30 

85 

77 

78 

86 

76 

.51 

31 

85 

78 

77 

86 

73 

Aver. 

83.2 

82 

78.4 

15.80 

1 

Max.J'unr*  Temperature.  95°.  Daily  RaiiitaP,  .509. 

^ ,!  »n  * 7(lC 


262 


RF.CORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FOR  SEPTEMBER,  1888. 


Date. 


Temperature. 


Rainfall. 


September. 

g 

ci 

a 

g 

CO 

a 

d 

a 

Maximum. 

Minimum. 

» 

Inches. 

1 

80^ 

85° 

79° 

86° 

740 

2 

79 

80 

77 

85 

73 

3 

80 

78 

76 

88 

74 

.19 

4 

87 

79 

77 

87 

72 

1.60 

5 

82 

85 

80 

86 

73 

0 

81 

88 

80 

89 

75 

7 

88 

85 

79 

88 

75 

.72 

8 

82 

85 

79 

87 

73 

9 

79 

80 

70 

8() 

74 

.02 

10 

82 

82 

75 

87 

73 

11 

80 

83 

70 

87 

72 

12 

84 

88 

77 

88 

71 

13 

82 

80 

76 

87 

72 

14 

71 

75 

74 

87 

72 

.76 

15 

75 

99 

75 

• 80 

71 

1C 

70 

78 

75 

80 

71 

17 

7G 

82 

74 

83 

73 

18 

78 

80 

75 

83 

08 

19 

82 

84 

75 

84 

71 

20 

80 

85 

74  . 

85 

67 

21 

82 

78 

80 

81 

08 

22 

81 

88 

78 

89 

73 

22 

80 

99 

74 

81 

73 

24 

75 

76 

74 

78 

66 

25 

76 

78 

72 

79 

65 

2C 

74 

79 

70 

79 

60 

27 

75 

82 

75 

82 

61 

28 

74 

77 

07 

77 

60 

29 

00 

73 

05 

73 

58 

30 

05 

72 

01 

73 

57 

Aver. 

78.4 

81.3 

75.2 

1 

3.29 

M.ixiinmu  Tempeiatine, 
Minimum  “ r>7^. 


Daily  Rainfall,  .109. 


263 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FOR  OCTOBER,  1888. 


Date. 

Tempekatuke. 

Rainfall. 

(-H 

5 

= 

s 

B 

1 

Inches. 

o 

d, 

d 

X 

ce 

'S 

o 

Ol 

cc 

g 

1 

67° 

77° 

72° 

80° 

63° 

2 

i 68 

78 

74 

82 

63 

:i 

69 

77 

77 

86 

63 

i 

4 

71 

82 

72 

84 

66 

5 

72 

77 

71 

83 

64 

0 

70 

76 

69 

84 

63 

7 

64 

74 

68 

83 

59 

8 

67 

74 

66 

74 

59 

9 

66 

73 

67 

73 

60 

10 

65 

73 

' 63 

74 

59 

11 

66 

74 

66 

72 

60 

I'i 

66 

73 

66 

74 

60 

I 

13 

63 

74 

63 

74 

58 

1 

14 

64 

73 

64 

74 

59 

15 

72 

81 

72 

84 

62 

10 

73 

83 

74 

85 

59 

17 

72 

81 

! 72 

85 

58 

18 

72 

79  ! 

71 

85 

60 

19 

71 

78 

70 

85 

61 

20 

70 

77 

68 

83 

60 

21 

68 

76 

66 

84 

61 

1. 

22 

70 

75 

69 

82 

67 

1.10 

23 

68 

70 

67 

73 

64 

1. 

24 

64 

65 

64 

66 

62 

25 

64 

71 

65 

74 

63 

26 

69 

74 

70 

78 

58 

27 

74 

76 

70 

79 

56 

.30 

28 

72 

77 

73 

78 

60 

29 

64 

75 

60 

74 

56 

30 

63 

74 

59 

74 

54 

31 

67 

77 

70 

78 

53 

Aver. 

68. 

- i 

75.5 

68.3 

3.40 

Maximum  Temperature,  85°.  Daily  Rainfall,  .090. 

Minimum  “ 511°. 


264 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATK)N 
FOR  NOVEMBER,  1888. 


Date. 

Temperature. 

Rainfall. 

November. 

a 

05 

d 

fC 

a 

C5 

_a 

eS 

a 

"5 

S 

Inches. 

1 

71 

78 

73 

82 

64 

2 

74 

79 

70 

80 

62 

3 

72 

76 

72 

84 

()9 

4 

74 

75 

74 

82 

68 

.20 

5 

70 

81 

70 

84 

()7 

6 

72 

81 

72 

81 

68 

7 

70 

79 

69 

80 

60 

S 

76 

80 

71 

81 

60 

1. 

9 

51 

56 

52 

58 

48 

10 

52 

58 

52 

61 

45 

11 

55 

(i2 

53 

6:1 

44 

12 

59 

64 

61 

65 

43 

13 

61 

66 

63 

67 

57 

. 50 

14  • 

1 65 

69 

66 

74 

60 

15 

67 

69 

66 

73 

60 

16 

68 

69 

67 

69 

48 

17 

68 

75 

66 

76 

58 

18 

. . 

19 

60 

64 

59 

63 

56 

.10 

20 

59 

62 

58 

62 

5^ 

21 

58 

59 

57 

60 

44 

.05 

22 

59 

60 

57 

60 

ST) 

23 

59 

6)0 

57 

60 

56 

24 

51 

59 

54 

59 

54 

25 

62 

42 

26 

48 

50 

47 

51 

44 

.15 

27 

47 

49 

47 

51 

34 

28 

46 

51 

47 

56 

34 

29 

46 

51 

56 

34 

30 

46  . 

53 

49 

52 

37 

.50 

Aver. 

1 

i 60.8 

1 

65.5 

61 

2.50 

Maxiuiuiu  Temperature,  84*^.  Daily  Rainfali,  .083. 

Minimum  54'^. 


265 


RECORD  OF  WEATHER  LOUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FOR  DECEMBER,  1888. 


Date. 

Temperature. 

Rainfall. 

December. 

9 a.  m. 

3 

d, 

CO 

j 9 p.  m. 

i 

cS 

j Minimum. 

Inches. 

1 

48^^ 

51° 

480 

530 

450 

2 

55 

59 

_ 48 

62 

38 

3 

48 

58 

53 

61 

46 

4 

51 

59 

48 

59 

42 

.5 

52 

GO 

49 

62 

42 

G 

49 

59 

48 

61 

37 

7 

52 

G4 

54 

64 

49 

8 

55 

G4 

59 

65 

50 

9 

55 

GO 

54 

62 

50 

.95 

10 

55 

56 

48 

57 

39 

1.2 

11 

48 

55 

48 

62 

37 

12 

49 

65 

55 

66 

49 

13 

55 

57 

50 

’ 58 

36 

14 

50 

G1 

53 

: 65 

42 

. 

15 

55 

69 

65 

70 

49 

1.2 

IG 

55 

67 

53 

69 

48 

17 

18 

48 

54 

42 

.55 

37 

19 

4G 

51 

•41 

: 53 

34 

20 

41 

54 

.34 

j 55 

27 

21 

39 

60 

40 

61 

35 

22 

42 

1 60 

45 

, 61 

40 

23 

59 

60 

55 

i 62 

39 

24 

55 

i 70 

55 

71 

40 

25 

58 

! 70 

63 

71 

46 

.02 

2G 

5G 

1 70 

55 

' 71 

40 

1.5 

27 

48 

59 

49 

' 60 

36 

29 

, 4G 

1 51 

44 

53 

38 

29 

1 4G 

1 .59 

48 

1 59 

44 

30 

t 57 

i 65 

63 

1 68 

55 

3L 

1 

i 66 

61 

j 68 

52 

.25 

Avtr. 

51. 

60. 

50. 

i 

i 

4.12 

MMxiiiiiiin  Teinperatuiv,  71^.  Daily  Rainfall,  •.  i:V2. 

Minimiini  “ 27*^. 


266 


CONDENSED  WEATlIEli  RECORD  OF  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION 
FOR  THE  YEAR  1888. 


Month.  | 

. 

Jan  nary 

51 . 2° 

February  



.57. 

A pri  1 

72.3 

May 

78.7 

J nne 

82.4 

July 

87. 

Ant'i’iisfi 

83.2 

September 

78.4 

Df, toiler » 

68. 

November 

60.8 

December 

Average 

Temperature 

3 p.  m. 

1 

V 

rH 

jj  g a 

be  ^ 

> <u 

' Total 

1 Average. 

Maximum 

Temperature. 

4) 

S ® 

S 5 
m ® 
Sh 

1 Rainfall 

1 

1 Inches. 

()1.7° 

54° 

.56-6 

77° 

30° 

3.77 

64.2 

.57.6 

.59.8 

76 

37 

9.80 

65. 

55. 

.59. 

78 

3() 

5.79 

78.7 

69.2 

73.4 

85 

Til 

.91 

78.7 

72.7 

76.7 

92 

54 

11.77 

80.1 

77.1 

79.8 

92 

65 

8.69 

81. 

78. 

82. 

98 

71 

5.49 

82. 

78.4 

81.2 

95 

70 

15.80 

81.3 

75.2 

77.3 

89 

57 

3.29 

75.5 

68.3 

70.6 

85 

53 

3.40 

()5.5 

til. 

6)2. 4 

84 

34 

2., 50 

60. 

50. 

53.6 

71 

27 

4.12 

Average  Tenipcrature  for  Year,  ()9‘^  IT. 
Maximnm  “ 98^. 

Minimum  ‘‘  27°. 


Average  Temperature  Winter  Months,  56°  6'. 
“ “ Spiiug  “ 69°  7T 

“ “ Summer  “ 81°. 

‘‘  Fall  “ 70°  1^. 


Total  Rainfall  for  Year,  75.33  inches. 

“ Winter  Mouths,  17.69  inches. 


Spring 

Summer 

Fall 


18-47 

29.98 

9.19 


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'i  :• 


REPORT 


OR  THE 


8TATE«EXPERIMENT*8TflTlGM. 


BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 


18  88. 

BULLETIN  NO,  21, 


WM.  0.  STUBBS,  A.  M.,  Fb.  B.,  Director. 
D.  N.  BAFJLOW,  B.  S.^  Amstaiit  DireotOL. 


ISSUED  BY 


THOMPSON  J.  BIRD, 


POMMISSIONER  OF  ^GRICULTURE,  ^BaTON  JIOUGE, 


BATON  liOUGE : 
Printed  by  The  Advoua  i e. 
iSBo.. 


"1 


4'^ 

r 


: ■ V ■ < 


LOUISIANA  STATE  UNIVERSITY  AND  A.  AND  M.  COLLEGE, 
Officic  State  Experiment  Station, 

Baton  Rouge,  La.,  January,  1889. 

T.  J.  Eird,  CosQMiissioaer  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Bouge,  La.: 

DdcrSir — ShaDd^yoii  annual  report  of  Mr.  D.N.  Barrow,  Assistant  Director 
Expei'iinentt  station,  Flaton  Rouge,  La.,  and  request  that  you  puldisli 
? same  as  Bulletin  No.  21. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 

STATE  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  ) 
Baton  Rouge,  January,  1889.  ^ 

■ ^c.'3Jr.  W.’C.'Btubbs,  Birector: 

De&r  Sir — Herewith  I hand  you  results  of  work  done  on  this  Station  for 
'‘v&i®  year  ending  December  31,  1888.  When  the  Station  was  established  here 
ififj.  jS^anuary  of  that  year  there  was  nothing  but  an  old  held.  The  work  of  ^ 
^oS^paring  this  land  for  the  reception  of  plants  necessarily  delayed  planting 
. 1.R  crops  until  rather  late.  However,  a good  deal  has  been  accomplished; 
riCie  S'hopa  the  accompanying  report  shows. 

^ Very  respectfully, 

DAVID  N.  BARROW, 

Assistant  Director. 


I 


i. 


Location,  Improvements,  Soil,  Etc 


The  State  Experiment  Station  is  located  on  ground  formerlj^/" 
belonging  to  tlie  United  States  and  used  as  a garrison.  It  has- 
recently  been  donated  to  the  State  University  and  Agricnltural. 
and  Mechanical  College,  and  by  it  assigned  to  the  use  of  the- 
Station.  On  account  of  a sinuous  bayou  running  through  this  • 
tract,  preventing  accessibility  during  high  water,  the  buildings  ^ 
had  to  be  erected  at  the  extreme  Eastern  end  of  the  tract, ,v 
directly  on  the  road  which  leads  to  Bayou  Sara  and  ClintoBo- 
This  tract  of  land  is  located  on  what  is  termed  geologically  the- 
“ Bluff  Formation,”  and  its  soil  is  a brown  loam  containing: 
some  clay,  formerly  very  rich,  but  now  greatly  reduced  in  fer- 
tility. This  loam  is  underlaid  at  a depth  of  4 to  10  feet  by  the- 
calcareous  silts  of  the  Loess  formation.  A neat  barbed  wire: 
fence  encloses  most  of  the  tract.  This  entire  tract  had  been  fot 
years  the ‘‘ commons  ” of  Baton  Eouge  and  had  been  severely 
• depastured  b^^  numerous  cattle  and  horses.  It  was  densely 
covered  with  a mixture  of  carpet,  Bermuda  and  Coco  grasses.. 
Of  the  carpet  (Paspalum)  grasses  no  less  than  five  or  six  dis  - 
tinct species  were^found ; among  them  the  soon-to-become  fam- 
ous Louisiana  Grass  Paspatalum  Ovatum,”  now  advertised  SO” 
largely  in  the  North. 

This  turf  land  had  to  be  transformed  into  a station  and  the 
work  accomplishing  it  has  been  of  a Herculean  kind.  The  fol- 
lowing houses  have  been  erected : A neat  and  substantial  dwell- 
ing, a stable  for  mules  and  cows,  a large  barn  and  necessary 
pgultry  houses.  In  the  barn  is  an  ensilage  cutter,  scientifier 
grinding  mill  and  a twenty- saw  improved  Gullett  gin,  •with^ 
feeder  and  condenser.  The  last  was  made  to  order  and  is  used 
to  gin  the  cotton  experimented  on.  These  are  run  by  a Book- 
water  engine  and  boiler ; the  power  being  first  transmitted  to 
35-foot  shaft,  running  across  the  north  end  of  the  barn.  Thc'? 


272 


fiEgiue  aud  boiler,  outside  of  barn,  is  enclosed  in  a neat  bouse 
covered  like  tbe  barn  with  corrugated  iron. 

La  tbe  rear  of  tbe  bouse  a garden  of  about  one-balf  acre  bas 
Vbeen  neatly  enclosed,  while  tbe  front  yard,  barn  yard  and  fruit 
^orchard  have  been  securely  enclosed  with  a combination  wire 
rand  plank  fence.  Paint  and  wbitewasb  have  been  freel}"  used  to 
-give  durability  to  tbe  structures  and  attractiveness  to  tbe  Sta- 
^tion.  Connected  with  tbe  barn  are  three  platform  scales,  weigb- 
«iing  from  a fraction  of  an  ounce  to  fiv^e  tons — affording  excellent 
^facilities  for  weighing  all  farm  products. 

LIVE  STOCK. 

Two  fine  mules — an  inheritance  from  the  old  Station — cou- 
.'■stituted  our  live  stock,  at  tbe  beginning  of  tbe  present  year. 
3iuce  that  time  there  bas  been  added  three  Holstein  and  two 
. Jersey  cattte,  and  ten  varieties  of  chickens  and  one  of  ducks  . 
'^Tbe  Holsteins  were  purchased  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Howard,  Aberdeen, 
■Miss.,  and  are  of  tbe  celebrated  Aggie  strain.  Tbe  Jerseys  were 
^procured  from  Hr.  Wm.  E.  Oates,  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  and  repre- 
’Sent  about  per  cent  of  tbe  celebrated  St.  Lambert  blood.  It 
es  proposed  as  soon  as  possible  to  add  other  breeds  of  cattle. 
Also,  hogs  and  sheep. 

Our  Holstein  cow,  tbe  only  one  now  to  tbe  pail,  is  a beau- 
4iful  four-3"ear-old  animal,  and  gives  five  gallons  of  milk  per  day. 
iShe  is  fed  daily  upon  tbe  following  ration,  which  costs  27  cents, 
y^viz:: 

4 pounds  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

4 Wheat  Bran. 

6 Corn  and  Cob  Meal. 

18  “ Pea  Vine  Hay. 

It  takes  less  than  one  quarter  of  tbe  time  of  one  man  to 
ssttend  this  cow.  If  we  put  this  at  33  cents  per  day,  tbe  cost  of 
ttke  430W  for  feed  will  be  60  cents  per  day.  Against  this  then  is  a 
csred'it  of  five  gallons  of  milk  worth  $1.50 — leaving  00  cents  a day 
£3rofit  for  a good  cow,  well  kept.  Eew  investments  pay  so  well 
s:£;ud  later  this  expense  can  be  considerably  reduced  by  pasturage, 
at  tbe  present  date,  January  loth,  tbe  University  campus  is 


273 


green  with  white  clover.  That  daiiwiug  and  stock-raising  emvi 
be  made  exceedingly  profitable  all  over  the  South  (particnlaxlj;- 
on  these  bluff  lands  where  Bermuda  and  white  clover  grow 
almost  tropical  luxuriance),  admits  of  scarcely  a doubt.. 

From  eggs  purchased  of  W.  W.  Garig,  the  pioneer  poultry 
raiser  in  the  South,  the  following  varieties  of  poultry  have 
raised : Black  Minorcas,  Langshans,  Barred  and  White 
outh.  Partridge  and  Buff’  Cochins,  Brown  Leghorn,  Light  Brafe- 
mas,  Wyandottes  and  Houdans  of  chickens,  and  Pekin  of  du®Ls"~ 
Some  of  each  variety  have  been  sent  to  the  North  Louislaus! 
Experiment  Station.  Our  losses  have  been  heavy  by  petty: 
thieves,  but  hereafter  with  separate  pene  for  each,.. it  i&  hoped:^. 
that  such  depredations  will  be  discontinued. 

GARDEN  AND  ORCHARD.. 

In  the  garden  forty-eight  varieties  of  stniw berries,.,  seveiuf 
varieties  of  raspberries  and  one  of  blackberries  have 
})lanted.  These  were  secured  too  late  to  judge  of  the  merits- ofd 
each  variety  last  year,  but  they  are  all  now  fairly  started  asKll 
comparative  results  are  promised  the  ensuing  spring.  A largE-- 
number  of  strawberry  plants  have  been  gratuitously  distributed? 
over  the  State,  and  next  year  a much  larger  quantity  can 
spared. 

A large  orchard,  embraciug  two  of  the  leading  varieties  , 
almonds,  nectarines,  apricots,  plums,  peaches,  filberts,  Japanese' 
persimmons,  apples,  pears,  figs  and  chestnuts  has  been  plantsf^i'i,,.. 

and  is  now  doing  well,  despite  the  awful  storm  of  August  19tli 

A viueyard  of  thirty  varieties  has  also  been  planted  and  most  ol' 
the  varieties  made  a good  growth  of  wood  the  first  year. 

The  results  of  potatoes,  peas  and  small  grains  have  already" 
been  given  to  the  public  in  Bulletin  No.  17.  The  ground  be  - 
tween the  trees  in  the  orchard  was  last  year  utilized  in  growing ; 
a number  of  varieties  of  watermelons  and  canteloupes. 

FORAGE  PLANTS. 

The  following  varieties  of  sorglium  were  grown  with 
double  purpose  of  testing  their  adaptability  to  sugar. making 


274 


for  forage  purposes.  At  various  [stages  of  growth  they  were 
carefully  analyzed  and  results  published  in  Bulletin  No.  19.  la^ 
same  Bulletin  w ill  be  found  an  account  of  the  shipment  of  a car- 
load of  Early  Orange  cane  to  Sugar  Experiment  Station  and 
there  manufactured  into  sugar. 

The  following  are  the  varieties  of  Sorghum  used : Early 
Amber,  Early  Orange,  Links  Hybrid,  Honduras,  CJiiuesc,  and  a 
cross  between  Early  Amber  and  Honduras.  Besides  these  the 
non-saccharine  Sorghums,  Rural  Branching,  Kaffir  (Joru,  Milo 
Maize  and  White  Dhoura  were  also  iilanted.  Teosinte  and: 
Pearl  I^Iillet  completed  our  list  of  large  forage  crops.  All; 
yielded  well,  giving  two  and  a-half  crops  of  excellent  fodder,, 
but  exact  results  cannot  be  given  since  our  platform  scales^ 
ordered  early  in  summer,  were  delayed  ^‘in  transitu,^^  and  did 
not  reach  us  in  time  for  our  summer  crops.  The  Kaffir  Coni  is- 
noted  for  its  large  yield  of  seed,  but  in  this  country,  where  the- 
♦ English  sparrow  abounds,  small  seeded  idants  have  little  chance 
for  reproduction.  Of  all  the  crops  mentioned  above,  covering 
an  area  of  over  three  acres,  not  a single  seed  was  saved.  These 
little  pests  devouring  them  all  in  spite  of  scarecrow s,  shotgims 
and  poison.  The  following  Field  Peas  were  planted  , Pea  of  the 
Backwoods,  Lady  Pea,  Unknown  Pea,  Large  White  Pea,  "White 
Prolific  Pea,  Whippoorwill,  Conch  A Clay.  These  were  planted 
on  the  lltli  of  May. 

The  folio  wing  notes  were  made  during  growth  ; 

Pea  of  the  Backwoods,  also  called  the  Poor  ?v!aii\s  Friend — 
One  foot  long,  erect,  and  bearing  three  to  four  long  and  well- 
filled  pods  omit  a profuse  bearer  and  very  early.  Berry  small  and 
white,  with  red  spots  near  the  eye.  Two  successive  crops  were 
made  from  seed  obtained,  the  last  maturing  before  last  of  Au- 
gust. 

Lady  Pea — A small  vine  and  leaf,  running  moderately  well 
Bears  a moderate  crop  of  small  white  peas. 

Unknown  Pea — A large  vine  with  an  abundance  of  large 
leaves.  Covers  the  ground  very  well,  but  with  us  gave  a small; 
crop  of  peas. 

Large  White — A smaller  vine  than  the  above  but  a better 


ranuer.  small  leavCvS  and  bears  a small  cro])  of  large  white 

peas. 

Whippoorwill — A coarse  vine  and  a very  poor  runner,  with 
large  leaves.  It  bears  a good  crop  of  long  pods  containing  large 
speckled  peas. 

Clay  Pea — A small  vined  good-running  pea,  but  a poor 
i>earer  of  a yellowish  i>ea,  about  the  size  of  the  Whippoorwill. 

Coneh  liea — A very  heavy  runner,  forming  a thick  mat  of 
^nes  all  over  the  ground,  but  bearing  few  or  no  berries. 

Of  the  above  the  Olay  and  Conch  are  decidedly  the  best — 

for  green  manuring  and  for  saving  for  hay.  For  the  table 
the  little  Lady  Pea  seems  to  be  preferred,  while  the  Pea  of  the 
Backwoods  gives  decidedly  the  best  yield  of  berries. 

There  were  also  a number  of  Mexican  beans  planted,  but 
vowing  to  the  bad  condition  of  the  seed,  which  had  been  in  the 
Agrieuitural  Museum  for  some  years,  only  one  variety  came  up. 
This  formed  a very  heav3^  vine  and  bore  a profuse  crop  of  small 
black  beans.  In  the  same  plat  with  these  beans  were  planted  a 
few  Mils  each  of  the  Virginia,  Georgia  and  Spanish  Peanut. 
Tke  Georgia  did  decidedly  the  best — both  as  regards  the  size 
and  squantity. 

Besides  the  above,  seven  plots  of  sugar  cane  were  planted, 
iSix  of  which  were  fertilized  and  one  left  unfertilized,  in  order  to 
^nd  the  results  of  fertilizer.  Below  is  a table  giving  fertilizer 
per  acre,  yield  per  acre,  percentage  of  Sucrose,  Glucose,  etc. 


Lbs.  available 
sugar  upon  TO 
p.  c.  extraction. 

Per 

acre. 

c;  Ci  <M  o o in 

I'l  00  O CO  LO  o o 

O *“1  Ci  1-^  »-0 

O kO  »o  o o 

Per 

tou . 

191.7 

1C4.2 

157.2 

172.3 

192.6 

189.1 

206.6 

! •0T4.t?.t  gsooinQ 

1 

5.80 

10.61 

10.82 

8.87 

6.31 

5.81 

5.19 

1 'inaiogfa 

1 -oo  A'tuuj 

84.75 

77.07 

79.52 

81.14 

^6.61 

83.14 

87.19 

•osooiqo 

.87 

1.48 

1.45 

1.26 

.96 

.86 

.83 

i 

•oso.ionQ 

1 

1 

15.00 

13.95 

13.40 

14.2 

15.2 

14.8 

16.0 

i 

j -spitos  [B^OX 

17.70 

18.10 

16.85 

17.50 

17.55 

17.80 

18.35 

.1 

1 -yuo;  nr  • 

-|‘9J0B  jod  P{91^ 

J 

28.48 

i J28.56 

1 • 

32.84 

28.84 

28.32 

27.28 

27.08 

m 


O si 


o o 


a, 

CD 

o 

£.5 

3 .2 

"o  sS 


5 oo  oo  ooo 

o oo  oo  ooo 

55  ^ in  in  o o m iO 


•OX  I 


t' 


277 


These  results  are  such  that  no  decision  as  the  increase  of  ton- 
nage due  to  fertilizers  can  be  drawn.  Ko.  3 gave  the  largest 
tonnage  and  it  would  suggest  at  first  the  benefit  of  potash  to 
this  soil.  Upon  a closer  examination,  however,  we  find  that  No. 
5,  in  which  the  same  amount  of  potash  again  occurs  actually  falls^ 
below  its  neighbor.  No.  4,  which  was  unfertilized.  Hence  the 
increased  yield  cannot  be  ascribed  to  the  fertilizer.  The  other 
results  are  so  nearly  identical  that  it  may  be  said  that  commer- 
cial fertilizers  for  cane  on  this  soil  have  this  year  yielded  no  in- 
crease in  tonnage.  There  is,  however,  a large  increase  in  sugar 
content  in  Nos.  7 and  5.  Could  the  fertilizers  hav-C  produced 
these  desirable  results  ? 

SMALL  LUAINS,  UIJASSES  AND  CJ.OVLRS. 

Early  in  1888,  roots  of  the  Texas  Blue  Grass  (Poa  Arachui- 
fera)  were  obtained  from  Mr.  Carlos  Reese,  ^Marion,  Ala.,  and 
planted  in  checks  one  foot  apart  each  way.  It  made  a vigorous 
growth  during  winter,  seeded  in  May  and  died  down  to  the 
ground.  In  September  it  reappeared  in  full  vigor.  It  has  novr 
nearly  occupied  the  entire  ground  and  promises  an  excellent 
winter  pasture,  k'rom  this  plat  enoi  gh  roots  have  been  take» 
to  plant  a good  size  plat  elsewhere  and  in  a few  years,  if  this 
plant  fulfills  its  promise  the  Station  Avill  be  able  to  furnish  roots 
to  the  public.  It  is  said  to  furnish  an  abundance  of  excellent 
green  grass  through  the  entire  winter. 

Para  grass  (Panicum  Harbonode)  was  planted  at  same  time 
upon  an  adjoining  plat  to  the  Texas  Blue  Grass.  The  roots  were 
obtained  from  P.  M.  Hendry,  Fort  Myers,  Fla.  This  is  emphat- 
ically a summer  grass,  but  with  wonderful  powers  of  growth. 
It  has  large  stems  which  run  along  the  ground,  taking  root  at 
each  joint  and  sending  up  simultaneously  leaves  and  smaller 
stems.  Some  of  these  stems  grew  over  twenty  feet  in  length 
the  first  season.  After  it  covers  the  ground  its  habits  are  said 
to  change  from  the  prostrate  to  the  erect,  and  then  furnishes  a 
large  amount  of  hay  and  pasturage.  It  is  highly  recommended 
and  the  Station  is  watching  its  development  with  inter^t. 

In  October,  the  Station  planted  five  varieties  of  wheat,  two 


278 


varieties  of  oats,  two  of  barley,  six  of  (3lovers  and  twelve  .of 
grasses.  These  are  also  growing  finely  and  hopes  are  enter- 
tained of  successful  results. 

EXPERIMENTS  IN  CORN. 

This  crop  was  planted  with  two  objects:  First,  to  ascertain 
the  variety  best  suited  to  this  soil  and  climate;  second,  to  ascer- 
tain what  fertilizers  and  in  what  quantities  were  needed  by  corn, 
on  this  land.  All  experiments  in  this  direction  were  vitiated  by 
depredations  of  both  the  cut  and  bud  worm.  In  order  therefore 
that  we  might  not  lose  the  exi>eriment  entirely,  the  number  of 
stalks  on  each  row  were  carefully  counted  and  the  results  from 
oach  experiment  accurately  weighed.  By  ascertaining  from  this 
data  the  average  yield  per  stalk,  then  allowing  a stalk  every  two 
feet  and  multiplying  by  the  number  of  stalks  there  should  have 
been,  we  can  form  a fair  idea  of  the  yield  of  each.  In  order  to 
answer  the  first  question,  eighteen  varieties  of  corn  were  ob- 
tained and  planted  under  the  same  conditions.  Accompanying 
is  a tabulated  statement,  giving  names  of  varieties,  yield,  etc. 
Twelve  ears  of  each  Avere  carefully  weighed.  These  were  shucked 
and  weighed  again.  Then  shelled  and  corn  and  cob  weighed.  In 
this  Avay  the  per  cent  of  corn,  cob  and  shuck  was  obtained  for 
each  variety. 


279 


Name  of  Variety. 


Patterson 

JMosby 

Blount 

Alabama 

McQuade 

White  Normandy 

White  Mexican 

Prolitic 

New  Madrid 

Red  Cob  Gourd  Seed 

C:  ampion 

New  Hicory  King  

Mexican  Flint 

Western  Yellow 

Mexican  and  Creole,  Mixed. . . . 

Yellow  Flint 

Yellow  Golden 

Mixture  of  Red  Cob  and  Mosby 


All  of  these  were  placed  under  similar  conditions,  but  gave 
very  varying  results. 

The  Blount,  with  its  7b. 0 bushels  of  shelled  corn,  is  in 
marked  contrast  with  the  Yellow  Cloldeii,  with  only  32.7.  The 
foregoing  table  speaks  for  itself  and  renders  any  remarks  super- 
fluous. 

The  next  attempt  was  to  lind  out  the  mauurial  requirements 
of  this  soil. 

These  three  questions  on  as  many  different  plats  were 
asked,  both  of  corn  and  cotton  : 

1.  ‘^Does  this  soil  need  Phosphoric  Acid  ! If  so  how  much 
and  in  what  form  f’’ 

2.  Does  it  need  Potash  f How  much  and  in  what  form  V 

3.  “ Does  it  need  Nitrogen  ! How  much  and  in  what  form  ?’’ 

Question  No.  1 was  put  to  plat  No.  10. 

Twelve  experiments  with  the  various  Phosiihatic  Manures 
were  made,  and  the  following  table  gives  the  fertilizers  used 
with  results : 


1 £ 

1 “1 

1 i- 

* z 

^ 2 

■" 

Per  cent,  sbnck. 

Per  cent.  cob. 

Per  cent . shelled 

corn. 

^ ?> 

O 

O)  s 

4648.62 

8. 

18.4 

73.6 

61. 

6. 

17.6 

76.4 

74.4 

5068.96 

8.6 

16.7 

74.7 

79.6 

4894.8 

10.9 

18.9 

70.2 

61.3 

4356.2 

8.9 

17.1 

71.0 

57.5 

2936.64 

3.8 

18.5 

77. 7j 

|40.7 

5184.92 

10.9 

16.2 

72.9 

67.4 

5236.2 

10. 

15.0 

75. 

70.1 

4894.4 

4.7 

18.1 

77.2 

67.4 

4424.96 

8.9 

11.1 

80.  o! 

63.1 

2524.48 

7.3 

14.2 

78.. 5' 

35.3 

2590.72 

8.0 

12. 

80.0 

37 . 0 

3716.16 

7.8 

15.3 

76.9 

51.0 

4452  8 

11. 

16.2 

72.8 

57 . 5 

3521.76 

14.4 

16.0 

69.6 

43.7 

4933.34 

10.9 

18.9 

70.2 

61.7 

•>K38  75 

14.8 

20.5 

64.7 

32.7 

3815.96 

9.5 

13.8 

77. 7‘ 

52.9 

of  Ex 


280 


PHOSPHOKIC  ACID— PLAT  XO.  X. 

^ lELD  AN  D FEKTILIZA  TION  PEK  ACKE. 
rjlUETY  USED—"  DA  TTEnSON.” 


How  Fertilized. 


. ^ [Basal  Mixture^ 

I 280  lt)S.  Dissolved  Bone, 

Basal  Mixture 

“ ( 560  11)8.  Dissolved  Bone 

3 Basal  Mixture 

, ( Basal  Mixture 

I 280  lt)S.  Acid  Phosphate 

r S Basal  Mixture ... 

} 560  IBs.  Acid  Phosphate 

6 [Basal  Mixture 

7 Nothing 

S i Basal  Mixture. 

\ [280  IBs.  Boue  Meal  .... 

n S iBasal  Mixture 

} [560  lt)S.  Boue  Meal 

10  Basal  Mixture 

. 5 [Basal  Mixture 

( 140  IBs.  Gypsum 

\ Basal  Mixture . . 

^ \ ;280  IBs.  Gypsum 


* Basal  Mixture — 2-0  IBs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

84  IBs.  Muriate  Potash. 


Shuck  Corn, 

Lbs. 

Shelled  Corn, 

Bushels.  j 

4168.28 

.54.7 

4639.96 

60.9 

4496.00 

.59.0 

4220.16 

55.4 

4336.08 

56.9 

4396.00 

57.7 

4176.76 

54.8 

4483.92 

58.9 

3396.00 

44.6 

4264.12 

.56 . 0 

4439.96 

58.3 

4044.32 

! 53.1 

The  results  above  lead  to  but  one  conclusion,  and  that  is, 
that  with  this  stand  of  corn,  one  stalk  every  two  feet  in  the 
drill,  that  decaying  roots  of  the  old  grass  sod  furnished  an 
abundance  of  plant  food  to  make  a maximum  crop.  The  unfer- 
tilized plat  yielded  54.8  bushels,  while  the  highest  yield  of  any 
fertilized  plat  was  only  G0.9  bushels — differences  that  might 
occur  in  almost  any  two  plats.  Next  year  a repetition  ^ of  these 
manures  on  the  same  plat  may  give  more  satisfactory  replies. 

In  order  to  get  the  ans\N  er  to  Question  2,  1.  e.,  Does  this  soil 
need  potash,  etc.,  we  will  examine: 


No.  of  Expe'm't.! 


281 


PLAT  IX— POTASH. 

VA RIETIES  USED— “ PATTE RSON.’ 


How  Fertilized. 


YIELD  PER 
ACRE. 


c 

o 

« 


11 


12  < 


Meal  Phosphate,* 

168  IBs.  Kaiuite 

Meal  Phosphate 

336  IBs.  Kainite 

Meal  Phosphate 

Meal  Phosphate 

42  IBs.  Muriate  Potash  . . . . 

Meal  Phosphate 

84  IBs.  Muriate  Potash. . . . 

Meal  Phosphate 

Nothing 

Meal  Phosphate 

42  IBs.  Sulphate  Potash . . . 

Meal  Phosphate 

84  IBs.  Sulphate  Potash. . . 

Meal  Phosphate 

280  IBs.  Acid  Phosphate. . . 
196  IBs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal . 
49  IBs.  Nitrate  Potash  . . . 
280  IBs.  Acid  Phosphate. . . 
84  IBs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 
98  IBs.  Nitrate  Potash 


3956.4 

5210.16 

439Q.00 


4572.84 

4264.12 

3122.24 


51.9 

68.4 

57.7 

60.1 

.56.0 

41.1 


3648.68j47.9 

4396.00i57.7 


4396.00j57.7 
4483.92 

4439.96 

I 


58.9 

58.3 


4220.16'55.4 


* Meal  Phosphate — 280  IBs.  Cotton  Seed  M«al. 

280  IBs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

The  remarks  uuderPlat  10  are  applicable  here  as  under  Plat  XI.,  soon  to 
follow. 


Shelled 
corn, bus. 


No.  of  Exp’t. 


282 


PLAT  XL— NITKOUEX. 
VA  RIETY— PATTEKSON. 


j 

YIKLD  PKIt 
ACHE. 

I 

Fertilizer  Used. 

si 

o 

ao 

3 

4)  ^ 

cd  o 

Mixed  Minerals* 

57.7 

79.8  lbs.  Nitrate  Soda 

4396.  I 

Mixed  Minerals 

i 

5055-4  1 

66.4 

158.6  lbs.  Nitrate  Soda 

Mixed  Minerals ! 

57.7 

53.2  lbs.  Sulphate  Aiuiuonia 

4.196 . 1 

Mixed  \Iinerals 

4068.  Osj 

53.4 

106.4  lbs.  Sulphate  Ammonia 

Mixed  Minerals 

112  lbs.  Dried  Blood | 

4396-0  ^ 

57.7 

Mixed  Minerals 

4689.72 

j 

j 61. 

224  lbs.  Dried  Blood 

Mixed  Minerals 

4689.72 

61. 

140  lbs.  Fish  Scrap 

Mixed  Minerals 

4068.08 

1 

j 53.4 

280  lbs.  Fish  Scrap 

Mixed  Minerals 

4747.68 

1 62.3 

168  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

Mixed  Minerals 

1 4255.4 

1 56.0 

336  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  

Mixed  Minerals 

4396.0 

57.7 

504  lbs.  Cotton  Seed 

Mixed  Minerals 

4396.0 

1 57.7 

1008  lbs.  Cotton  Seed 

[ 

Mixed  Minerals — 280  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

84  lbs.  Muriate  Potash. 


283 


It  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  conclusions  can  this  year  be 
derived  as  to  the  wants  of  this  soil  for  corn  growing.  An  other  * 
and  perhaps  even  another  year  may  be  needed  to  satisfactorily 
solve  this  question.  In  meanwhile  the  experiments  will  be  con- 
tinued. 

EXPERIMENTS  IN  COTTON. 

The  experiments  in  cotton  were  of  two  kinds.  1st.  Varieties> 
best  adapted  to  our  wants,  considering  yield  of  seed  cotton., 
and  percentage  of  lint ; and  2d,  Manurial  requirements.  Thirty- 
eight  varieties  of  cotton,  obtained  at  great  labor  and  cost,  were 
planted  and  treated  as  nearly  alike  as  possible.  These  experi^ 
ments,  together  with  those  elsewhere  described,  were  growing' 
beautifully  with  promise  of  large  results  when  the  disastrous 
storm  of  the  19th  August,  not  only  injured  but  absolutely  de- 
stroyed them.  Many  of  the  full  grown  bolls  nearing  maturity,, 
which  would  otherwise  have  opened,  were  completely  rotted  by 
the  two  weeks  of  incessant  rains  following  the  storm.  There- 
fore all  of  our  experiments  in  cotton  were  failures  so  far  as  in- 
struction is  concerned. 

• Below  is  a table  giving  the  yield  of  seed  cotton  and  of  lint- 
per  acre,  together  with  the  percentage  of  lint. 


284 


VAKIETIES  OF  COTTON. 


Name  of  Variety. 

[ Seed  Cotton, 

j Lhs. 

VJ 

Percentage 

of  Lint. 

Remarks. 

1 

Southern  Hope 

950 

323. 

34. 

1 

Bancroft’s  Herlong 

1140 

353.4 

31. 

I’etit  Gnlf 

646 

187.3 

29. 

Allen’s  Long  Staple 

912 

.310. 

34. 

i 

Tennessee  Silk 

798 

215.4 

27. 

Boyd’s  Prolific 

798 

223.4 

28. 

Peterkin 

570 

199.5 

35. 

1 

Crawford 

836 

259.16 

31. 

1 • 

Hawkins 

836 

265.52 

32. 

J’eerless  

874 

270.9 

31. 

Dickson’s 

696 

215.7 

31. 

Welborn’s  Pet 

696 

King’s  Improved 

870 

i)4.’5 

35! 

Hawkins 

(508 

176.3 

29. 

Peterkin 

870 

.304.5 

35. 

Home  raised  seed. 

Oat’s  Cotton 

760 

250.8 

33. 

Selected  seed. 

Little  Brannon 

760 

304.0 

40. 

Home  raised  seed. 

Allen’s  Long  Staple 

722 

187.7 

26. 

iri  ((  il 

Boyd’s  Prolific 

798 

231.42 

29. 

(<  U H 

Peterkin 

684 

205.2 

30. 

U U (( 

Tennessee  Silk : 

798 

255.16 

32. 

((  (i  <( 

Martin’s  Prolific 

779 

233.7 

30. 

<(  ti  il 

Herlong 

646 

206.72 

32. 

U ((  (( 

Jones’  Improved 

870 

261 .00 

30. 

U ti  il 

Jower’s  Improved 

608 

176.32 

29. 

ti  ti  ti 

Cherry’s  Long  Staple  . 

60S 

176.32 

29. 

tt  It  ii 

Shine’s  Early 

570 

176.7 

31. 

ii  H if 

Jower’s  Improved 

646 

Second  year  seed. 

Cherry’s  Long  Staple 

532 

37.” 

((  '■  U <l 

S.  B.  Maxev 

608 

176.32 

29. 

it  ti  It 

Shine’s  Ea’^ly 

779 

233.7 

30. 

il  ti  il 

Griffin’s  Improved  

722 

194.94 

27. 

ii  l<  It 

Taylor’s  Improved., 

874 

270.9 

31 . 

Il  il  It 

Bancroft’s  Herlong  

456 

123.12 

27. 

ti  it  il 

Pure  Brannon 

304 

Besides  tl)e  above^  a plat^of  Sea  Island’’  was  also  planted. 
This  had  not  begun  to  mature  when  the  storm  killed  it  outright. 
These  cottons  were  carefully  ginned  on  an  improved  twenty-saw 
gullett  gin,  with  feeder  and  condenser,  made  especially  to  order 
for  this  Station.  Each  variety  was  weighed  into  the  gin,  and 
seed  ^nd  lint  weighed  after. 

MANURES  FOR  COTTON. 

Three  plats  of  cane  for  Nitrogen,  one  for  Potash  and  one  for 
Phosphoric  Acid  were  devoted  to  experiments  in  fertilizing  cot- 
ton-seeking similar  answers  to  those  propounded  with  cbrn, 


285 


PLAT  NO.  12-— NITKOGEN. 

VARIETY  OF  SEED  USED— PETERKIN. 


No  ofExperim’nt.  j 

Fertilizer  Per  Acre. 

Yield  of  Seed  Cot- 

ton per  acre,  lbs.| 

Yield  of  lint  per  | 

acre,  ll')S.  | 

Mixed  Minernls  * 

952. 

333.2 

7h.S  tbs.  Nit.rn.tc  Soda, 

862. 

301.7 

1.V)  fi  tbs.  Nitira,t,e  Sodn, 

Mixed  Minerals 

812. 

284.2 

52.2  lbs.  Sulphate  Aiuiiioiiia 

Mixed  Minerals 

644. 

225.4 

10G.4  lbs.  Sulphate  Aiuuiouia  

5 

Mixed  Minerals 

742. 

259.7 

6 

Nothiuf^ 

504. 

176.4 

Mixed  Minerals 

112  lbs.  Dried  lllood 

728 . 

254.8 

Mixed  Minerals 

756. 

264.6 

224  lbs.  Dried  Blood 

Mixed  Minerals 

742. 

259.7 

•’1 

10) 

11 

140  lbs.  Fish  Scrap 

Mixed  Minerals 

728. 

254.8 

280  Itis.  Fish  Scrap 

Mixed  Minerals 

714. 

249.9 

12 

Nothin*’* 

504. 

176.4 

13) 

14) 

Mixed  Sliuerals 

168  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

756. 

264 . 6 

Mived  Minerals 

770. 

269.5 

2.'t6  tbs.  riotboii  Spftfl  Men,! 

Mixed  Minerals  ....  ....  

700. 

285. 

504  lbs.  Cotton  Seed 

in) 

17 

Mixed  Minerals 

602. 

210.7 

1008  lbs.  Cotton  Seed 

Mixed  Minerals 

.560. 

! 19().0 

18 

TMfit.linio* . - 

244.4 

! 120.5 

* Mixed  Minerals — 2r0  J1)S.  Acid  Phosphate. 

84  lbs.  Muriate  Potash. 


In  this  experiment  an  attempt  was  made  to  find  out  whether 
this  soil  needed  Nitrogen  to  grow  cotton  ? If  so,  in  what  form 
and  in  wliat  quantity  ? Nitrate  Soda,  Sulphate  Ammonia,  Dried 
Illood,  l^hsh  Scrap,  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  Cotton  Seed  were  used 
to  furnish  the  Nitrogen  and  each  used  in  such  (piantities  as  to 
furnish  respectively  12  and  24  Ihs.  Nitrogen  per  acre.  Along 
Avith  them,  and  without  them  at  periodical  distances,  Ave  used 
Mixed  Minerals — a mixture  of  Acid  Phosphate  and  Nitrate  of 


286 


i*otash.  TliO  rek^ults  of  tliese  experiments  upon  their  face  are 
swer  the  question  that  this  soil  perhaps  needs  IsTitiogen  for  cot- 
ton— since  by  comparing  the  experiments  with  Nitrogen  with 
those  without  (Mixed  Minerals)  and  there  is  found  in  nearly 
every  instance  a notable  increase.  The  increase  of  the  Mixed 
Minerals  over  the  unfertilized  plats  would  indicate  their  need 
too.  But  it  must  be  remembered,  that  one  of  the  beneficial 
effects  of  commercial  fertilizers  is  to  hasten  the  maturity  of  cot- 
ton. After  the  storm  of  lOth  August,  both  growth  and  maturia- 
tion  were  destroyed,  and  only  those  bolls  which  had  reached 
maturity  at  that  date  were  ever  picked.  What  would  have  been 
the  results  had  no  disaster  intervened  is  a matter  of  conjecture 
only.  Perhaps  the  unfertilized  cotton  might  have,  towards  close 
of  season,  caught  up  with  that  fertilized,  and  perhaps  on  the  other 
hand,  with  favorable  seasons  the  fertilized  cotton,  having  re- 
ceived such  a vigorous  imi^etus  in  early  groAvth,  might  have 
developed  into  an  enormous  crop,  greatly  enhancing  the  dis- 
proportion which  existed  between  it  and  that  unfertilized  at  the 
time  of  the  storm.  The  storm  transferred  all  this  to  the  realm 
of  speculation  and  left  us  with  doubtful  facts  upon  which  we 
can  have  opinions  but  cannot  make  accurate  scientific  deduc- 
tions. 

Plat  XIII.  was  devoted  to  experiments  with  phosphates 
under  cotton. 


287 


PLAT  XIIL— PHOSPHORIC  ACJD. 

VARIETY— PETERKIN . 


■4^ 

’£3 

<c 

Eertilizer  per  Acr<*. 

ol 

5 o 
<s  sc 
s-> 

U 

2 

Si 

• /I*) 

w 

'*-• 

o ^ 

® o 

*o 

d 

> 

a 

-S 

<v 

k’ 

-1 

..  \ 

Basal  Mixture*^ 

854 

298.9 

280  its.  Dissolved  Bone 

Basal  Mixture 

1078 

337.1 

^-1 

560  Its.  Dissolved  Bone 

Basal  IMixtnre 

882 

308.7 

280  Its.  Acid  Phosphate 

Basal  Mixture 

910 

318.5 

560  Its.  Acid  Phosphate 

5 

Basal  Mixture 

812 

284.2 

6 

Nothing 

560 

196.0 

Basal  Mixture 

7 1 

280  Its.  Precipitated  Dissolved  Bone 

784 

274.4 

Basal  Mixture 

644 

225 . 4 

560  Its  Precipitated  Dissolved  Bone 

'•'1 
in  S 

Basal  Mixture 

686 

240.1 

280  Its.  Precipitated  Acid  Phosphate 

Basal  Mixture 

560 

196. 

10 

560  Its.  Precipitated  Acid  Phosphate 

11^ 

Basal  Mixture 

658 

230.3 

205.8 

12 
iO  \ 

Nothing 

588 

686 

Basal  Mixture 

240.1 

13 

280  Its.  Bone  Meal 

\ 

14  j 

Basal  Mixture 

748 

251.8 

560  its.  Bone  Meal 

15 1 

Basal  Mixture 

560 

196. 

140  its.  Gypsum 

16 1 

Basal  Mixture 

658 

230.3 

280  its.  Gyjisuin 

17^ 

Basal  Mixture 

658 

230.3 

18 

Nothing 

487 

170.45 

* Basal  Mixture — 280  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

84  ffis.  Muriate  of  Potash. 


Here  again  phosphates  of  all  kind,  particularly  those  of  a 
soluble  character,  have  given  increased  yields ; but  the  same 
objection  of  drawing  conclusions  exist  here  as  under  Plat  12, 
and  it  is  best  to  await  another  trial  before  forming  an  opiuion. 

Plat  No.  14  is  devoted  to  experiments  with  different  forms 
and  quantities  of  Potash — asking  same  (piestions  for  cotton  as 
has  been  asked  under  corn. 


288 


l^LAT  14— POTASH. 


VARIETY  OF  SEED— BOYD’S  PROLIFIC. 


s 

s 

o 

6 

Fertili/er  Per  Acre. 

Yield  of  Seed  Cot- 

ton per  acre,  IBs 

Yield  of  lint  per 

acre,  IBs. 

Meal  Phosphate* 

1022 

296.38 

168  IBs.  Kainite 

5 

Meal  Phosphate 

840 

243.6 

^136  IBs.  Kainite 

Meal  Phosphate 

868  j 

251.72 

42  IBs.  Muriate  Potash 

Meal  Phosphate 

910 

'263.9 

84  IBs.  Muriate  Potash 

Meal  Phosphate 

756 

219.24 

6 

Nothing 

700 

203. 

7 1 

Meal  Phosphate 

42  IBs.  Siiljihate  Potash 

Meal  Phosphate ! 

826 

239.5 

84  tBs.  Sulphate  Potash i 

644 

186.76 

196  IBs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal .* 

oj 

280  IBs.  Acid  Phosphate 

700 

203. 

49  IBs.  Nitrate  Potash 

( 

84  IBs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

10 

280  IBs.  Acid  Phosphate 

854 

247.66 

98  IBs.  Nitrate  Potash 

v 

11 

Meal  Phosphate 

770 

223.3 

12 

Nothing 

554 

160.66 

* Meal  Phosphate — 280  IBs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

280  IBs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 


Remarks  upon  the  above  experiments  are  unnecessary.  In 
fact  no  experiments  with  cotton  this  year  on  this  Station  are 
deemed  of  value.  The  disastrous  storm  of  the  19th  August,  un- 
precedented in  its  fury  and  effects,  destroyed  in  a night  the 
cherished  hopes  and  longing  anticipations  of  months.  All  these 
experiments  germinated  well  and  excellent  stands  were  obtained. 
The  cultivation  was  very  satisfactory  and  up  to  the  storm  the 
entire  crop  gave  promise  of  the  most  decisive  results.  In  a night 
all  were  destroyed  and  expectations  of  results  postponed  to 
another  year. 

Besides  the  foregoing  work  the  Station  has  also  undertaken 
an  experiment  in  rotating  a field  with  Cotton,  Corn,  Oats  and 
Peas.  For  this  purpose  ^ight  acres  were  accurately  laid  off*, 


289 


roads  between  enoh  one,  Two  acres  are  devoted  to  eack 
crop,  one  fertilized  yearly  and  the  other  unfertilized.  Of  course, 
several  years  will  elapse  before  any  results  can  be  obtained. 

In  closing  this  report  it  would  be  well  to  say  that  this  Sta- 
tion sees  no  reason  for  changing  the  formulas  for  corn  and  cot- 
ton published  heretofore  in  its  bulletins,  and  in  reply  to  the 
numerous  inquiries  from  planters  and  farmers  will  here  repeat 
those  for  cotton,  found  heretofore  so  efficacious  : 

700  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

1100  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

200  ir^s.  Kainite. 

Mix  thoroughly  and  apply  in  a shovel  furrow  before  plant- 
ing, taking  care  to  mix  well  with  soil,  by  running  a bull  tongue 
through  it  after  distribution.  From  200  to  500  pounds  per  acre 
are  quantities  usually  recommended.  If  ('otton  Seed  is  on  hand 
it  may  be  profitably  made  into  a compost,  with  stable  or  lot 
manure  and  Acid  Phosphate,  in  following  proi)ortions : 

100  bushels  Cotton  Seed. 

100  Manure. 

1 ton  Acid  Phosphate. 

For  sandy  laud  1000  lbs.  Kainite  may  be  advantageously 
added.  Mix  well  this  compost  before  use  and  apply  from  300  to 
1000  ir)S.  per  acre  in  drill  before  planting. 


ANNUAL  REPORT 


OP  THE 


CALHOUN,  LA. 


BULLETIN  NO,  22. 


WM.  C.  SXUBJBS,  INI.,  X>.,  Uirector, 


ISSUED  BY 

THOMPSOJSr  J.  BIRD, 


pOMMISSIONER  OF  ^GRICULTURE,  ^ATON  flOTTGF,  J^A, 


BATON  ROUGE : 
Printed  by  The  Advocate, 
1889. 


NORTH  LOUISIANA  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  ) 
Calhoun,  La.,  January,  1889.  ^ 

Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agiieulture,  Baton  Koage,  La. : 

Dear  »So’--Ibaud  you  herewith  a report  of  Experiments  conducted  on 
this  Station  for  the  year  1888,  and  ask  that  you  publish  it  as  Bulletin  No.  22 

Respectfully  submitted, 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


REPORT. 


On  tlie  ♦Hh  day  of  April  there  was  turned  over  to  the  Louis- 
iana State  TTniversity  and  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College 
a tract  of  land  containing  330  acres  in  Ouachita  parish,  fourtecB 
nnles  west  of  Monroe,  lying  injinediately  on  the  Yickshurgy. 
Shreveport  and  Pacific  Eailroad,  and  near  the  village  of  Cal- 
houn. This  tract  was  without  fences  or  houses  of  any  kind.  A 
portion  of  the  land  was  cleared  and  had  been  considerably  worn 
by  constant  cultivation,  it  is  said,  of  seventy-five  years.. 
Another  portion  had  once  been  cleared,  but  was  now  covered 
with  a groAvth  of  short  leaf  pines,  averaging  over  1 foot 
diameter.  A third  and  larger  iDortion  was  covered  with  the- 
original  timber,  oak,  hickory  and  pine.  At  this  late  day  it 
seemed  almost  impossible  to  accomplish  anything  the  first  yeaiv 
But,  securing  the  services  of  Mr.  L.  M.  Calhoun  as  manager,  a® 
attempt  was  made,  and  the  results  which  follow  will  show  the 
great  success  which  he  achieved.  By  his  indomitable  energy- 
and  intelligent  direction  the  idace  was  gradually  transformed 
into  a Station  of  considerable  attractiveness.  Substantial  fences, 
of  wire  and  plank  were  soon  erected.  Fifty  acres  of  old  fields’^ 
were  brought  under  cultivation,  of  which  thirty  were  planted  in 
field  crops  and  twenty  devoted  to  experiments.  Contracts  were 
made  for  the  erection  of  the  necessary  buildings,  over  fifty  acres 
of  wooded  land  were  cleared  j cross  fences,  dividing  the  lands 
into  fields  for  tillage  and  pasture,  were  erected.  A garden  ot 
nearly  one  acre  in  size  was  paled  in,  large  gullies  were  filled  m 
and  unsightly  inequalities  removed.  Such  was  some  of  the 
work  performed  in  ’88.  The  dawn  of  ’89  illuminated  an  entirely 
different  scene  from  that  Avhich  was  presented  to  us  in  April,, 
1888 — a scene  which  now  remains  only  in  memory  as  the  horrid 
nightmare  that  haunted  us  in  “dream  and  wake”  during  this 
eventful  spring  and  summer. 


294 


The  .station  is  now  eciuipped  witli  dwellings,  barns,  stables 
and  laboratory.  It  is  completely  and  securely  enclosed.  It  is 
divided  into  tillage  and  pasture,  orchards  and  gardens,  wood- 
land and  meadow.  Thirty  acres  of  the  oldest  land  on  the  place 
liave  been  carefully  platted,  and  will  be  devoted  permanently  to 
field  experiments  in  manure  with  various  crops.  Another  held 
of  twenty  acres  has  been  devoted  to  experiments  in  small 
^rain,  grasses  and  clovers.  Ten  acres  have  been  dedicated  to 
onjhards,  vineyard  and  garden.  Fifty  acres  to  general  field 
orops,  and  the  rest  divided  into  pastures  for  different  breeds  of 
jstock.  Of  the  latter,  two  of  the  improved  breeds  of  cattle  have 
^ilready  been  obtained,  a jiair  each  of  Ilolsteiiis  and  Jerseys — 
the  former  fiom  31  r.  J.  3V.  Howard,  Aberdeen,  3Iiss.,  and  the 
latter  from  Dr.  William  E.  Oates,  of  Vicksburg,  Miss.  The 
Oolsteins  arc  lineal  descendants  of  the  celebrated  Aggie  family, 
w-hile  the  Jerseys  are  of  the  famous  St.  Lambert  strain.  Tw^o 
other  breeds  will  be  added  as  soon  as  our  resources  Avill  permit. 
Of  hogs,  the  Berkshire,  Essex,  Bed  Durocs  and  White  Chesters 
have  been  engaged,  and  will  be  received  early  in  the  spring. 
FoJiir  varieties  of  sheep  will  also  be  introilnced.  Later,  it  may 
be  advisable  to  introduce  one  or  more  breeds  of  horses,  since 
this  portion  of  Louisiana  is  specially  adapted  to  horse  and  mule 
araislng.  In  the  introduction  of  improved  breeds  of  stock,  the 
.Station  aims  to  benefit  this  portion  of  Louisiana  by  determining 
w'hich  kinds  are  best  adapted  to  this  section,  and,  further,  to 
^ive  practical  lessons  in  the  principles  which  underlies  stock 
IVMxliiig  and  stock  breeding. 

In  a lot  specially  dedicated  to  the  i^urpose,  sixteen  neat  web 
wire)  yards,  30x60  feet,  with  neat  and  substantial  houses,  have 
been  erected  for  different  kinds  of  poultry.  The  following  im- 
proved breeds  have  already  been  obtained  and  are  doing  finely, 
viz.,  Langshaus,  Black  3Iiuorcas,  Wyandottes,  Brown  Leg- 
tiorns,  Barred  and  White  Plymouth  Bock,  Buff  and  Partridge 
0>e!iins,  Honda  ns  and  Light  Brahmas  of  chickens,  and  the 
Pekin  duck. 

A trio  of  each  liave  been  obtained,  and  each  variety  are 
treated  precisely  alike.  A careful  dady  record  of  the  eggs  laid 
by  each  variety  is  kept,  together  with  such  other  characteristics 


295 


as  are  worthy  of  uote,  and  at  the  end  of  the  season  will  be  pub- 
lished for  the  benefit  of  the  public.  Later,  this  supply  of  poultry- 
will  be  increased  by  addition  of  other  varieties,  including  turkeys^ 
and  geese. 

This  Station  has  been  established  in  the  hills  of  Nortli 
Louisiana  for  the  purpose  primarily  of  benefitting  the  farmers^ 
of  that  section.  That  it  has  awakened  an  enthusiasm  among  the 
latter  is  evident  from  the  large  monthly  meetings  which  are 
held  the  last  Thursday  in  every  month  on  the  grounds  of  this^ 
Station.  The  Y.  S.  & P.  Kailroad  has  liberally  contributed  to 
this  movement  by  running  excursion  trains  on  the  day  of  meet- 
ing from  Yicksburg  and  Shreveport — thus  giving  the  farinerg;^ 
at  a reduced  cost,  not  only  an  opportunity  of  visiting  and  in- 
specting the  work  of  the  Station,  but  also  of  enjoying  the  bene- 
fits of  the  discussions  of  the  practical  questions  by  the  best 
farmers  of  North  Louisiana,  which  this  club  monthly  affords- 
This  club  is  called  The  North  Louisiana  Agricultural  Society,^ 
and  is  ably  presided  over  by  Capt.  J.  M.  \Yhite,  of  Lincoln  par- 
ish. Its  Secretary  is  Mr.  L.  0.  Drew,  of  Calhoun,  La.  This 
club  entertained  with  a fine  barbecue  the  State  Agricultural 
Society,  which  recently  held  its  annual  meeting  in  Monroe.  It 
has  also  undertaken  to  build  a large  hall  on  the  Station,  ia 
which  to  hold  its  monthly  meetings,  and  has  appointed  the 
necessary  committees  on  subscription  and  building.  In  a few 
months,  it  is  hoped,  the  hall  will  be  completed^  ami  will  be 
ample  in  its  accommodations  for  the  large  number  which, 
monthly  attend  these  meetings. 

At  no  time  does  the  Station  contemplate  keeping  more  live 
stock  than  will  answer  the  purposes  of  experimentation.  It  is^ 
therefore,  proposed  at  each  meeting  of  this  society  to  sell  its  sur-^ 
plus  at  auction,  thus  giving  the  farmers  an  opportunity  of  buy- 
ing at  their  own  figures.  Besides  the  above,  the  males  of  all 
breeds  will  be  permitted  to  serve  a limited  number  of  females  at 
prices  fixed  upon  by  a committee  appointed  b^-  the  above  men- 
tioned society.  Arrangements  have  accordingly  been  madetc* 
take  care  of  all  animals  thus  sent. 


ORCHARD  AND  VINEYARD. 


Early  in  the  winter  two  trees  of  each  of  ttie  folio -ving  were 
carefully  planted.  They  were  obtained  from  the  old  and  reliable, 
nursery  of  P.  J.  Berckmans,  Angnstaj  (la.: 


Lemon. 

Green  Ischia. 
Brunswick. 


Fjgs— 10  Varieties. 

Angeiique. 

Black  Ischia. 
Brown  Turkey. 
Celestial. 


Madeline. 

Blue  Genoa. 

White  Marseillea," 


Filberts— 1 Variety. 

White  Filbert. 
Almonds — 4 Varieties. 


Pistache. 


Rae’s  Mammoth. 
Angers. 


Jamucett. 
J.  T.  Budd. 
Black. 
Jackson. 
Luizet. 


Stanwix. 
Coosa  Neck. 

• Golden  Cling. 


Japan. 


Standard.  Princess. 

Quinces— 6 Varieties. 

Portugal. 

Chinese. 

Champion. 


Apkicots— 15  Varieties. 

Early  Golden. 

Moorpark. 

Red  Roman. 

Royal. 

Breda. 

Nectaeines— 8 Varieties. 

Early  Violet. 

Due  do  Tellier. 
Victoria. 

Chestnuts — 3 Varieties. 
Large  Spanish. 


Sultana. 


Meech^s. 

Orange. 


G.  De  Pourtales. 

St.  Ambrose. 

Finney. 

Precoce  de  Bourbon. 
Eureka. 


Boston. 

New  White. 


American. 


Jatanfse  Persimmons — 10  Varieties. 


Kurokurae. 

Minokaki. 

Zingi. 


Yellow  .Japanese.  Ko.  Tsnru. 

Hyakuiiie.  <lostatca. 

Hacheya.  Mazellu 

Among. 


Newman’s. 

Miners. 

Robinson’s. 

Masu. 

Kelsey’s  Japan. 


Pottowat 
Kanawha. 
Cumberland. 

Wild  Goose. 

Botan  .lapno. 

Long  Fruited  Japan. 


Pears — Dwarf  and  Standard — 34  Varieties. 


Belle  Lucrative  (S) 
Beurre  Easter  (F) 
Bemrre  D’Anjou  (F) 


Beurre  Laiigelicr  (F)  Beurre  Gitfard  (S) 
Beurre  Diel  (F)  Beurre  Superfine  (F) 

Duchess  D’Angoulemc  (F)  Butlbn_(S) 


297 


Daimio  (H)  Garbers  (H) 

Lawson  (S)  Smith  (H) 

St  Michael  Aichacgel  (F)  Urbaniste  (S) 

Petite  Marguerite  (S)  Glont  Morceaii  (F) 

Ike^'ens’  Genesee  (S)  St.  Martin, 

Le  Conte  (H)  K.>ifi.r(H) 

Clai)p’s  Favorite  (S)  Howell  (S) 

Madame  Von  Siebold  (H)  Osband’s  Summer  (S) 
Doyenne  D’I'lte  (8) 

(8)  Summer.  (H)  Hybrid.  (F)  Fall. 


Bartlett  (8) 
Mikado  (H) 
Philadelphia  (8) 
Hebe  (F) 

Ott  (8) 

Onondaga  (F) 
Seckel  (8) 

Wiut^jr  Nellis  (F) 


Peaches— Freestone  and  Cling — 32  Varieties. 


Alekaiider, 

Early  Beatrice, 

Cirawf  ucPs  Late  (C) 
Haney, 

Stonewall  Jackson  (C) 
Indian  Blood, 

Judo  (0) 

PicqueVs  Late, 

Stump  the  World, 


Early  Crawford, 
Early  Hale, 

H*"aTh  Late, 

Oriole, 

Tinsley October  (C) 
Colombia, 

Pa  das, 

Old  Mixon  Cling  (C) 
Darby’s  Cling  (C) 


Early  Rivers, 

Early  Louise, 

Amelia, 

Pineapple  (C) 
Thurber, 

Elberta, 

Osceola, 

Newington  Cling  (C) 
Fleitas, 

Stevens’  Rareripe, 


Cora,  Gen  Lee  fC) 

Reeve’s  Favorite,  Sylpliide  (C) 

(C)  are  clingstones,  the  rest  are  open  or  free. 


Red  Astra  chan  (8) 
Wallace  Howard  (F) 
Jev^’e^t’s  Best  (8) 
Hoover  (F) 

Maverack’s  Sweet  (W) 
Catinon  P«'armaia  (W) 
Tivscftloosa  (F) 
Carolina  Watson. (8) 
Santa  (W) 

Monlrne  (W) 

Rliodes  Orange  (S) 
Bnn combe  (F> 

Wine  Sap  ( W) , 

(8)  Summer  apple. 


Apples — 40  Varieties. 

Summer  Queeu  (8) 
Stevensnfi’s  Winter  (W) 
Pear  or  Palmer  (8) 

Elgin  Pijqiin, 

Early  Red  Margaret  (8) 
Horse  (8) 

Shockley  (W) 

Hi  Iley’s  Eureka  fW) 
Chai  tali' >ochee  ( W) 
J^lack  Warrior  (W) 
ilarvest  (8) 

Wash  ingtdn  Stra wlie  rry 
Howe  (VV) 

Ben  Davis  (W) 

(F)  Fall  Apple.  (W)  Wii 


Yopp’s  Favorite  (F). 
Etowah  (W) 

Mama  (F) 

Carolina  Greening  (F} 
Carter’s  Blue  (F) 
Hackett’s  Sweet  (W) 
Shannon  (F) 

Lanier  (F) 

Simmons  Red  (F) 
Disliaroon  (F) 
lb  uiani{»'  (W) 

S'  Kittageskee  (\V) 
Mangnm  (W)  • 

ter  Apple. 


Grapes — 50  Variet  ios. 


Salem. 

E 111  a rider. 
Massasoit. 
Mem  mac. 
Herbert. 

Be  rck  man’s. 
Cbnco»d. 

WHccnk. 
Tejogaih 
Mites.  1 
Wilie. 

LinHe. 

Fan  ay 
PealcAi.V.r 
Maxatawney. 
Martha. 

Mrs.  McLane. 
Black  Pearl. 


Koger’s  No.  8. 

“ 31. 


39. 


Anadna. 

Othello. 


gara. 
aith. 

Black  July. 

Emily. 

Herbert. 

Black  Eagle. 

Canada. 

Louisiana. 

Ell  m el  an. 


Missouri  Riesliug. 

Transparent. 

Alvey. 

Highland. 

Irving. 

Greiu’s  No.  31. 

“ ‘‘  53. 

u ((  4 

Allen’s  Hybrid. 
Diana. 

Amber. 

Norton’s  A’^irginia. 
Goethe. 

Excelsior. 

Brighton. 

Iona. 

'Black  Hamburg. 
Belinda. 


298 


To  the  above  must  be  added  tweuty-six  v^arieties  of  straw- 
berries shipped  from  Baton  Rouge. 

These  have  all  been  carefully  planted  and  fertilized,  and 
special  attention  will  be  given  them  in  the  future. 

SMALL  GRASSES  AND  CLOVERS. 

A special  area  has  been  devoted  to  experiments  in  the  above 
-^jrops. 

There  were  planted  last  fall  experiments  in  varieties  of 
Wheat,  Oats,  Barley  and  Rye.  There  are  also  experiments  in 
manurial  requirements  of  the  soil  with  Oats  and  Barley.  All  of 
these  are  at  present  writing  doing  well  and  promise  good  results. 

The  following  Clovers  have  been  sown  during  the  fall : 


Red  Clover,  White  Clover,  Crimson  Clover, 

Alsyke  Clover,  Bokhara  Glover,  Lucerne. 

It  is  too  early  yet  even  to  venture  an  opinion  as  to  the  re- 
'SllltS.  ' 

Of  Grasses  there  were  planted : 


Texas  Blue  Grass, 

Para  Grass, 

Red  Top  Grass, 

Tall  Meadow  Oat  Grass, 
Soft  Broom  Grass, 

Tall  Fescue  Grass, 
Italian  Rye  Grass, 


Kentucky  Blue  Grass, 
Orchard  Grass, 
Timothy  Grass, 

Rescue  Grass, 

Randall  Grass, 

Velvet  Grass, 

English  Rye  Grass. 


The  Rescue  seed  failed  to  germinate — the  rest  have  given 
stands  varying  from  excellent  to  poor.  They  have  been  toiv 
dressed  with  a suitable  manure  and  will  be  watched  carefully 
during  the  ensuing  year. 


THE  GARDEN 


has  been  prepared  for  the  reception  of  vegetables  at  once,  and 
fhe  seed  of  all  the  varieties  procured.  It  is  designed  to  test  the 
varieties  of  each  kind,  and  as  far  as  possible  to  develop  the 
.truck  industry,  both  for  home  use  and  for  market. 


299 


FIELD  EXPERIMENTS. 

I^ast  year  about  twenty  acres  were  devoted  to  experiments^ 
in  crops,  testing  varieties  and  manures  best  adapted  to  this  soib 
for  the  different  crops.  This  area  was  divided  into  15  Plats^ 
Plats  I.,  IIL,  V.,  VI,,  VIII.,  were  devoted  to  Cotton.  Plats  11.,. 
IV.,  VII.,  IX.  and  XVII.  to  Corn.  Plat  X.  to  Forage  Crops> 
Plat  XI.  to  Sorghums.  ' Plat  XII.  to  Sundry  Crops.  Plat  XIIL. 
to  Cow  Peas  and  Plat  XV.  to  Watermelons. 

EXPERIMEXTS  IX  COTTON. 

PLAT  NOS.  I AND  III. 

These  plats  were  selected,  No.  I.  on  the  sandy  land  and  No.. 
III.  on  the  red  lands.  They  are  of  same  size. 

They  were  divided  into  forty  experiments  of  three  rows  eachy. 
and  the  manures  applied  in  the  form  and  quantity  per  acre- 
designated  below.  The  rows  were  feet  apart.  The  manures- 
were  mixed  and  put  out  April  11th  in  a shovel  furrow,  their 
bedded  on  and  middles  split  out.  The  beds  were  then  har-^ 
rowed  flat,  opened  and  seed  planted  April  14th.  Variety  used. 
— Peterkin.  The  seed  were  covered  with  harrow  and  board.. 
They  were  chopped  out,  leaving  one  stalk  to  a hill  ever^- hoe  chop.. 
May  14th  and  17th,  offbarred  with  half-shovel  May  7thj  after 
cultivation  with  scooter  and  scrape.  The  land  was  very  poor, 
containing  little  or  no  vegetable  matter.  Each  plat  was  picked’ 
four  times.  Tbe  following  shows  manures  used  and  quantity  of' 
each,  date  of  picking  and  total  per  acre: 


RESULTS  OF  PLATS  I.  AXO  111.— COTTON  VvlTH  DIFFERENT  MANURES. 


Total 
Yield  per 
Acre. 

Plat  III. 

i 

?M%  g 1 .1  1 ill  I 1 II 1 I 1 i i s 

Total 
Yield  per 
Acre. 

Plat  r. 

i 

iiili  1 1 1 |fii  I III  1 |iii 

4th  Picking 
Nov.  24. 

Plat 

ill. 

gog®  § 5 ^ ^ ?gs  8 ?i5Sg? 

|m  §Sip  § § 1 g ggg  g ^ II  1 8 1 1 g 

3rd  Picking 
Oct  2. 

Plat 

III. 

iiii  i B i s ill  I 1 S3  S § s i 1 S 

iili  ill  i ill  I i ii  1 1 1 1 i 1 

2nd  Picking 
Sept.  3. 

1 Plat 

1 111.  1 

! 

IIII  g I i i ill  I i ii  i i 1 1 1 1 

iiii  III  i III  I iiii  1 i 1 1 i 

Ist  Picking 
Aug.  27. 

Plar 

Illr 

Si§§i  1 § I 1^11  1 III,  I lit? 

§i=°  I I » i ill  1 i ii  § i i ^ ? i 

P,  P. 


ililillfi 


it 

ililiiilS 

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f »C  3 TO  3 


RESULTS  OP  PLATS  I.  AND  III.— COTTON  WITH  DIFFERENT  MANURES— 


302 


THE  QUESTIONS  PROPOUNDED  OF  THIS  PLAT 

are  of  three  kinds.  1st.  What  valuable  ingredients  of  fertil- 
izers is  this  soil  in  need  to  grow  cotton  f 2d.  In  what  proportions 
shall  these  be  combined?  3d.  Shall  it  be  distributed  broadcast 
or  in  the  drill  ? The  three  valuable  ingredients  of  all  fertilizers 
are  Nitrogen  (Ammonia),  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash.  Cotton 
Seed  Meal  and  Cotton  Seed  have  been  used  to  supply  the  Nitro- 
gen. The  former  containing  about  7 per  cent  and  the  latter 

percent  of  this  ingredient;  Acid  Phosphate,  containing  14 
per  cent  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  ; and  Kainiie,  coutaining  12 
per  cent  of  Potash  have  been  used  as  the  sources  of  Phosphoric 
Acid  and  Potash.  These  substances  liave  been  used  alone  and 
combined  in  various  proportions  and  quantities,  and  every 
tenth  experiment  has  been  left  unfertilized,  so  as  to  get  at  the 
average  strength  of  the  land  experimented  with. 

Another  question  has  been  incidentally  asked,  which  is 
best  source  of  Nitrogen,  Cotton  Seed  Meal  or  Cotton  Seed  ? 
Unfortunately  these  seed  having  been  exposed  out  of  doors  for 
some  mouths  before  using,  were  thoroughly  dead  and  to  what 
extent  they  had  lost  their  fertilizing  properties  was  not  deter- 
mined. By  comparing  each  experiment  with  its  nearest  unma- 
tured plat,  the  increase  due  to  manure  can  be  obtained. 

In  Plat  I.,  beginning  with  Experiment  3 and  extending  to 
about  Experiment  17  was  a ])atcli  of  Bermuda  Grass,  which  had 
greatly  influenced  the  results.  Experiment  No.  10,  which  oc- 
curred in  this  patch  and  which  is  unmanured,  gave  a yield  of 
1060  lbs.  per  acre.  Even  here,  however,  the  manures  clearly 
show  an  increase  depending  entirely  upon  the  kinds  used.  If 
we  eliminate  Experiment  10  of  Plat  I.,  we  will  find  that  the 
averages  of  the  other  unfertilized  experiments  are  559  lbs.  for 
Plat  I.  and  502  ms.  for  Plat  III.,  which,  about  represents  the 
average  strength  of  the  field. 

Tabulating  the  results  as  we  find  them,  w e have : 


. Plat  I.  Plat  III. 

Average  of  all  nnfertilized  Exp’ts  Nos.  1,  10,  20,  30  and  40  . ObS  lbs.*  562  lbs. 

“ “ Acid  Phos.  “ “ 3 and  27  680  “ 645  “ 

“ “ Kainite  “ “ 4 and  28  640  “ 605  “ 

“ “ S.  Meal  “ “ 2,  11  and  15 1133“  846  “ 

Average  of  Acid  Phosphate  and  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  Experi- 
ments Nos.  6,  12  anil  16 • 1263  “ 853  “ 

Average  of  all  Acid  Phosphate  and  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  Ex- 
periments Nos  6,  12,  16,  21  and  24 1036  “ 926  “ 

Average  of  Cotton  .Seed  Meal  and  Pho'-phate  and  Kainite 

(ill  drill),  Nos.  8,  13  and  17 1230  “ 923  “ 

Average  of  all  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  Phosphate  and  Kainite  ‘ 

(in  drill).  Nos.  8,  13,  17,  22  and  25  1098  “ 962  “ 


303 


Plat  1.  Plat  II 

Average  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  Phosphate  and  Kainite 

(broadcast)  Nos.  9,  14  and  18 1133  “ 826  “ 

Average  of  all  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  Phosphate  and  Kainite 

(broadcast)  Nos.  9,  14,  18,  23  and  26  1020  “ 840  “ 

Average  of  Cotton  Seed,  Nos.  31,  34  and  37 t06  “ 843  “ 

Aveia^ie  of  Cotton  Seed  and  Acid  Phosphate,  Nos.  32,  35 

and  38 953  “ 856  “ 

Average  of  Cotton  Seed  and  Acid  Phosphate  and  Kainite, 

Nos.  33,  36  and  39 1006  “ 873  “ 

Average  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  Kainite,  No.  5 1040  “ 740 

From  the  above  there  is  no  doubt  that  this  soil  needs  first, 
Nitrogen  (very  badly) ; and  second.,  Phosphoric  Acid,  and  perhaps 
Kainite  in  small  quantities  may  be  beneficial.  In  Plat  I.  it  must 
not  not  be  forgotten  that  our  Bermuda  grass  patch  has  altered 
largely  our  average  results,  and  we  must  compare  each  experi- 
ment with  its  nearest  unfertilized  plat  to  get  at  its  true  increase. 
It  is  further  shown  that  this  soil  did  not  profit  by  large  quanti- 
ties of  any  ingredient  and  was  perhaps  unable  to  appropriate 
such  large  doses  in  its  present  enfeebled  condition.  It  was  also 
imperfectly  and  hastily  prepared  and  in  no  way  fit  to  receive 
heavy  fertilization.  These  experiments  also  show  that  both  Cot- 
ton Seed  Meal  and  Cotton  Seed  are  capable  of  supplying  the 
plant  abundantly  with  Nicrogen.  For  soils  similar  to  these  a 
combination  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal  and  Acid  Phosphate,  varying 
in  xiroportion  from  equal  parts  to  one  of  former  to  two  of  the 
latter  and  used  in  quantities  from  200 — 500  tbs.  per  acre  seems 
to  be  admirably  adapted.  If  the  soil  contained  a fair  amount  of 
vegetable  matter,  one  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal  to  two  of  Acid  Phos- 
lihate  can  best  serve  it.  If  it  be  deficient  in  vegetable  matter, 
then  equal  parts  had  better  be  applied.  In  both  instances  where 
soil  is  very  sandy  a small  amount  of  Kainite  had  better  be  added. 
In  almost  every  instance  the  fertilizers  applied  in  the  drill  have 
produced  suxierior  results  to  those  broadcast. 

PLAT  NO.  Y.— COTTON. 

Object — To  determine  best  distance  in  widthof  rows  for  cotton 
on  this  soil.  The  plat  was  broken  broadcast  and  150  tbs.  of  a 
mixture  consisting  of  two  parts  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  2 parts  Acid 
Phosphate  and  one  part  of  Kainite,  was  carefully  sown  broad- 
cast over  the  entire  plat.  It  was  then  carefully  laid  off  into 
rows  varying  in  width  from  2J  to  6 feet  wide,  giving  three  rows 
to  each  experiment.  The  rows  were  exactly  one-half  acre  in 
length.  It  was  planted  in  Peterkin  cotton, -April  17th,  and 
chopped  out  accurately,  ^‘one  hoe  chop'-  one  stalk  to  the  hill. 
The  following  are  the  results : 


304 


PLAT  NO.  V.— COTTON. 


Object — To  determine  best  width  ot  rows. 
Variable — Widtli  of  row. 

Constant — One  stalk  every  “lioe  chop.” 


a 

*3 

-C 

Ol 

’o 

* 6 

Width  of  Rows  iu  j 
feet.  j 

First  Picking, 

Sept.  4 til. 

' ...d 

o 

o 

4) 

CO 

Third  Picking, 

Oct.  4th. 

r o 

C 

b- 

> , 2 

a ^ 

"c  o 

H Ph 

i 

Total  Yield 

Per  Acre. 

j 

1 

2i 

8 fts.  ' 

' 7 ffis. 

44  tbs. 

1 tbs. 

204  tbs.:  168 

1148  tbs. 

-•2 

10 

64 

3 

1 

204  '140 

956 

U 

7 

84 

24 

264  i 120 

1060 

4 

4 

5 

5 

13 

6 

29  i 105 

1015 

-5 

U 

4 

74 

134 

64 

314  931 

980 

S 

5 

5 

74 

144 

6 

33  1 84 

924 

7 

54 

6 

104 

12 

6i 

35  1 76  4-11 

891 

S 

6 

() 

104 

11 

7 

344  t 60 

; 805 

It  is  plain  from  above  that  while  the  wide  rows  have  given 
largest  yield  to  the  experiment,  the  narrow  rows  have  given 
Tthe  greatest  yield  per  acre  and  sijggest  the  proper  widths  of 
^arows  for  cotton  in  such  lands  as  this  soil,  to  be  from  to  4 feet. 

PLAT  NO.  VI.— COTTON. 

Object — To  test  distance  required  by  cotton  in  the  drill  to 
obtain  best  results.  It  was  treated  exactly  like  Plat  V.,  both  in 
the  method  of  breaking,  manuring  and  planting.  Here  the  rows 
were  all  four  feet  apart  and  three  rows  taken  for  each  experi- 
ment. It  was  carefully  chopped  out,  leaving  one  stalk  every  8, 
12,  16,  20,  24,  30,  36,  42  and  48  inches  respectively  for  each 
^experiment.  By  a misunderstanding  several  varieties  of  cotton 
were  used  on  the  plat  which  may  invalidate  the  extreme  accu- 
racy of  the  results.  The  following  are  the  results : 


305 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  VI.— COTTON. 


Objcct~To  determine  distances  in  drill  for  cotton. 
Variable — The’  distance  in  drill. 

Constant — Width  of  row. 


No.  of  Experim’nt. 

Dist’nce 
apart 
in  drill 

First  Picking, 

Sept.  4th. 

1 Second  Picking, 
j Sept.  12th. 

\ 

Third  Picking, 
j Oct.  4th. 

Fourth  Picking, 
Nov.  12th. 

Total  Yield. 

L _ . 

Total  Yield 

Per  Acre. 

One  stalk 
every 

1 1 

' 8 in. 

! 19  ir>s.  ' 

1 20i  lbs. 

Hi  lbs. 

3i  lbs. 

544  it>s. 

1907  iFs 

2 

12 

! 15  • 1 

1 22 

9 

r> 

5U 

17  5 

3 

16  , 

; 17 

21i 

8} 

5 

52 

1820 

4 

20  ' 

15 

19i 

8i- 

5i 

1689 

5 

24 

14 

18^ 

8 

H 

45 

1575 

6 

30 

13 

17 

7i 

3 

40i 

1417 

7 

36 

13  ! 

IH 

8 

3i 

39f 

1391 

8 

42 

9 i 

14i 

5 

38 

1330 

9 

48 

, 9 1 

m 

4 

32f 

1146 

There  is  an  uncertainty  in  the  above  experiment  that  vitiates 
absolute  certainty — i.  e.,  the  use  of  different  varieties  of  seed^ 
But  it  is  i)lainly  shown  that  distances  from  8 to  20  inches  are 
productive  of  the  largest  re, suits. 

PLAT  VII.— COTTON— Varieties. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  cotton  offered  yearly  on  our- 
marketj  with  flaming  certificates  of  great  excellence  and  eulo- 
gistic testimonials  of  high  merit.  The  Station  here  and  at 
Baton  Kouge  last  year  determined  to  test  as  many  of  these 
varieties  as  they  could  obtain.  Accordingly  at  a great  cost  of 
labor,  time  and  money,  every  variety  of  merit  that  could  be  heard 
of  was  obtained.  They  were  placed  under  exactly  the  same  con» 
ditions  and  treated  as  far  as  possible  exactly  alike.  Excellent 
stands  were  obtained  and  with  great  care  they  were  chopped  out, 
leaving  one  stalk  in  hill  at  equal  intervals.  They  were  picked 
and  weighed,  and  each  variety  separately  ginned  on  an  improved 
20-saw  Gullett  gin  with  feeder  and  condenser,  and  lint,  seed  and 
motes  each  carefully  weighed.  Arrangements  had  been  made 
with  an  expert  in  Vicksburg  to  measure  tha  length  of  the  staple 
and  classify  each  commercially,  but  samples  were  not  reserved- 
The  following  are  results : 


RESULTS  PLAT  VIII.—COTTON— Varieties. 


® * -0  2 


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G>  G)  CG  X CG  CO  X ^ CO  X CO  T^.'  CO  G1  CG  CO  X CG  CG  CO  G1  X X X X G-!  X CO  G>  X 


rf  X C-  O 35  CO  00  X G -f  X 4-  X-  X Gl  t-  CO  -<  GO 


G 35  35  i-  X X X X X X X 4^  X t-  X CO  X O X X X 35  X 

f-.  CO  G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G G 4 ^ G G G G G G G G G 


X ^ i.O  X .0  C^  -4  G »■>.  CO  »0 
Tji  X 4^  ‘X  t-  G G 35  0>  >.0  X 0> 


X X X X G G OJ  04  G ».0  ^ X 

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cox  f. 


A close  iijspectioii  oralurvc  table  will  show  that  the  yield  of 
seed  cotton  per  acre  varies  fnmi  1444  lbs.  to  1838  lt)S.^  while  the 
yield  of  lint  per  acre  runs  frotu  (excluding  Sea  Island)  420  lbs. 
to  580  lbs.  The  seed  which  shows  the  highest  yield  of  seed  cot- 
ton per  acre  and  the  next  to  the  largest  yield  in  lint  has  a sin- 
gular history.  In  1880,  at  Baton  Tvouge,  there  were  two  acres 
devoted  to  experiments  in  oats.  These  oats  were  harvested  the 
last  of  May,  the  land  w as  plowed  and  planted  in  June  in  cotton 
and  not  ehop})ed  out  until  July  5th.  The  subsequent  seasons 
were  excellent  and  the  tw^o  acres  gave  a yield  of  over  a bale  per 
acre.  Having  exhausted  our  (»wn  seed  in  planting  in  spring,  we 
sent  to  a public  gin  in  Baton  Bouge  and  borrowed  two  bushels 
of  seed  from  a large  pile  then  on  hand.  These  seed  were  planted 
with  a planter  and  an  excellent  stand  obtained.  In  the  fall  a 
stalk  with  all  of  its  bolls  of  each  variety  (22)  specially  left  for 
the  purpose  was  dug  up  and  exhibited  at  the  Central  Fair  Asso- 
ciation in  Baton  Kouge.  Along  with  the  varieties  were  exhibited 
a stalk  of  this  cotton,  then  filicd  with  open  bolls.  This  cotton 
attracted  great  attention  and  the  subsequent  yield  per  acre, 
together  with  fre(pient  applications  from  farmers  who  saw  it  at 
the  Fair  tor  seed,  determined  us  to  propagate  it.  To  distinguish 
it  from  other  varieties  used,  the  farm  superintendent  labeled  it 
^^Oats”  cotton  and  it  has  since  borne  that  name.  The  seed  were 
raised  siamewhere  around  Baton  Eouge,  but  from  what  variety 
of  seed  is  unknown.  It  more  nearly  resembles  the  “Brannon,*^ 
a variety  largely  planted  around  Baton  Bouge  and  very  highly 
esteemed  but  is  distinctly'  different  from  it.  Its  origin  is 
shrouded  in  mystery  and  yet  in  this  trial  and  another  at  Baton 
Eouge  this  year  with  a larger  number  of  competitors,  it  has 
proven  itself  the  superior  of  many  of  the  so-called  pedigreed  cot- 
tons upon  which  time  and  money  have  been  prodigally'  expended 
in  propagating  and  developing.  Unfortunately  only  the  seed 
used  in  these  experiments  were  last  year  planted  and  hence  the 
supply^  is  quite  limited,  while  the  demand  is  very  large. 

inspection  of  above  tables  will  show  that  many  of  the 
above-named  varieties  are  without  any"  apparent  merit,  on  this 
soil,  and  caution  is  necessary  on  the  part  of  our  farmers  before 
the.v  procure  uew  seed  in  large  quantities  or  abandon  an  old  and 
tried  variety  for  a new  and  untried  one.  Here  as  elscAvhere  it  is 
best  to  go  slowly  and  await  tlie  trials  and  approval  by  the  Ex- 
periment Stations  of  all  new  crops  before  any  considerable 
investment  in  seed,  etc. 

CORN  KX  PERI MENT8 

were  of  three  kinds.  1st,  Mann  rial  requirements.  2d,  Distances 
in  row,  and  3d,  Varieties. 

PLAT  NO.  IL 

was  devoted  to  questions  of  mauurial  requirements  by  corn,  and 
the  following  are  the  list  of  experiments  with  yield,  etc. : 


I of 


PL^T  XO.  II.— OORX— MAXIJKES, 


Kind  and  Qnaiit  ity  uf  Matinro  Per  Aorw. 


i-2 

13 

14. 


15 

id 

17 

18 

19 

•20 

:2i 

32 

33 


No  Manmre. 

‘280  pounds  Cotton  Meal 


Acid  Phosphate 

Kainite 

Cotton  jMeal 

Kainite . 

Cotton  Meal 

Acid  Phosphate 

Acid  Phosphate 

Kainite 

Cot.  Seed  Meal,  ) , 

Acid ‘Phosphate  / |),jj| 
Kainite,  ) 

Same  as  No.  8,  broadcast 

No  Manure 

5 420  pounds  Cotton  Meal 

I 140  “ xVcid  Phosphate 

;;  420  Cotton  Meal,  ^ 


280 
280 
i 280 

I 280 
28(» 
260 
*280 
280 
i 2m 
} 280 
( 280 


s t 

5 

2 ^ 
o ® 
o P. 

.2  ^ 


470  IBs. 
1008  - 
532 
504 

952 

840 

476 


140 


Acid  T*ho8{diate, 


(140  “ Kainite,  ^ 

Same  as  No.  12,  Broadcast 

15  280  pounds  Cotton  Meal 

140  Acid  Phosphate 

( 280  “ C'Otton  5deai,  } 

I 140  “ Acid  Phosph’te  > 

(f  140  “ Kainite,  S 

Same  as  No.  15,  in  Drill 

j 140  pounds  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

^280  “ Acid  Phosphate 

C 140  “ Cot.  Seed  Meal  ) r 

}'  280  “ Acid  Phosphate  ' p, 

(140  Kainite,  1^ 

Same  as  No.  18,  Broadcast  

No  jNlanure 

5<§0  pounds  Cotton  Seed 


i 560 
(280 
( 560 

-A  280 

y 280 

2.1:1  84(i 

i 280 
{ 840 
26  7 280 
I (280 


Cotton  Seed  .... 

Acid  Phosphate  . 
Cotton  Seed  .... 

Acid  Phosphate  . 

Kainite 

Colton  Seed  . . . 

Cotton  Seed 

Acid  Phoshate  . . 
Cotton  Seed,  1 
Acid  Phosph’te  / T^_;n 
Kainite, 


In 


27 j Same  as  No.  26,  Broadcast. 
*28!  No  Manure 


1134 

1344 

588 

1148 


1050 

1064 

812 

700 

630 

336 

280 

602 

588 

952 

1078 

1022 

1218 

1148 

742 

700 

574 


Manures  prepared  and  put  out  April  11th.  Opened  with  shovel  plow  and 
.eovered  with  scooter  and  shovel.  Corn  planted  April  13th.  Opened  with 
3»50oter  and  covered  with  hoes.  Variety  used,  “Calhoun  Red  Cob.” 

The  results  of  this  plat  are  not  satisfactory  and  no  definite  inferences 
earn  drawn  beyond  the  fact  that  both  Cotton  Meal  and  Cotton  Seed  are 
.^Ecellent  sources  of  Nitroffcii  for  corn. 


309 


PLAT  VII.— CORN. 

Experiment — Different  width  of  rows.  A plat,  4 acre  in  dept%. 
was  broken,  and  over  it  scattered  broadcast  150  lbs.  of  the  mix- 
ture described  under  Plat  Y.  The  rows  were  then  laid  off,  from 
4 to  7 feet,  taking  three  rows  to  each  experimeBt.  M was 
planted  by  measure,  2 feet  in  drill,  and  thinned  out  to  one  stalk. 
m hill.  Variety  used — McLendon’s  Shoe  Feg.”^ 

RESULTS  PLAT  VII.— CORK 


Object — To  test  width  of  rows. 
Variable — Width  of  row. 

Constant — Distance — 2 feet  in  drill. 


w 

4.. 

0 

d 

:z; 

! 

j Width  of 
j Rows  in 

i 

1 

[ ¥aeM 

I per 

i 

1 

1 

4 feet. 

! 2695  fe®. 

2 

a 

5 

2S75 

3 

3486 

4 

6^  1 

2876 

5 

2338 

6 

7 

1874 

7 

138<> 

Here  the  5-foot  rows  have  given  the  best  results,  but  it  must  be^renofan- 
bered  that  this  was  a fair  piece  of  land  and  seasons  were  upon  the 
very  good.  Upon  thinner  land  and  a drouthy  season  the  wider  rows 
have  done  better. 


PLAT  XIV. 

Upon  this  Plat  a test  was  made  to  see  how  large  a yield  of 
corn  could  be  made  on  this,  our  best  plat,  at  this  late  dale,. 
April  16th. 

Five  rows  were  taken  to  each  experiment.  The  corn 
planted  in  5-foot  rows,  18  inches  apart.  It  was  up,  had 
thinned  and  worked  when  following  applications  of  manares^ 
were  made,  May  17th,  as  a top  dressing,  per  acre  : 

f 150  Its  Nitrate  Soda. 

1 J 2*^  Acid  Phosphate.  , 

■ * 1 75  lbs  Sulphate  Potash, 
i 300  lbs  Gypsum, 


310 


f 300  lt5s  Dried  Blood, 
j 22o  Its  Acid  Phosphate. 

) 75  Ihs  Sulphate  Potash. 

1 300  1138  Gypsum. 

^ f 75  Ihs  Nitrate  Soda. 

I 1.50  tbs  Dried  Blood. 

No.  3.  { 225  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

1 75  lbs  Sulphate  Potash, 

1^300  lbs  Gypsum. 

( 120  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

No.  5.  ' 120  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 

^ 60  11)S  Kainite. 

Each  of  above  experiineiits  contained  five  rows.  On  Nos. 
U g-iid  2.  two  rows  of  each  had  the  fodder  pulled  at  regular  time, 
leaving  the  other  three  rows  unpulled.  The  following  are  the 
results  per  acre : 


iriekl  per  acre  of  No,  1— Fodder  pulled 3037  lbs. 

'*  No.  I — Fodder  not  pulled 3557  lbs. 

No.  2-Fod<)er  pulled 3356  lbs. 

No.  2 — Fodder  not  pulled 4024  lbs. 

No.  3 — Fodder  uot  pulled 3405  lbs 

*■  No.  4— Fodder  iiot  pulled 2416  lbs. 


Here  in  No.  2,  fo^lder  not  pulled  has  produced  53  bushels 
shelled  corn. 

When  the  fodder  was  removed,  as  is  usually  done  all 
through  North  Louisiana,  there  was  an  actual  loss  of  520  lbs.  in 
No.  1,  and  008  lbs.  in  No.  2,  of  corn,  caused  by  fodder  pulling, 
amounts  equalling  about  7 and  9 bushels  per  acre,  or  say  15  and  20 
• per  cent  of  corn,  made.  With  forage  crops  given  elsewhere,  so 
easily  grown  and  cured  into  hay,  surely  it  is  wrong  to  pull 
fodder  from  onr  corn. 

PLAT  NO.  IX.— COHN  VARIETIES, 

i*lat  half  an  aero  deep.  Rows  five  feet  apart.  Six  pounds 
of  the  mixture  described  under  Plat  Y.  was  carefully  mixed  iu 
each  row.  Three  rows  taken  tor  each  experiment.  Manure  dis- 
tributed and  corn  planted  April  16th.  Corn  gathered  Sept.  28th. 
It  wa.s  weighed  iu  shucks;  then  shucked  and  shelled,  and  shuck ^ 
cob  and  grain  weiglied  separately.  On  the  next  page  are  given 
ares  lilts : 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  IX.— VARIETIES  OP  CORE. 


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312 


PLAT  X.— FOPAGP 

Mention  ha^  been  ina«le  of  injury  sustained  Ity  the  eovu  croji 
in  pulling  off  its  leaves  for  fodiler.  The  experinn*nts,  desi-ribed 
elsewhere,  hav^e  been  repeatedly  (‘arefully  made,  and  ahvays 
with  concurrent  results,  viz.,  a loss  from  8 per  cetff;  to  LhL]>er 
cent  of  the  corn  made.  In  Louisiana,  where  cral»  and  Bermuda 
grasses  grow  so  abundantly,  and  which,  when  eut  at  the  proper 
time  and  cured,  will  make  excellent  hay,  tliere  is  no  exeiise 
for  jmlling  fodder.  Were  we  without  these  valuable  grass<^s  we 
have  now  other  forage  cr<)i)s.  whiedi  are  easily  grown  and  cirred 
into  hay  j besides  furnishing,  in  many  instances,  enormous 
quantities  of  seed,  which  ai*e  valuable  substitutes  for  corn.  The 
following,  upon  properly  [prepared  aiul  ma7jme.d  grouml.  were 
grown : 

I’  h:< ) < I x im:— • ‘ li  t:  A N A \a  ;x  p u i a ns.  ” 

‘djf  South  Amei*i<?an  origin,  largely  exc.elling  all  other  known 
plants  in  size  of  growth  and  great  amount  of  foliage  produced. 
It  throws  up  tifteen  to  thirty  stalks  trouj  a grain,  and  oii  rich 
land  reaches  15  feet  in  height,  a solid  mass  of  foliage.  Cut  for 
green  feed  in  any  stage  it  is  foiunl  gsjoil  and  wdiolesome,  and  the 
second  and  third  growths  <‘oine  promptly  in  e<pial  vigor  and 
abundance.  Nothing  equal  to  it  for  an  errrormous  mass  of 
forage.  Requires  fertile  soil ; does  not  mature  seed  in  this 
climate.  Plant  in  April,  oxd  feet,  titnl  cnltix  ate  as  corn.’^ 

The  above  is  a ^lescriptiou  taken  from  a seerl  eatalogne.  This 
plantmatnred  its  seed  this  year  at  Sugar  Experiment  Station,  near 
New  Orleans,  and  they  will  be  <lisT:ri bated  over  the  vState  to 
farmers  and  planters.  It  is  a perernnal  in  its  native  habitat, 
but  after  growing  it  three  years  at  Raton  Rouge  no  iudication 
has  yet  been  given  of  its  stabl)ling  or  rattooning.  This  year  It 
will  be  watched  <ilosely  at  Kennc!*.  The  following  note  was 
made  by  Mr.  Calhoun,  Earjn  Superintendent,  relative  to  this 
plant:  From  one  seed  it  will  sucker  suMcieiitly  to  <mver  an 

area  2x3  feet.  Fs  a fine  green  food  for  all  kinds  of  stock. 
Horses  eat  it  rav(monsly.  Ft  cures  into  hay  very  slowly,  and 
does  not  stand  hot  dry  w eather.’’ 

PEA  KL  MilvLET— “ PEN  JSPECATA.” 

‘^This  is  an  old  familiar  favorite,  ku  >wu)  throughout  the 
South  as  Cat-tail  Millet,  Horse  and  Egyptian  Millet.  Ft  stools 


313 

largely  from  the  gimuni  aiul  makes  a great  mass  of  foliage,  can 
be  cut  several  times  in  a season,  furnishing  fresh  growth  as  long 
as  season  suits.  T'seful  only  for  green  feeding;  does  not  cure 
into  good  fodder,  nor  is  the  grain  suitable  for  feeding.  Sow  in 
April,  in  drills  4 feet  apart,  or  drop  a few  seed  in  hills  2x4  feet. 
Cultivate  as  corn.” 

What  is  said  above  of  this  plant  is  found  to  be  true  by 
]Mr.  Calhoun,  who  makes  the  following  remarks:  ‘‘An  excel- 
lent green  feed,  ('an  be  cut  every  two  Aveeks.  Will  not  cure 
i)ito  hay.”  It  is  useful  only  as  a soiling  crop. 

KAFFIR  CORN. 

“This  grain  was  iirst  dissendnated  in  1887,  and  has  attracted 
a large  degree  of  attention  and  favor.  For  some  reasons  it  pro- 
mises to  be  one  of  the  l)est  plants  for  grain  and  forage,  as  it  is 
certainly  one  of  the  most  vigorous,  handsome  and  productive. 
It  is  a variety  (d  Sorghum,  non-Saccharine,  distinctly  differ- 
ing in  habit  of  growth  and  other  characteristics  from  others  of 
that  class.  The  plant  is  low,  stocky,  perfectly  erect,  the  foliage 
is  wide,  alternating  closely  on  either  side  the  stalks.  It  does 
npt  stool  from  the  root,  but  branches  from  the  top  Joints,  pro- 
ducing from  two  to  four  heads  of  grain  from  each  stalk.  The 
heads  are  long,  perfectly  erect,  well  filled  with  white  grain, 
which  at  maturity  is  slightly  flecked  with  reddish  brown  spots. 
Weight,  ()0  lbs.  per  bushel.  The  average  height  of  growth  on 
good,  strong  land,  is  5.}  to  (i  feet,  on  thin  land  41  to  feet.  The 
stalk  is  stout,  never  blown  about  by  winds,  nevei-  tangles,  and  is 
always  manageable,  easy  handled.  y\  boy  can  gather  the  grain 
or  fodder.  The  seed  heads  grow  from  10  to  12  liK-)y<\s  in  length, 
aird  produce  on  good  land  reaches  dO  to  00  busljels  per  aen*. 

“It  has  the  <{aality  eomnton  to  many  .Sorghums  of  re.sistiug 
drought.  If  the  growth  is  checked  by  want  ol'  moisture,  the 
plant  waits  for  rain,  and  then  at  once  ivsiimes  its  proe(‘sses.  and 
in  the  most  disastrous  seasons  has  not  failed  so  fai-  to  make  a 
crop.  On  A'ery  thin  and  Avorn  laiids,  it  yields  payitig  crops  of 
grail)  and  forage,  even  in  dry  seasons  in  Avhich  corn  luis  utterly 
failed  on  the  same  lands. 

“The  Avhole  stalk,  as  Avell  as  the  blade.s,  cures  into  excellent 
fodder,  and  in  all  stages  of  its  growth  is  available  for  green  feed, 
cattle,  mules  and  horses  being  equally  fond  of  it.  If  cut  down 
to  the  ground  two  or  more  shoots  spring  from  tlie  root,  and  the 
growth  is  thus  maintained  until  checked  by  frost.  For  ensilage 
it  is  one  of  the  most  de.sirable. 

“The  Kaffir  Com  may  be  planted  in  Marcli,  or  early  in  April. 
It  bears  earlier  planting  than  other  Millets  or  Sorghums.  It 
should  be  put  in  roAvs  not  OA  or  three  feet  apart,  eA^en  on  best 
laud  ; should  be  mas.sed  in  the  drill  on  good  land,  for  either 
grain  or  forage  purposes,  and  also  on  thin  land,  if  forage  mainl}^ 


314 


is  desired.  Cultivate  as  common  corn.  It  matures  as  early 
as  Early  Amber  Cane.  Use  o to  5 lbs.  seed  per  acre. 

•^The  seed  beads  form  at  top  of  stalk,  and  the  joints  next  be- 
low send  up  shoots  which  the  second,  third,  and  often  fourth 
seed-heads.  If  the  crop  is  wanted  mainly  for  fodder,  it  is  re- 
commended to  cut  down  the  whole  stalk  when  the  first  seed- 
}»eads  come  into  bloom,  at  which  state  it  cures  admirably.  The 
second  growth  still  matures  a full  crop  of  forage  before  the 
middle  of  October. 

^^Flour  from  the  Kaftir  Grain  has  been  tbund  more  nearly 
analogous  to  wheat  than  any  other  grain  of  its  class,  for  batter 
cakes,  mufiins,  etc.,  it  is  excellent,  scarcely  distinguishable  from 
wheat;  and  for  buckwheat  cakes  is  an  improvement  on  the 
original.” 

The  above  from  xVlexander’s  Catalogue  is  so  descriptive  of 
the  plant  that  it  is  inserted  for  the  instruction  of  our  readers. 
At  Calhoun  this  plant  last  year  obtained  a growth  of  4 to 
feet,  and  each  seed-head  weighed  about  3 to  4 ounces.  The  seed 
are  also  valuable  for  poultry  feed.  This  plant  was  cured  into 
hay  the  last  of  September  and  gave  1.2. 28  tons  of  dry  hay  per 
acre,  A few  young  seed-heads  cured  with  it. 

MILO  MAIZK. 


^‘Of  South  xVmerican  origin,  has  been  well  advertised  and 
distributed.  Ualnable  as  a forage  [)lant  and  for  grain,  having- 
great  capacity  to  stand  drought.  It  can  be  cut  and  fed  at  any 
stage,  or  cured  when  heading  out,  for  fodder.  It  bears  grain  in 
erect  full  heads,  and  is  almost  equal  to  Corn  for  feeding ; also 
makes  excellent  iMeal.  The  yield  of  grain  will  average  30  bush- 
els per  acre  on  land  that  will  make  fifteen  of  Corn.  It  requires  all 
summer  to  mature  seed.  Plant  in  xkpril,  three  to  five  seed  in  a 
hill,  18  inches  apart,  4 to  5 foot  rows,  and  thin  to  two  plants  and 
cultivate  as  Corn.  It  shoots  out  greatly  and  makes  a great 
amount  of  foliage.  Three  to  five  lbs.  per  acre.  Can  be  cut  for 
green  feed  several  times  a season.” 

At  Calhoun  the  stalks  were  of  medinm  size  and  late,  heads 
heavy  and  regular,  cures  rapidly,  three  or  four  hours  hot  sun- 
shine suhicing.  Suckers  vigorously  after  the  first  crop  is  re- 
moved. This  ])lant  gave  at  the  rate  of  13.04  tons  cured  fodder  per 
a4;re,  or  39.30  bushels  of  Seed.  Seed-heads  resembled  the 
African  Millet,  but  smaller  and  fewer  seeded.  Seed  are  white? 
with  slight  pink  on  ends  with  dark  gbunes. 


315 


WHITE  DHOURA,  OK  LARGi^  AFRKCAN  MILLET. 

‘‘A  variety  of  8org'hum,  u on  Saccharine,  growing  a single 
stalk  8 or  10  feet  high,  and  yielding  headvS  of  grain  12  to  14 
inches  long,  weighing  0 ounces  to  a half-pound  when  fully  ripe. 
The  foliage  corresponds  to  the  foliage  of  amber  cane.  If  the 
whole  stalk  is  cut  down  and  cured  when  the  seed  are  in  dough 
state,  it  makes  excellent  forage,  easy  to  cure,  keeps  well  in  o ut- 
door shocks,  and  well  eaten  by  stock  through  the  winter.  If 
cut  in  the  green  state,  they  make  excellent  green  food,  and  the 
Shoots  that  spring  at  once  from  the  root  make  a second  crop  of 
forage. 

“The  grain  is  clean,  w hite,  dinty,  weighs  full  GO  lbs.  per 
bushel,  makes  a good  palatable  Meal  for  human  food.  All  farm 
animals  eat  of  it  freely  and  do  as  well  as  on  corn.  It  may  be 
used  continuously  without  lear  of  ill  results. 

“In  appearance  this  grain  is  hardly  distinguishable  from  the 
Milo  Maize,  or  Kiiral  Branching  Dhoura,  and  has  been  often 
coufounded  by  seedsmen.  But  it  has  beetE  generally  more 
popular  than  the  Milo  Maize,  because  it  does  not  stool  nor  jnake 
the  mass  of  forage  that  Milo  does,  yet  it  is  so  much  quicker 
growth,  maturing  in  90  to  100  days.  One  head  of  the  seed  is 
fully  ecitial  to  a good  ear  of  Indian  Corn,  and  the  yield  per  acre 
w ill  be  three  times  as  much  as  of  Corn.  It  bears  dry  weather, 
and  makes  its  crop  w here  corn  would  wholly  fail. 

“Plant  in  early  April;  in  8-feet  rows,  leaving  one  or  two 
plants  every  12  inches  in  the  row,  and  cultivate  as  Corn.” 

At  Calhoun  this  plant  gave  a large  tall  stalk  with  hesiTv 
foliage,  cures  rapidly,  four  hours  sunshine  sufti<*ing.  A good 
seed-head  on  nearly  eveiy  stalk.  Will  stand  crowding  to  6 
inches  in  drill. 

It  gave  w^hen  harvested  on  Sept.  29th  13.82  tons  of  excellent 
liay  and  47.25  bushels  of  seed,  after  considerable  depredations, 
One  dozen  average  stalks  gave  five  pound  seed  heads.  The 
latter  are  loug,  large  and  heavy — seed  are  white  with  pinkish 
tint  and  black  glumes. 

RURAL  BRANCHING  80RGHUM8  OR  YELLOW"  MILO  MAIZE.. 

“This  growth  is  tall,  eight  to  twelve  feet,  stooling.  from  the 
ground  like  the  white  “ Branching  Dhoura,”  or  Milio  Maize,  but 
not  so  much.  It  sends  out  also  shoots  iTom  the  joints.  The 
seed  head  grows  to  great  size  on  good  land,  often  weighing 
three-fourths  of  a pound ; soriEetimes  a full  pound  after  being 
fully  ripe.  The  graiu  is  double  the  size  of  White  Milo,  and  of 
deep  golden  yellow'  color.  Weight,  sixty  pounds  per  bnsheL 


316 


“In  shape  the  seed  head  is  thick,  well-shouldered,  solid,  aud 
by  size  aud  weight  each  is  the  full  ecpial  of  a fine  ear  of  Corn. 
The  heads  turn  down,  and  when  ripe  it  hangs  on  a short  goose- 
neck stem.  The  plant  possesses  all  the  vigor  and  vitality  of 
other  Sorghums.  It  is  non  saccharine,  useful  only  for  the  large 
amount  of  forage,  green  feed  or  cured  fodder  that  it  furnishes, 
and  for  its  grain  which  is  so  tine  in  appearance,  abundant,  and 
well  eaten  by  mules,  horses,  cows  and  hogs. 

^Tt  is  much  earlier  in  matuiing  than  the  White  Milo  jMaize, 
ripening  seed  by  the  middle  of  July,  and  for  this  reason  is  inoro 
reliable  than  the  later  white  variety.  It  may  be  cut  down  for 
green  feed  at  a\(y  stage  of  its  growth,  and  comes  again  promptly, 
often  yielding  three  or  four  good  ’cuttings^  in  a season.  It  is 
well  eaten  by  all  farm  stock.  The  fodder,  cured  as  Corn  blades 
are  cured,  is  of  equally  good  quality,  and  the  quantity  of  it  is 
enormous.  On  account  of  its  branching  habit  and  tall  massive 
growth,  this  grain  should  be  planted  in  four  to  five-foot  rows, 
and  six  inches  in  the  drill,  according  to  the  quality  of  the  land. 
The  cultivation  is  like  Corn.  It  is  early  enough  to  be  adapted 
to  cultivation  in  the  Northern  States,  as  well  as  the  South,  and 
by  its  massive  growth,  it;  highly  suitable  for  ensilage.’^ 

At  Calhoun  this  plant  was  large  and  tall  with  heavy  foliage, 
large  heads,  inclined  to  mildew  in  protracted  damp  weather.  Ee- 
quires  six  hours  hot  sunshine  to  cure.  Stock  fond  of  it.  It  gave 
13.G5  tons  of  cured  fodder  per  acre  and  31  A- bushels  seed.  Seed 
yellow  with  black  glumes.  When  cut.  Sept.  29,  it  had  many 
immature  seed  heads  shooting  from  sides  of  stalks. 

Two  rows,  one  half  acre  long,  of  the  last  three,  Millo 
Maize.  Large  African  Millet  and  Enial  Branching  Sorghum 
were  left  to  produce  seed.  From  these  two  rows  were  taken  a 
large  number  of  seed  heads  by  farmers  visiting  the  Station. 
This  privilege  was  given  to  all  visitors  and  was  freely  exercised. 
The  large  African  Millet  suffered  the  most,  on  account  of  the 
attractiveness  of  its  large  plump  heads.  When  the  crops  from 
these  rows  were  harvested  the  seed  heads  actually  obtained  were 
weighed  and  threshed  and  a number  of  bushels  per  acre  ascer- 
tained. The  stalks  on  these  rows  w^ere  all  accurately  counted 
and  then  12  average  stalks  selected  and  their  seed  heads  removed, 
weighed,  threshed  and  net  grain  weighed  and  a calculation  made 
for  an  acre. 


317 


Below  are  actual  aud  calculated  results  of  each  per  acre : 

Seed 

actually  Seed 

obtained.  calculated. 

Rural  Brandling  Sorghum  31.50  hushels.  46.20  bushelH. 

MiloMaize 39.30  “ 55.30  ‘‘ 

Large  African  Millet. 47.25  “ 107.12  “ 

Besides  the  above-mentioned  Forage  crops,  Plat  XI  was 
devoted  to  Sorgboins  for  the  double  purpose  of  testing  their 
capacity  for  sugar  making  and  for  forage  purposes. 

They  were  all  subjected  to  careful  chemical  analyses  in 
September  and  results  published  in  Bulletin  Xo.  10. 

The  rest  of  the  plants  were  cured  into  fodder.  The  follow- 
ing varieties  used : 

EARLY  AMBER  SORCIHUM. 

Stalk  small,  and  heads  light.  Matures  several  weeks  ahead 
of  any  other  variety.  Too  small  for  much  tonnage. 

EARLY  ORANGE. 

Medium  stalk,  heavy  heads  j cures  well  into  hay.  Matures 
two  to  three  weeks  later  than  Early  Amber.  An  excellent  va  - 
riety for  forage. 

NEW  ORANGE. 

Similar  in  every  respect  to  Early  Orange. 

WHITE  INDIA. 

Very  large  stalk,  heavy  white  seed  heads.  Matures  much 
later  than  Amber.  Cures  well.  Tonnage  heavy.  Excellent  tor 
forage. 

LINK^S  HYBRID. 

Heavy  heads.  Very  large  stalks.  Cures  well.  Matures 
with  White  India.  Tonnage  heavy.  Excellent  for  forage. 

GOLDEN  ROD. 

Large  stringy  heads.  Stalk  quite  large  and  tall  and  red  in 
color.  Cures  well.  Tonnage  large. 


318 


Witli  above  forage  crops  so  easily  and  cheaply  grown  and 
so  easily  cured  into  fodder,  there  is  no  reason  why  we  should 
pull  fodder,  or  even  be  without  an  abundance  of  forage.  They 
suggest  too  the  possibilities  of  stock-raising  in  the  near  future, 
when  we  shall  grow  tired  of  raising  all  cotton. 

PLAT  XIV 

was  devoted  to  sundry  crops,  as  follows : 

Bmzillian  Flour  Corn. — A small  variety  of  maize  j very  deli- 
cate in  growth  ; small  stalk.  It  gave  with  us  two  to  five  succors 
to  each  stalk,  wdth  a more  or  less  developed  ear  on  each.  The 
corn  is  very  soft,  easily  destroyed  by  weevils  and  makes  a white 
meal  resembling  somewhat  wheat  flour.  A thorough  trial  with 
chemical  analysis  will  be  given  another  year.  It  may  become 
acclimated,  if  so  it  may  then  be  valuable  as  bread  corn.  At 
present  it  seems  unworthy  of  cultivation. 

Buckwheat. — Germinates,  grows  and  matures  in  a very  short 
time,  permitting  three  crops  annually  on  same  soil.  Havy  rains 
and  very  damp  weather  seem  disastrous  to  this  crop  while  fruit- 
ing, causing  mildew  to  fruit  and  blight  to  stalk.  Sown  broad- 
cast and  turned  under  is  a good  renovator  of  worn  soils.  It  is 
also  excellent  for  bees. 

Chapman^s  Honey  Plant, — Very  delicate  while  young — re- 
quiring good  seasons — does  not  stand  drouth  well.  Our  plants 
are  now  one  year  old  and  the  next  year  or  two  will  decide  their 
merits.  It  is  said  to  be  excellent  for  honey  bees. 

Spafm/i  Peanut. — A desirable  variety,  early,  a fine  bearer, 
growth  perfectly  erect,  not  spreading  on  the  ground  like  the 
common  kinds  of  peanut,  and  therefore  easily  cultivated,  the 
plow  doing  all  the  work.  Also,  in  harvesting,  all  the  Peas  hang 
to  the  root  and  can  be  rapidly  gathered.  Planted  in  April  they 
ripen  in  August,  and  planted  as  late  as  July  1st  to  10th,  will 
mature  full  (jrops  before  frost.  Therefore  they  are  useful  to  fol- 
low after  oats.  The  stems  grow  erect,  are  easily  harvested  for 
forage,  making  the  richest  quality  of  hay.  The  Pea  is  smaller 
than  the  Virginia  Peanut,  but  very  sweet,  fills  out  well,  makes 
no  pops.  Can  be  planted  close  in  the  row  and  in  the  drill,  yield . 


319 


iig  largely  per  acre.  \§j)l^did  to  fatten  hogs  aad  children.^' 
The  vine  retains  its  greenness  much  longer  than  other  varieties, 
suggesting  its  superiority  for  forage:  Yield  very  large. 

Yircfinia  Peanut. — "Seines  large  and  growiug  flat  on  the 
ground,  fruiting  from  tap  root  to  extremity  of  vine.  Fruit  faulty; 
two  to  four  nuts  to  pod.  Pods  large  and  colored  light  pink. 
Yield  medium. 

Georgia  Bed  Peanut. — Yines  medium  size,  growiug  up  from 
the  ground  and  fruiting  principally  near  the  tap  root.  Pods 
faulty;  three  to  four  nuts  each,  (/olor  red. 

PLAT  XIIL 

was  devoted  to  Cow  Peas.  Unfortunately,  but  little  is  known 
of  the  botany  of  this  genus  of  plants,  which  has  been  erron- 
eously styled  a pea.  It  is  really  a bean, ‘‘ Dolichos,”  but  the 
species  under  this  genus  hav^e  never  been  fully  determined.  Of 
varieties  we  have  a great  number,  presenting  differences  in 
habits  of  growth  and  maturing,  and  giving  seed  of  every  size 
and  quality,  and  of  every  shade  ot  color  from  the  purest  white 
to  the  deepest  black.  This  crop  is  highly  prized  for  fertilizing 
purposes  among  the  sugar  planters  of  South  Louisiana,  but  else- 
where throughout  the  South  it  does  not  receive  one-half  the 
attention  which  its  valuable  properties  should  merit.  In  time  it 
is  hoped  that  both  its  botany  and  its  economical  position  in 
Southern  agriculture  will  be  both  fully  understood. 

The  following  varieties  were  this  year  grown  : 

^^Pea  of  the  Bachivood.s^  or  ^The  Old  Man'^s  Friend.’’ — This  pea 
was  brought  to  notice  two  years  ago  by  the  letters  of  Mr. 
Edward  Fonville,  of  Onslow  county,  X.  C.,  in  the  Southern  Cul- 
tivator. It  was  recommended  as  the  earliest  bunch  pea,  and  ex- 
cellent for  table  use.  It  has  so  proved,  two  weeks  ahead  of  any 
other,  a larger  bearer,  and  as  a shell  pea  for  table  use,  tender, 
marrowy  and  i)alatable.  Are  ripe  for  table  use  just  six  weeks 
after  planting.  It  is  a bunch  pea  strictly,  therefore  alfording 
not  much  vine.  The  seed  are  small,  cream  colored,  slightly 
^pied.’  Yery  prolific.’’ 

At  Calhoun  it  matured  in  forty  days.  Two  crops  a year 
were  grown  on  same  ground  last  year  at  Baton  Rouge. 

‘^Tiie  Unknoicn  Pea. — Is  a greenish  white  color,  full  size, 
makes  much  vine,  vigorous  growth,  large  bearer.  Pods  long 


320 


jMid  very  full,  and  rn  favorable  sea.sous  (‘ontimuns  to  make  or 
bear  fruit  during  several  weeks.  It  is  a very  fine  pea,  worthy 
to  come  into  general  use.  The  Boss  Pea  advertised  last  year 
proved  to  be  identical  with  the  Unknown.'’ 

At  Calhoun  it  was  very  late  bearing  and  gave  only  a mod- 
erate yield  of  peas,  but  exceedingly  heavy  foliage. 

^‘‘The  Conch  Pea. — A small  white  pea,  of  delicate  table  qual- 
ity; a great  producer,  remarkable  for  the  amount  of  vines  it 
makes,  often  ?A)  feet  in  length,  on  good  soil.  The  vine  runs 
ciose  to  the  earth,  shades  the  land  well,  and  produces  a great 
amount  of  hulm  for  tertilization,  besides  a full  crop  of  peas. 
Plant  in  May.  One  quart  will  cover  an  acre  densely  with  vine^ 
if  planted  two  or  three  in  a hill,  ti  to  10  feet  apart.  Closer  plant- 
mg  will  not  make  seed,  though  plenty  of  vine.  Among  frnit 
trees  and  grape  vines  it  keeps  down  the  growth  of  weeds  and 
endches  the  land.” 

At  Calhoun  the  vines  grew  to  great  length,  completely  cov- 
edtig  the  ground,  but  gave  no  fruit.  At  Sugar  Experiment 
Station,  when  planted  in  hills  0 to  10  feet  apart,  it  bore  a moderate 
crop  of  berries. 

Dicarf  Whippoorwill  Pea. — A bunch  i>ea,  wuth  but  little 
vhies.  Begius  fruiting  in  fifty  or  sixty  days.  Berry  speckled, 
pods  long  and  full,  yield  good. 

Clay  Pea. — Vines  and  foliage  medium.  Begins  fruiting  in 
seventy-five  days.  Yield  good.  Berry  cream  colored  with  white 
eye,  medium  in  size.  Pod  of  medium  length  and  not  crowded. 

Lady  Pea. — A small  white  pea,  wdth  considerable  vine  of 
medium  foliage.  Begins  fruiting  in  ninety  days  from  time  of 
planting. 

White  Prolific  Pea. — Vines  large;  foliage  heavy;  yield  of 
pms  good.  Bears  in  eighty  to  ninety  days.  Berry  large  and 
closely  resembling  the  next  variety. 

Jjarge  White  Pea. — Vines  and  foliage  heavy  ; very  late  fruit- 
ing. A large  white  pea  and  very  prolific. 

Indian  Pea. — A large  liver  and  white  pied”  pea,  with  long 
and  crowded  pods.  Very  prolific.  Yines  and  foliage  heavy. 
Begins  fruiting  in  sixty  to  ninety  days.  Berry  soft  and  does 
not  keep  well. 

King^s  Pea. — A large  black  and  white  pied  pea.  Large  and 
crowded  pod.  Vines  and  foliage  heavy.  Verj^  prolific.  Begins 
jfmiting  in  sixty  to  seventy  days.  Berry  too  soft  to  keep  well. 

Red  Ripper  Pea. — A large  red  pea,  with  long  and  crowded 
pods.  Vines  and  foliage  medium.  Bears  fruit  in  seventy-five 
days. 

8oja  Bean. — Very  dwarfy.  Fruits  badly,  and  seed  of  no 
vala©  with  us.  Will  stand  neither  wet  nor  dry  weather  in  this 
climate.  This  is  the  third  season’s  trial  of  this  crop  in  Louisiana 
and  each  year  a failure.  It  is  deemed  unworthy  of  further  trial 

where  in  this  State. 


SUGAR  CANE 


LABORATORY  AND  SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


L 


DIFFUSION  PROCESS. 


BULLETIN  No,  23 


OF  THE 


{ mimm  iii 

KENNER,  LA. 


WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Ph.  D., 


ISSUED  BY 


THOMPSO^^  J.  BIRD, 


Commissioner  of  ^Agriculture,  ^aton  jTouGE,  J..A. 


BATON  ROUGE: 
Printed  by  The  Advocate. 
1889. 


:AV  ' 


:.  •■••  ■i  '■  tC- 


■y;* 

■^1- 

. ; -V*  - 


SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  } 
Kenner,  La.  } 

Alajor  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir—1  herewith  enclose  the  results  of  Laboratory  and  Sugar  Hons© 
experiments  in  Sugar  Cane,  obtained  during  the  past  season  and  ask  that 
they  bo  published  as  Bulletin  No.  23. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

WM.  C.  STUBBS, 

Director. 


DIFFUSION  OF  SUGAR  CANE, 


Through  the  appropriations  made  by  the  State  Bureau  of 
Agriculture  ami  tlie  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Washington, 
D.  0.,  tlie  Sugar  Experiment  Station  was  enabled  to  conduct  a 
series  of  field,  laboratory  and  sugar  house  experiments  with 
sorghum — results  of  which  have  been  fully  described  in  Bulletin 
No.  ID  of  Louisiana  State  Experiment  Station  and  Bulletin  No, 
20  of  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  Division  of 
Chemistry. 

The  experiments  in  sorghum  which  were  discontinued  in 
October,  were  succeeded  by  those  with  sugar  cane,  and  the 
machinery  erected  in  the  sugar  house,  especially  for  sorghum, 
was,  with  slight  alterations  and  modifications,  adapted  to  the 
work  on  sugar  cane. 

The  following  description,  i>ublished  in  the  Louisiana  Planter j 
of  September  8th,  will  serve  to  give  a general  idea  of  the  diffu- 
sion outfit  and  other  accessories  for  the  successful  manufacture 
of  sugar  from  sorghum: 

‘‘The  sorghum  cut  down  in  the  field  is  brought  to  the  sugar 
house  with  its  leaves  and  tops  and  placed  on  a cane  carrier,  butts 
forward.  The  carrier  conveys  it  to  a rapidly  revolving  cylin- 
drical frame  with  two  heavy  knives,  where  it  is  cut  into  pieces  of 
I to  1 inch  in  length.  Between  the  carrier  and  the  knives  is  an 
open  space  of  about  12  inches,  through  which,  into  a shute,  fall 
the  tops  by  their  own  weight  whenever  they  are  unsupported  at 
both  ends.  The  cut  pieces  of  cane  are  dropped  from  the  knives 
througha  i)erpendicular  distance  often  feet.  At  the  same  time 
they  are  acted  upon  by  a powerful  blower,  similar  in  action  to  a 
rice  or  wheat  fan.  This  blast,  aided  by  a shaker,  removes  the 
adhering  fodder  and  drives  it  to  a carrier,  which  takes  it  from 
the  mill.  In  a large  mill  with  bagasse  burner  it  is  carried  to  the 
furnace  and  serves  as  a fuel. 


326 


^‘The  clean  pieces  of  cane  are  now  taken  by  a conveyor  and 
carried  to  another  cylinder  with  four  knives,  where  they  are 
now  comminuted  into  very  small  chips.  These  in  turn  are  taken 
by  another  conveyor  and  carried  over  the  difiusion  cells,  where 
through  openings  and  a spout,  each  cell  can  be  tilled.  The  ditfu- 
sion  battery  consists  of  fourteen  cells,  each  with  a capacity  of 
13.52  cubic  feet  and  arranged  in  double  lines.  large  cistern, 
forty-tive  feet  high,  supplies  the  battery  with  water,  while  a 
barrel  of  water  on  the  top  of  the  cistern  makes  the  liydraulic 
joints  at  the  top  and  bottom  of  each  cell. 

‘‘An  air  pump  and  condenser  supplies  the  air  to  drive  the 
juice  from  the  chips,  and  the  latter,  after  exhaustion,  are  dumped 
into  a car  under  the  battery,  which  removes  them  to  the  held. 
A large  heater  on  the  tioor  and  a small  heater  to  each  cell  sup- 
ply the  heat  to  the  water,  while  an  inverted  thermometer  shows 
the  temperature.  Each  cell  has  a small  pet  cock,  by  whichjnice 
from  each  cell  may  be  taken  for  analysis. 

“The  battery  is  so  arranged  that  the  juice  may  be  sent  to  the 
settling  tanks  to  be  treated  with  tannic  acid  ; to  the  sulphur 
machine  to  be  sulphured  j to  the  claritier  to  be  defecated  in  any 
manner  desired,  or  directly  to  the  double  effect. 

“It  is  also  arranged  so  that  the  scums  and  settlings  can  be 
easily  returned  to  the  cells  or  sent  through  the  filter  press. 
After  clarification  the  juice  is  sent  to  an  upright  double  effect 
and  there  concentrated.  The  vacuum  strike  pan  and  the  cen- 
trifugal completes  the  operation  of  the  manufacture  of  sugar. 
Scales  have  been  i)rovided  for  accurate  weighing  at  the  different 
stages  of  manufacture.  A large  wagon  scale  in  the  yard  weighs 
the  cane.  Another  large  pair,  suidi  in  the  floor  of  the  sugar 
house,  weighs  the  juice,  syrup,  sugar  and  molasses,  while  a 
portable  platform  scale  by  the  vacuum  })an  serves  to  weigh  the 
syrup  before  entering  the  pan  and  the  masse  cuite  afterwards. 

“The  laboratory  has  also  been  improved  to  keep  pace  with 
the  sugar  house.  A new,  large  and  accurate  Schmidt  & Haensch 
polariscope  has  just  been  imported.  This  has  a double  compen- 
sation by  which  each  reading  can  be  made  four  times,  thus 
avoiding  the  error  that  may  arise  from  single  readings.  A 


327 


KjeldahPs  battery,  for  the  rapid  determination  of  albuminoids, 
has  also  been  erected.  With  this  battery  will  be  made  accurate 
determinations  of  the  albuminoids  in  the  raw  juices,  in  the  scums, 
in  the  juices  clarified  by  different  processes,  in  the  syrups  and  in 
the  molasses.  In  this  way  much  information  relative  to  the 
efficacy  of  the  different  clarifying  agents  will  be  gained. 

“Of  the  latter  there  is  on  hand  a supply  of  sulphur,  lime,  car- 
bonate of  lime,  tannic  acid,  superphosphates  of  lime  and  alumina 
and  bisulphite  of  lime.  For  filtering  media  the  station  has  Ger- 
man and  Alabama  lignite,  charcoal,  sawdust  and  rice  hulls. 

“Mr.  Maurice  Bird,  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Virginia 
and  a chemist  of  considerable  reputation  and  experience,  has 
succeeded  Mr.  W.  L.  Hutchinson  and  has  charge  of  the  labora- 
tory. He  is  assisted  by  Mr.  T.  H.  Jones,  a graduate  of  the  A. 
and  M.  College  of  Alabama,  and  Mr.  W.  P.  Martin  of  Lafourche, 
a graduate  of  the  University  of  Louisiana  at  Baton  Rouge. 

“Mr.  J . P.  Baldwin,  of  St.  Mary,  has  charge  of  the  sugar  house 
and  will  be  aided  by  Mr.  D.  Barrow  and  Mr.  J.  G.  Lee  assist- 
ants from  Baton  Rouge  and  Calhoun.  Mr.  Fyler,  of  North  Caro- 
lina, will  also  work  in  the  sugar  house.’^ 

October  13th — ^The  first  experiment  with  sugar  cane  was 
made  witli  cane  cut  down  in  the  field  with  leaves  and  tops  on. 
This  experiment  was  made  to  see  if  the  machinery  which  had 
successfully  topped  and  stripiied  sorghum  would  not  do  the  same 
with  cane.  It  successfully  topped  and  stripped  the  cane  but  it 
also  sent  too  many  green  joints  into  the  diffusors,  wdiich  greatly 
lowered  the  purity  of  the  juices.  No  arrangements  had  been 
made  to  carry  off  the  tops  and  trash  and  it  was  soon  discovered 
that  these  accumulated  in  such  quantities  as  to  requirehand  labor 
to  remove  them.  This  to  us  was  a great  inconvenience,  but  it  sug- 
gested at  once  a source  of  profit  to  the  sugar  manufacturer.  By 
cutting  the  cane  and  permitting  it  to  lie  in  the  field  long  enough 
to  wilt  (twelve  hours’  sunshine  will  be  abundantly  long),  these 
tops  and  leaves  become  a valuable  fuel  and  may  be  carried 
directly  to  the  bagasse  burner  where  they  will  aid  in  burning 
the  expressed  chips.  In  this  way  a large  amount  of  fuel,  now 
wasted,  might  be  profitably  used. 

Again  it  is  highly  probable  that  a fan  might  be  so  con- 


328 


structed  and  geared  that  it  would  remove  all  of  the  green  and 
immature  parts  of  the  cane  with  the  trash  and  permit  only  the 
red  matured  joints  to  pass  on  to  the  comminiitor.  This  supposi- 
tion is  based  upon  the  marked  differences  in  the  specific  gravi- 
ties of  the  two  parts  of  the  cane  and  the  analogous  work  per- 
formed by  a first  class  wheat  fan  actiug  upon  the  same  principle. 

The  expense  of  stripping  and  topping  the  cane  for  the  mill  is 
very  great,  while  that  of  simply  cutting  the  cane  down  is  very 
small.  The  average  cane  dried^  will  give  about  30  per  cent  of  its 
weight  in  leaves  and  tops,  and  the  only  additional  cost  would  be 
the  labor  of  hauling  to  the  sugar  house  this  extra  weight. 
Against  this  would  be  the  fuel  value  of  this  trash  and  the  dimin- 
ished cost  of  harvesting  the  cane  in  the  field.  So  feasible  does 
all  this  appear,  that  no  hesitancy  is  felt  in  predicting  the  day 
not  far  distant,  when  every  diffusion  plant  will  so  treat  cane, 
with  a modified  improvement,  perhaps,  of  cutting  it  in  the  field 
by  machinery  instead  of  by  hand  as  now. 

October  Ifth — The  Hughes  cutter,  designed  for  sorghum 
and  which  had  performed  most  excellent  work  on  this  plant,  was 
to-day  given  a fair  trial  on  cane.  The  carrier,  which  heretofore 
reached  within  one  foot  of  the  cutter,  in  order  to  leave  a space 
through  which  the  heads  of  sorghum  might  fall,  was  now  carried 
•close  up  to  the  cutter.  The  work  accomplished  was  however 
very  unsatisfactory.  The  absence  of  a forced  feed  arrangement 
caused  the  canes,  when  they  reached  very  short  lengths,  to  be 
projected  with  force  all  over  the  sugar  house,  causing  great  loss 
and  much  annoyance.  Three  tons  of  second-year  stubble  were 
used  in  this  experiment.  The  juice  was  clarified  in  the  usual 
way,  and  sent  through  the  filter  press.  The  scums  were  returned 
to  the  battery.  On  account  of  the  cutter  doing  its  work  badly? 
the  comminutor  failed  to  make  fine  chips,  hence  extraction  was 
poor.  It  was  therefore  deemed  best  to  send  the  entire  juice  into 
the  double  effect,  cook  to  a thick  syrup  and  run  into  wagons  and 
let  grain  in  the  hot  room.  This  was  accordingly  done  and  two 
■days  afterwards  the  masse  cuite  was  ceutrifugalleil,  giving  358 
pounds  of  sugar. 

Mill  juices  of  cane  used  gave — • 

Sucrose,  12.3  per  cent. 

Glucose,  1.78  per  cent. 

Fibre  in  cane,  12.96  per  cent. 


329 


The  Hughes  cutter  was  at  once  supplanted  by  a small  Eosjj 
ensilage  cutter,  which  had  been  used  for  filling  a silo  at  the  State 
Experiment  Station,  Baton  Rouge.  This  implement  worked 
very  satisfactorily  the  rest  of  the  season,  cutting  easily  the  cane 
required  by  the  diffusion  battery. 

October  17th — Diffused!  tons  second-year  stubble.  Knives 
worked  well,  but  gave  too  largo  a chip,  which  was  corrected  on 
subsequent  runs.  For  the  first  time  clarification  was  tried  in 
the  cell.  Milk  of  lime  of  density  of  10^  Baurne  was  added  to 
each  cell,  until  by  experiment  a sufficient  quantity  was  found 
to  be  present.  Through  insufficient  heating  surface  in  our  calor- 
isators,  it  was  found  impossible  to  heat  the  juice  above  180° — 
200^  F.  Diffusion  intermittent,  giving  twenty  minutes  to  each 
cell.  Two  heaters  leaked  ver3^  badl^',  which  caused  an  estimated 
loss  of  sugar  of  not  less  than  25  pounds.  The  process  of  clarifi- 
cation was  a success.  The  juice,  pure  and  clear,  was  sent 
directly  to  the  double  effect,  and  thence  to  vacuum  i^an. 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


Cane  diffused,  4 tons.  Chips  to  e 'ch  cidl,  3i7  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash  removed,  4.3  per  cent.  Tiiue  of  tliffusioii  to  each  cell,  20  miiiu'es. 

Yield — 1st  sugars,  .532.  Its. 

2(1  sugars,'  180.8  Its. 

3d  sugars,  52.8  lbs. 


Total. 705. 6 lbs.,  or  191.4  pounds  per  ton  cane. 


DitTisiou  cliips  . 

Mill  juice 

Diffusion  juice. . 

!8.yiup 

First  sugar  . . . . . 
So  ond  sugar  , . . 
Tliiid  snuar  . . . . 
Fii  st-  molasses  . . 
St'cond  molasses 
Third  molassi  s . 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Glucose 

Itatio. 

.8 

.12 

15.00 

11.9 

1.71 

14.37 

7.1 

1.23 

17.32 

38.7 

5.90 

15.50 

2.07 

2.17 

74.3 

10.00 

13.95 

11.62 

15.72 

42.9 

10.16 

23.91 

23.66 

78.08- 

29.3 

31.64 

107.98 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar-: 

532  lbs.  1st  sugar  ^ 95.3.  .500.99 
180.8  lbs.  2d  sugar  ^ 74.3. . 131 .33 
52.8  lbs.  3d  sugar  (3)  73.9..  39.02 


080.34  or  170.08  lbs.  pure  .sugar  per  ton  of  cane. 

The  fibre  in  above  was  12.87  per  cent.  The  juice  87  L’>  per 


330 


cent.  The  total  sugar  in  juice  is  207.4  pounds  per  ton.  Of  this 
amount  about  14  pounds  were  left  in  the  chips.  Of  the  remainder 
19d.4  pounds,  there  was  recovered  in  pure  sugar  170  pounds — > 
leaving  23  pounds  per  ton  unrecovered.  In  the  masse  cuite  on 
hand  there  is  about  17  pounds  sucrose  per  ton — indicating  a loss 
by  leaks  of  about  (>  pounds  sugar  per  ton  of  cane  worked.  Here 
the  3d  molasses  contains  a larger  amount  of  Glucose  than  Su- 
crose, yet  the  masse  cuite  made  from  it  is  now  crystallized  in  tlie 
hot  room. 

October  20t1i — Didiised  3 tons  of  second-year  stubble.  Im- 
provised a measuring  tank.  Time  of  diffusion  10  minutes. 
Heaters  still  leaking  and  an  unknown  loss  of  juice  occurred. 
Calcic  clarification  in  the  cells.  Juice  sent  at  once  to  double 
effect.  jSTo  third  sugar  made. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


Cano  (jiffitsf'd,  3 tons.  Ciiips  1o  each  cell,  332  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trasi'.  a. 4 per  cent.  'I’inie  of  diffusion  to  each  cell,  10  minutes. 

Yield — Ist  sngar,  414.  lbs. 

2d  sugar,  104.4  lbs. 

Totil.  .51:i.4  lt)S  , equal  to  172.8  lbs.  i)er  ton. 


Diffusion  chips  . 

MiM  juice 

Diffii>ion  juice. . 

Svrnp  

First  sugar 

Second  sugar . . . 
Fii’.d  molasses  . . 
Second  molasses 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Sucrose. 

.55 

11.60 

7.20 

45.40 

62.00 

77.30 
40.80 

27.30 


Glucose. 

.075 

1.52 

.93 

5.89 

2.63 

9.44 

10.41 

20.83 


Glucose 

J>'ano. 

13.63 

13.10 

12.91 

13.29 
2.86 

12.21 

25.51 

76.30 


CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 
Summary — Reduced  t)  pure  .sugar: 

414  lbs.  1st  cugar,  ^2)  92  ..380.88 

104.4  lbs.  2.1  sugar,  ^co  77.3..  80.70 


Total 461.58,  or  153.86  lbs.  per  ton. 

There  were  in  one  ton  of  the  above  cane  (10.5  per  cent  fibre 
and  80.5  per  cent  juice)  210  pounds  fibre  and  1700  pounds  juice. 
The  latter  contained  11. GO  jier  cent  sugar=207.G  pounds  per  ton. 
Of  this  amount  about  10  pounds  were  left  in  the  chips — leaving 
107.80  pounds  in  the  juice.  Of  this  there  was  recovered  in  dry 
sugar  153. 80  ])ouiids — leaving  43.04  pounds  to  be  accounted  for. 


331 


The  third  molasses  contained  IG  pounds  only,  showing  our  heat- 
ers had  lost  juice  containing  about  28  pounds  sugar  per  ton  of 
cane  worked. 

October  25th — Diffused  4 tons  second -year  stubble.  Calcic 
clarification  in  cell.  Increased  the  density  of  milk  of  lime  used, 
to  130  D,  using  the  same  measure  for  each  cell.  Knives  worked 
admirably  and  the  juice  very  clean.  Leaks  in  the  heaters  par- 
tially stopped  by  back  pressue  of  steam. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


Cane  (liffusetl,  4 tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  3S3  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trasb,  5.9  per  cent.  Time  of  diffusion  to  each  cell,  20  minutes. 

Yield — Ist  sugar,  504  IBs. 

2d  sugar,  132  IBs. 

3d  sugar,  32  IBs. 

4th  sugar,  28  IBs. 


Total.  .CiT(),  or  174  IBs.  per  ton  of  cane. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Diffusion  chips  . 

Mill  juice 

Diffusion  juice. . 

S\rup  

First  sugar 

Second  sugar  . . . 
Third  sugar  . . . . 
Foiirf  h sugar  . . . 
First  molasses. . . 
Second  molasses 
Third  molasses  . 
Fourth  molasses 


Glucose 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Jiatio. 

.53 

.096 

18.11 

11.20 

1.36 

12.14 

9.30 

1.12 

12.04 

40.40 

4.80 

11.88 

1.49 

1..55 

81.70 

5.88 

7.19 

74.30 
GO.  11 

11.36 

15.28 

34.20 

23.66 

69.18 

28.30 

31.25 

110.40 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 
Summary — reduce;!  to  pure  sugar: 

504  IBs.  sugar  ^ 95.00.  .481 .82  IBs. 

132  IBs.  sugar  ^ 81 .70.  .107 .-'4  IBs. 

32  IBs.  sug  r ^d)  74.30. . 2 L77  IBs. 

28  IBs.  sug.ar  ® 6J.4  ..  18  59  IBs. 


Total 032.02  IBs.  or  158  IBs.  pure  sugar  per  ton  of  cane. 


The  fibre  in  this  cane  was  11.5  per  cent.  The  juice  in  a ton 
of  cane  is  therefore  1770  pounds  and  contains  11.20  per  cent  su- 
crose. This  gives  10S.24  pounds  sugar  to  the  ton,  of  which 
10  pounds  were  left  in  the  chips.  Of  the  remaining  183  pounds 
158  pounds  were  extracted  as  dry  sugar,  leaving  30  pounds  per 
ton  in  the  masse  cuite  or  lost  by  leakage  or  overflow. 

October  27th — Diffused  4 tons  second-year  stubble.  Calcic 
clarification  in  cells.  After  liming  each  cell,  the  juice  was  tested 


332 


through  a small  pet  cock  leading  from  each  cell.  Up  to  date  it 
was  found  that  the  worst  extraction  occurred  in  the  beginning 
of  the  work — due  to  the  diffieulty  of  heating  up  the  cells  at  the 
start.  To-day  special  attention  was  given  to  the  first  cells  and 
they  were  kept  quite  hot.  Leaks  still  in  the  heaters. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Cane  diffused,  4 tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  353  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash  3.4  per  cent.  Time  of  diffusion  to  each  cell,  10  minutes. 

Yield— 1st  sugar,  537.6  lbs. 

2d  sugar,  156.  lbs. 

3d  sugar,  20.  lbs. 

4th  sugar,  17.  lbs. 

Total. . 730.6  lbs.,  or  182.6  lbs.  per  ton. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Diffusion  chips  . 

Mill  juices 

Diffusion  juices. 

Syrup  

First  sugar 

Second  sugar  . . . 

Third  sugar 

Fourth  sugir... 
First  molasses.. 
Second  molasses 
Third  molasses. . 
Fourth  molasses 


Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Glucose 

Katio. 

0.6 

.079 

13.16 

11.60 

1.14 

9.82 

8.40 

.80 

9.52 

43.40 

4 38 

10.09 

97.20 

1.00 

1.03 

84.30 

4.13 

4.89 

87.50 

4.79 

5-47 

75.10 

6.66 

8.87 

49.7 

13.88 

27.72 

31.2 

17.60 

56. 

32.7 

26.00 

79.51 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 


Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar: 


537.6  lbs.  Isfc 

sugar,  ® 97.20. 

.522.55 

153 

lbs.  2d 

sugar,  'S)  84.3  . 

.131.51 

20 

lbs  3d 

sugar,  'g)  r7.5  . 

. 17.50 

17 

lbs.  4th 

sugar,  ^ 75.10. 

. 12.77 

Total 6S4.23,  or  171.08  lbs.  per  ton  of  cane. 

The  fibre  in  above  is  11.4  per  cent.  The  juice  is  88.60  per  cent. 
In  the  juice  there  is  a possible  205 J pounds  sugar  for  each  ton  of 
cane.  There  were  left  in  the  chips  about  lOJ  pounds.  Of  the 
remainder,  195  pounds,  there  were  recovered  in  pure  sugar  171 
pounds,  leaving  24  pounds  unrecovered.  Since  no  analysis  was 
made  of  the  fourth  molasses  it  is  impossible  to  tell  how  much  of 
this  was  lost  by  leaking. 

October  30th — Diffused  5 tons  second-year  stubble.  Cal- 
cic clarification  in  cells.  Leaks  still  in  heaters.  Everything 
else  worked  satisfactorily. 


333 


.SUGAR  HOUSE  RE3UET.S, 

Caue  difVused,  5 tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  319  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash,  3.1  per  cent.  Time  of  dilfusion  to  each  cell,  10  minutes. 

Yield— Ist  sugar,  671  tbs. 

2d  sugar,  175  lbs. 

3d  sugar,  118.3  lbs. 


Total.  .964.3  lbs. 


LA  BO  RATO  R Y AN  AL  Y 8 E S . 


Diffusion  chips 

Mill  juice 

Diffusion  iuico 

Suciose. 

Glucose. 

.<15 

.90 

Glucose 

Ratio. 

8.48 

6.98 

8 VI  up 

2.89 

6.76 

Fi  rst  sugar 

1.08 

1.12 

Second  sugar 

3.52 

4.27 

Third  sugar 

13.52 

18.91 

Fir  a molasses 

9.61 

16.66 

Second  molasses 

13.89 

36.45 

Third  molasses 

17.88 

51.08 

First,  sugar,  washed 

98.7 

.08 

,08 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar: 

671  Ib.s.  1 St  sugar  'S  95 . 8 . . 642 . 8,2  lbs. 

175  lbs.  2d  sugar  ® 82.3. . 144 .02  ll>s. 

118.3  lbs.  3.1  sugar  71.5..  84.58  lbs. 


Total  871.42  or  174.28  lbs.  per  ton. 


The  tihre  iu  (*ane  was  11.1^5  per  cent.  In  a ton  of  cane  there 
were  225  ])oiinds  of  tibre  and  1,775  pounds  juice.  The  latter 
contained  228.0  pounds  sugar,  of  which  about  11  pounds  were 
left  in  the  chips,  leaving  217.0  pounds  in  the  juice  extracted.  Qf 
this,  171.28  pounds  have  been  secured  as  pure  sugar  and  the  re' 
uiaiiider,  about  43  pounds,  is  still  either  iu  the  masse  cuite  or 
lost  through  the  heaters.  Here  the  dry  sugar  obtained  is  only 
7G  [)er  cent  of  sugar  iu  cauc  and  80  per  cent  of  that  extracted 
in  tlie  juice. 

November  1st — Diffused  0 tons  of  second-year  stubble.  Cal- 
cic clariticatiou  iu  cells.  Leaks  iu  heaters  for  the  first  time 
eflectuall.r  cheeked  by  back  pressure.  Heretofore  the  battery 
had  been  worked  ui)on  the  iiitermitteut  plan — i.  e.,  of  lettiug 
into  each  cell  tlie  juice  and  permitting  it  to  remain  there  for  a 
given  length  of  time.  To-day  we  begun  a continuous  current 
through  the  battery,  so  arranged  as  to  permit  the  emptying  and 


334 


filling  of  a cell  every  ten  minutes.  Heretofore  the  dilution  has 
been  great.  To-day  there  was  drawn  350  })ounds  juice  from  338 
pounds  chips — leaving  .0  per  cent  sucrose  in  latter — making  a 
concentrated  diflYision  juice.  In  winding  up  the  battery  50  to  55 
gallons  of  juice  and  washings  were  drawn  from  each  cell.  The 
entire  experiment  a great  success. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


Cane  ditfnsed,  6 tons  Chips  to  each  cell,  338  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash,  3.8  per  cent.  Time  of  tilling  and  emptying  cell,  10  minutes. 

Yield — Ist  sugar,  1004.4  Its. 

2d  sugar,  20."). 2 fts. 

3d  sugar,  234.0  Its. 


To Hil. . 1443.6  Its.,  or  240.6  his.  per  ton. 


LABORATORY  ANA  LYSES. 


Ditfnstou  chips  . 

Mill  juice 

DitFii.'ion  juice. . 

Syrup  

First  sng  ir 

Second  sugar  . . . 

Third  sugar 

First  molasses.. 
Second  molasses 
Third  molasses  . 


Sucrose. 

. 0.6 

. 13.^0 
. 9.80 

. 22.30 
. 95.30 
. 95.50 
. 63.80 
. 47.60 
. 38.20 
. 29.50 


Glucose. 

.05 

.89 

.72 

1.89 

l.OJ 

.53 

10.63 

11-90 

15.62 

19.84 


Glucose 

Katio. 

8.33 
6.59 

7.34 
8.47 
1.08 

.55 

16.66 

25.00 

40.89 

68.72 


CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar: 

1004.4  hSs.  Ist  sugar,  0)  95.3. . 957.19 
205.2  fts.  2d  sugar,  ® 95.5..  187.76 
234  ms.  3d  sugar,  ® 63.8..  149.29 

Total 1294.24,  or  215.70  Its.  per  ton. 

Fibre  in  above  10.30  per  cent.  Leaving  juice  89.70  per 
cent.  This  gives  a possible  sugar  of  241  jiounds  to  ton.  There 
was  left  in  the  chips  about  lOf  pounds.  Of  the  remainder,  230J 
pounds,  there  was  recovered  in  dry  sugar  215.7  pounds — leaving 
about  14J  pounds  in  the  masse  cuite  per  ton  of  cane  worked^ 
There  is  by  analysis  in  the  masse  cnite  now  in  the  hot  room  a 
little  over  15  pounds  sucrose  for  each  ton  of  cane  worked,  a close 
agreement  between  theory  and  practice. 

Kovember  7th — After  a delay  of  several  days  to  repair  heat- 


335 


erSj  diffused  this  day  7 tons  lirst-year  stubble.  Continuous  cur- 
rent through  the  battery,  filling  and  emptying  a cell  every  ten 
minutes.  Calcic  clarification  in  cells.  Heat  used  very  low  and 
extraction  poor,  leaving  .8  per  cent  sucrose  in  chips.  Hilution 
moderate,  drawing  400  pounds  juice  from  340  pounds  cane. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Cane  diffused,  7 tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  340  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash,  5 per  ceut.  Time  of  filling  and  emptying  cells,  10  minutes. 

Yield— 1st  sugar,  1148  Ihs. 

2d  sugar,  266  Ihs. 

3d  sugar,  168  Ihs. 

Total.  .1582  IBs.,  or  226  IBs.  per  ton. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Diffusion  chips  

Mill  juice 

Diffusion  juice 

Syrup  

First  sugar 

Second  sugar 

Th i rd  su  c . . , 

S KMo  e. 

9.60 

80.90 

Ghic  se. 
..55 
• .82 
.59 
2.47 
1.35 
8.00 

Glucose 
IJa  iu. 

6.87 
6.17 
6.14 
6.36 
1.41 

9.88 

First  niol.asses 

11.90 

25.20 

Second  molasses 

38.70 

16.12 

41.65 

Third  molasses 

^ 

— 

Fibre  in  above  cane  14. 5G  per  cent.  Juice  85.44  per  cent. 
In  one  ton  of  cane  there  were  227  pounds  pure  sugar.  Of  this 
amount  about  14  pounds  were  left  in  chips.  Leaving  213  pounds 
pure  sugar  in  the  juice.  The  analyses  of  third  sugar  was  over- 
looked and  therefore  no  accurate  determination  of  the  pure  su- 
gar obtained,  can  be  made.  Enough  is  known,  however,  to  show 
that  it  exceeded  200  pounds,  leaving  only  a small  percentage  in 
the  molasses.  There  was  no  loss  to-day  from  leaks.  The 
high  fibre  percentage  and  low  extraction  accounts  for  apparently 
low  sugar  results. 

November  9th — Diffused  6 tons  of  first-year  stubble.  Cal- 
cic clarification  in  cells.  Continuous  current  through  battery 
discharging  every  ten  minutes.  Diffusion  juice  very  concen- 
trated, containing  nearly  11  per  ceut  sucrose.  Drew  off  318 
pounds  juice  for  340  pounds  cane,  or  a mill  .dilution  of  about  Ifi 
per  ceut.  Extraction  poor.  Chips  too  coarse. 


336 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


Ciine  diffused,  G tons.  Chips  to  each  cel],  340  pounds.  Percentage  ot 
trash,  3.5  per  cent. 


Yield — 1st  sugar, 

966  lbs. 

. 

2d  sugar, 

174  tbs. 

3d  sugar. 

115.8  tbs. 

Total  sugar. , 

.1255.8  lbs.  or  199.3  tbs.  per  ton. 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 

Glucose 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

l^atio. 

Diffusion  chips 

.07 

7.00 

Mill  juice 

13.10 

.64 

4.88 

Ditfiisiou  Juice 

.49 

4.62 

S\ rup  

1.81 

4.95 

Eir'<t'  Nil  oar 

95.00 

1.05 

1.10 

Spiiaiml  .mi oar 

92.70 

1.19 

1.28 

9 hird  sugar 

2.25 

2.. 57 

First  inolasst  s 

53.90 

7.14 

13.24 

Second  molasses 

12.50 

30.86 

Third  molasses 

39.40 

16.18 

41.06 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Summary— Reduced  to  pure  sugar: 

906  lbs.  1st  sugar  ® 95.  . . . 860.7  lb.«.  ‘ 

174  lbs. ‘2d  su-ar 'g)  92.7. . . IGI.3  lbs. 

115.8  lbs.  3 1 sugar  ® 87.4. . . 101.21  lbs. 


Tota’ 1123.21,  or  187.2  lbs.  per  ton  of  cane. 

P'ibre  ill  abo VO  10.88  fier  cent.  Juice  80.12  per  cent.  In 
one  ton  of  cane  there  was  233J  pounds  sugar.  About  18  pounds 
were  left  in  chips,  giving-  215J  to  the  extracted  juice.  Of  this 
amount  187.2  pounds  have  been  recovered  in  ])ure  sugar,  leav- 
ing about  28  pounds  in  the  mas^^e  cuite,  which  is  fully  sustained 
by  chemical  analysis. 

bTovember  12fh — Diffused  5 tons  first-year  stubble.  Con- 
centrated diffusion  juice.  Coinminutor  sharp  and  chijis  fine. 
Kich  cane  and  evi'rything  worked  well.  Calcic  clarification  iu 
cells  with  heat  well  maintained  at  200°  Continuous  current 
through  battery  discharging  every  ten  minutes  40  gallons  juice. 

SUGAR  IIOU.'E  KESULIS. 

Cane  diffuse  1,  5 tons.  Clii[is  to  each  cell,  312  pouuds.  Percentage  of 
trash,  4.3  per  cent. 

Yield — Ist  sugar,  838  lbs. 

2d  .sug.ir,  269  lbs. 

3d  su^iir,  147.5  tbs. 


Total ..  1-25 1 .5  lbs  , or  250.9  lbs  per  ton. 


*Tho  folio  win;:  auMivt  n'-tn  fioni  uoto-  < f Mr.  I’.alil  win,  w lio  liai  ulia-  jre  < f vacuum  pan  : 
“Syrnp  voi’v  c.luai-.  aclu  il'v  hii  ilo.  r.  miiitli  <;  uiio  oi  culiiliLirtMl  jiiice.s  iu  i\  giilar  niili 
■work.  Very  lit, lo  foamiug;  ho.it  140^ — 150^  i’"  ” 


337 


Diffusion  chips  . 

Mill  juice 

Diffusion  juice. . 

Syrup 

Firsr  8u<^ar 

Second  suf>;ar  . , . 

Third  sugar 

First  molasses  . . 
Second  molasses 
Third  molasses  . 


LAF, ORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Glucose 


Suci  o.se. 

54 

Glucose. 

Katio. 

.54 

3.72 

.37 

3.27 

1.52 

4.10 

.53 

.54 

— 

— 

3.33 

4.18 

6.49 

12.95 

. 41. GO 

— 

— 

CHEMICAL  CONTiiOL. 


Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar: 

838  Ihs.  1st  sugar,  ® 97.20..  814.. 54 
2G9  IBs.  2d  sugar,  ® 87.30..  234.84 
147.5  lbs.  3d  sugar,  ® 77.50..  114.31 


Total 11G3.68,  or  232.74  lbs  puresugarperton  cane. 


Tlie  fibre  ia  the  above  cane  was  9.(>  per  cent.  In  the  5 tons 
cane  there  were  900  pounds  fibre  and  90.40  iiouuds  juice.  The 
juice  contained  14.50  per  cent  sucrose==:1310. 8 pounds.  There 
was  left  in  the  chips  about  50  pounds,  giving  1200.8  pounds 
sugar  in  juice  extracted.  Of  this  amount  1103.70  pounds  were 
extracted  as  dry  sugar  and  the  remainder  9.7  pounds  is  now  in 
the  4th  masse  cuite  in  the  hot  room — a piart  of  which  we  hope  to 
secure  as  sugar  during  the  summer.  The  extraction  here  was 
about  90  per  cent  of  the  sugar  present,  and  the  dry  sugar  ob- 
tained was  over  88  per  cent  of  that  in  the  cane  and  92  per  cent  of 
that  in  the  juice  extracted.  There  were  48.81  pounds  glucose  in 
the  cane  worked — of  which  8 pounds  were  left  in  the  chips  and 
about  12  pounds  removed  in  the  sugar,  leaving  about  28  pounds 
in  the  masse  cuite.  There  is  at  least  00  pounds  of  sugar  stil^ 
available  in  the  masse  cuite. 

November  14 — Difiused  8 tons  first-year  stubble.  Calcic 
clarification  in  cells.  Constant  current  with  good  heat.  Drew 
off  430  pounds  juice  for  every  345  pounds  cane.  Knives  of 
comminutor  dull. 


NOTES  BY  MB.  BALDWIN. 

* "Tried  to  heat  battery  iu  advance  of  filling  on  first  round,  but  did  not  do  much  good. 
Grained  In  the  pan  very  well ; heat  150° — 160°  F.” 


338 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Cane  diffused,  8 tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  345  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash,  3.5  per  cent. 

Yield — 1st  sugar,  1252.8  Ihs. 

2(1  su^ar,  316  Ihs. 

3(1  sugar,  120  IBs. 


Total.  .1688.8  IBs.  or  211.1  IBs.  per  ton. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Diffusion  chips. . 

Mill  Juice 

Diffu  ion  juice  . 

Syrup  

First  sugar 

Second  sugar  . . . 

Third  .‘uigar 

First  molasses  . . 
Second  molasses 
Third  molasses  . 


Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

G'ucoso 

Kaiio^ 

1.1 

.07 

6.36 

12.9 

-.H8 

6.82- 

9.8 

.59 

6.02 

39.1 

2.77 

7.08 

95.0 

1.40 

1.47 

74.6 

7.. 57 

10.14 

80.3 

6.37 

7.93 

51.8 

10.63 

20.56 

14.28 

39.23 

23.7 

15.15 

63.92 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar: 

12.52.8  IBs.  1st  sugar  ^ 95  ..1190.16 

316  IBs.  2(1  sugar®  74.6..  235.74 
120  IBs.  3d  sugar  ® ^0.3..  96.36 

Total 1522.26,  or  190.28  IBs.  per  ton  cane. 

Fibre  in  above  10. G5  per  cent.  Juice,  80.35  per  cent.  In 
one  ton  of  cane  were  230J  pounds  pure  sugar.  Of  this  amount' 
about  20  pounds  were  left  in  chips.  Of  the  remainder,  2iOJ 
pounds,  there  were  recovered  in  pure  sugar  190.28  pounds,  leav- 
ing about  20  pounds,  of  which  about  10  pounds  is  found  by 
analyses  in  the  masse  cuite  and  the  remainder  unaccounted  for. 

November  16 — Dilfused  3 tons  first-year  stubble.  Limed  to 
neutrality  in  the  cells.  Continuous  current  drawing  off  437 
pounds  of  juice  to  374  xiouuds  chips  in  every  ten  minutes. 
Knives  sharp ; chips  finest  to  date.  Heat  high  and  extraction 
good,  leaving  only  .7  per  cent  sucrose  in  chips.  Everything 
worked  well  and  juice  very  pure. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Cane  diffused,  3 tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  374  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash,  3.8  per  cent. 

Yield — 1st  sugar,  454.2  IBs. 

2d  sugar,  76.5  IBs. 

3d  sugar,  54.0  IBs. 


2 


584.7  IBs  , or  194.9  IBs,  per  ton. 


339 


Diffusirn  chips 

Mill  juice 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 

Sucrose. 

11.6 

Glucose. 

.06 

l.Ol 

Glucose 

Hatio. 

8.57 

8.71 

Ditiiision  juice 

9.1 

.76 

8., 57 

riip 

2.67 

8.53 

Fii>t  sugar 

90.6 

1.88 

2 07 

Second  Migar 

78.5 

5.26 

6.70 

'I'liird  sn <>^11  r 

i-0  2 

mo  ;iss»  s 

11.36 

20.65 

.Seroiid  molasses  . . . . 

44.3 

13.33 

30.09 

Third  molasses 

15.62 

48.81 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Snmniarj’ — Reduced  to  pure  suf^ar  : 

4,'4.2  Its.  siifvnr  ^ 90.G.  .41 1 .50 

76.5  IBs.  sn^ar  'S)  7d.6. . 60.'  5 
■ 54  IBs.  sugar  ^ fcO.2. . 43.31 

Total 514.86,  or  171.62  IBs.  per  ton  of  cane. 

The  above  experiment  was  made  with  nine  distinct  varieties 
of  cane.  No  determination  of  fibre  wa.s  made.  Assuming  it  at 
11  per  cent,  there  would  be  in  a ton  of  cane  206  pounds  sugar. 
Of  this  amount  about  13  pounds  were  left  in  the  cliii)s,  giving  to 
the  juice  worked  about  103  pounds  sugar  per  ton.  Of  this  amount 
171. G pounds  were  covered  in  pure  sugar — leaving  21. 4 pounds 
tinrecovered.  Analy^^is  shows  one  masse  cuitc  now  in  the  hot 
room  to  have  a little  over  19  pounds  sucrose  per  to  of  cane 
worked,  and  therefore  our  assumption  of  percentage  of  fibre  is 
not  far  wrong. 

November  20tli — Difi'used  9 tons  first  year  stubble.  The 
fan  was  broken  and  hence  in  this  run  the  chips  were  only  par- 
tially cleaned.  Calcic  clarification  in  cells.  Continnoiis  current, 
discharging  a cell  every  fifteen  minutes.  Drew  off  432  i»ounds 
juice  from  378  pounds  chips. 

An  attemiit  was  liere  made  to  decolorize  the  juice  by  pass- 
age through  a small  quantity  of  boiieblack.  Neaily  8 pounds  of 
freshly  burnt  and  coarsely  imlv^eiized  boneblack  was  used  to 
filter  this  run  through.  A molasses  barrel  with  holes  in  the 
tine  bottom,  was  fitted  with  a false  and  open  bottom,  two  inches 
above  the  former,  and  upon  this  was  spread  an  open  coarse 
blanket  and  in  this  blanket  was  deposited  the  boneblack. 
Through  this  boneblack,  the  juice  as  emptied  from  each  cell, 


340 


percolated,  at  first  very  rapidly,  but  towards  the  close  of  the  day 
very  slowly.  No  perceptible  effect  was  observed  by  passage 
through  so  small  a quantity  of  boueblack  and  hence  the  experi* 
menc  was  discontinued. 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


Canos  diffused,  9 tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  378  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash,  . 

Yield— Ist  sugar,  1429.2  ffis. 

2d  sugar,  361.8  lbs. 

3d  sugar,  108.0  IBs. 

Total.  .1899.0  lbs.,  or  211  lbs.  per  ton. 


D ffusion  chips  . 

Mill  juice 

Ditfusiou  juice. . 

Sy'up 

First  sugar 

Second  sugar  . . . 
Tliiial  sugar  . . . . 
Fiist  iu(tlu>ses  . . 
Second  molasses 
Third  molasses  . 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

GIucos© 

.8 

.07 

8.75 

. 11.40 

.96 

8.37 

. 9.00 

.72 

8. 00 

. 38  20 

2.89 

7.59 

. 92.20 

1.84 

1.99 

. 73. 

7.04 

9.04 

. 78.8 

0.25 

7.93 

11. U2 

22.28 

. 41.5 

17.85 

43.01 

. 27.20 

21.50 

79.04 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

SuMimary— Reduced  to  pure  sugar. 

1429  2 tb^.  1st  sugar  ® 92.2.  .1317.72 
361.8  lbs.  2d  sugar '5)73.  ..  264.11 
107.  lbs.  3d  sugar 'g)  78.8..  86.10 

Total .1666 .*9.1,  or  165.21  lbs.  per  ton. 

Fibre  9.G5  per  cent  and  juice  99.35  per  cent  in  above  cane. 
One  ton  of  cane  therefore  contained  207  pounds  pure  sugar. 
There  were  left  in  the  chips  about  14  pounds  sugar.  Of  the 
remainder,  193  pounds,  there  were  recovered  about  185  pounds— 
leaving  8 pounds  per  ton  in  the  masse  cuitc.  There  is  in  the  hot 
room  masse  cnite  from  270  pounds  molasses,  which  has  accord- 
ing to  above  analysis  27.20  per  cent  sucrose.  This  would  give 
73.44  pounds  sucrose  for  the  nine  tons,  or  8,1G  pounds  per  ton— 
quite  a satisfactory  agreement. 


DIFFUSION  OF  BAGASSE  FROM  A FIVE-ROLLER  MILL. 

November  22d — Six  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  pounds  bagasse  were  taken  directly  from  a five  roller  mill, 


341 


which  was  doing  faiily  good  work^  and  diffused.  By  slight  ad- 
justments the  knives  and  comminiitor  were  made  to  work  quite 
well  and  a tolerably  fine  chip  was  made.  The  above  amount  of 
bagasse  filled  53  cells  after  packing  each  cell  vigorously  with  a 
2x5  scantling,  4J  feet  long.  Clarification  was  performed  in  the 
cells  by  addition  of  lime  and  quite  a clear  juice  obtained,  which 
was  evaporated  in  the  double  effect  and  then  grained  in  the 
vacuum  pan.  There  was  obtained  134. G pounds  of  first  sugar. 

The  molasses  was  boiled  to  string  and  jiut  in  the  hotroom 
where  it  remained  three  days,  it  was  centrifugalled  and  gave 
32.7  pounds  per  ton.  This  will  make  1G7. 3 pounds  to  the  ton 
of  bagasse. 

The  bagasse  gave  a very  diluted  juice  containing  only  3 per 
cent,  sucrose,  wdiile  a similar  quantity  of  juice  drawn  from  each 
cell  of  cane  with  14  per  cent,  sucrose  showed  as  high  as  10.7  per 
cent.  In  both  instances  40  gallons  of  jnice  were  drawn  from 
each  cell — the  one  from  128  pounds  bagasse,  the  other  from  342 
pounds  cane.  The  extraction  of  sugar  from  the  bagasse  was 
more  complete,  leaving  on  an  average  about  .15  per  cent,  in  the 
chips  to  .74  in  those  of  the  cane.  Here  we  have  two  experi- 
ments made  on  consecutive  days.  The  first  day  upon  18,8G2 
pounds  of  cane,  filling  52  cells,  giving  a volume  of  juice  con- 
taining 10.7  per  cent,  sucrose.  The  next  day  G785  pounds  of 
bagasse,  filling  53  cells,  giving  a similar  volume  of  juice  contain- 
ing only  3 per  cent*  sucrose.  Tjiis  diluted  juice  had  to  be  evap- 
orated to  about  one-third  of  its  volume  before  it  equalled  the 
original  juice  from  the  cane.  We  filled  53  cells  ; while  an  exx)eri- 
ment  made  the  day  previous  showed  that  18.8G2  i)ouuds  cane 
filled  only  52  cells. 

The  bagasse  contained  0 i)er  cent,  sucrose  and  1.01  glucose. 
The  clarification  was  good,  but  there  was  extracted  a large  quan- 
tity of  soluble  solids,  not  sugar,  which  in  concentration  were 
very  sticky  and  objectionable,  hindering  perfect  i)urging.  The 
sugar,  therefore  was  not  thoroughly  cleansed,  and  accordingly 
only  polarized  90°.  It  was  grained  slowly  iu  the  pan  at  a low 
temperature — 140^  to  150®  F.  The  masse  cuite  was  quite  gummy, 
but  analysis  showed  the  molasses  to  contain  41.7  jrer  cent,  su- 
crose and  7.87  per  cent,  glucose.  This  molasses  contained  a con- 


3J2 


siderable  quantity  of  solids,  not  sugar,  insoluble  in  alcohol.  Jlufc 
the  most  notable  feature  in  this  experiment  is  the  small  (juantity 
by  weight  of  bagasse  which  each  cell  contained,  packed  as  tight- 
ly as  we  could,  only  128  pounds,  against  340  to  300  of  cane  chips. 
In  this  experiment  of  6785  pounds  bagasse  we  could  not  draw  a 
more  concentrated  juice  without  endangering  our  extraction.  It 
therefore  seems  utterly  impracticable  from  this  experiment  to 
diffuse  bagasse:  1st.  Since  it  appears  to  require  same  size  bat' 
tery  and  same  time  for  its  diffusion  as  the  original  cane.  2d.  It 
gives  about  an  equal  volume  of  juice  as  the  cane,  of  only  about 
one-third  the  density ; and,  3d,  it  extracts  proportionately  far 
more  impurities,  and  therefore  gives  an  inferior  sugar,  with  many 
hindrances  to  crystalization  and  purging.  A battery  sufficiently 
large  to  w^ork  up  the  bagasse  from  a ftve-roller  mill  will  doubt- 
less work  up  with  greater  ease  and  in  the  same  time  the  original 
cane. 

The  following  is  the  pure  sugar  obtained: 

184-6  its.  1st  sugar  ® 90  . .121.14  fts. 

32.7  2d  sugar  ® e'5.1..  27.82 


Total  pure  sugar  per  tou 148.96  fts. 

November  24th — Diffused  7 tons  plant  cane.  Calcic  clarifi- 
cation in  cells.  Constant  current  through  battery — discharging 
cell  every  ten  minutes.  Heat  at  first  deficient.  Comminutor 
dull  and  chips  very  badly  cut.  Extraction  therefore  poor. 
Syrup  cooked  slowly  in  vacuum  pan  at  130-1400  F. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Cane  diffused,  7 tous.  Chips  to  each  cell,  390  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash.  2.4  per  cent. 

Yield — Ist  sugar,  1022  Ihs. 

2d  sugar,  203  Ihs. 

3d  sugar,  63  Ihs. 


Total.  .1288  Ihs  , or  184  Ihs.  per  ton. 


Diffusion  chips  . 

Mill  juice 

Diff'usion  juice. . 

Syrup  

First  sugar 

Second  sugar  . . . 

Third  sugar 

First  niola.sses  . . 
Second  molasses 
Third  molassr^s  . 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


.Sucrose. 

Glaco.se. 

G Incosf* 
Ratio- 

1.1 

.09 

8.20 

12.2 

1.00 

8.19 

8.7 

.67 

7.7-0 

4.6. 1 

3.44 

7.62 

1.92 

2.04 

90.0 

1.72 

1.91 

4.67 

5.43 

4.6. 

10  86 

24.13 

14.20 

39.01 

30.8 

19.19 

62,30 

343 


CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar: 

1022  lbs.  of  sugar  '2)  93.8. . 958.64 
203  Jba.  of  sugar  ® 90.  ..  182.7 
63 lbs.  of  sugar  @ 85.9..  54.12 

Total. ..... 1195.46,  or  170.78  lbs.  i)er  tou  of  cane. 

Fibre  in  above,  10.46  per  cent.  Juice  89.54  per  cent.  One 
ton  of  cane  contains  218.5  pounds  pure  sugar.  Of  \^liicb  there 
remain  in  the  chips  about  20  pounds,  leaving  198  pounds  in  the 
juice.  There  were  recovered  in  pure  sugar  170.78  pounds,  leav- 
ing 17.22  pounds  to  be  accounted  for.  In  the  masse  cuite  in 
STigar  house,  there  is  b3"  analyses  15.1  pounds  sucrose  per  ton  of 
cane  worked — ^leaving  only  2 pounds  per  ton  unaccounted  for. 

, November  26th — Diffused  8 tons  plant  cane.  Thermometers 
of  accuracy  received  and  used  to-day  for  the  first  time.  Ran 
juice  when  filling  through  two  heaters  into  bottom  of  next  cell 
in  order  to  get  up  requisite  heat  and  found  it  worked  so  well 
that  it  was  afterwards  followed.  Constant  current  discharging 
cell  every  nine  minutes.  Calcic  clarification  in  cell.  Pulp  very 
good. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


Cano  diffused,  8 tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  396  pounds.  Percentage  of 
trash,  3.2  jier  cent. 

Yield — 1st  sugar,  1424.8  lbs. 

2d  sugar,  344  lbs. 

3d  sugar,  152  lbs. 

Total.  .1920.8  lbs.,  or  240.1  lbs.  per  ton. 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Diffnf^ion  chips  . 

Mill  juice 

Diffnsiou  juice.. 

Syrup  

Firat  sugar 

Second  sugar  . . . 

Tliird  S'.ig.'ir 

First  molasses  . . 
Second  mol  isses 
Thiri  uiola;ses  . 


Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Glucose 

Kalio. 

.4 

— 

— 

12.9 

.58 

4.8J 

9.9 

.48 

4.84 

42.2 

2.50 

5.92 

96.1 

.85 

.88 

85.5 

1.81 

2.11 

79.4 

4.92 

6.19 

8.22 

16.18 

38.1 

12.50 

32.80 

29.0 

16.94 

58.41 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar  : 

1424.8  lbs.  1st  sugar  ^ 96. 1 . . 136:).23 
344  lbs.  2d  sugar®  85.5..  244.12 
152  lbs.  3a  sugar®  79.4..  120.68 


Total 


1734.03,  or  216.75  lbs.  per  ton  of  cane. 


344 


Fibre  in  above,  10.22  per  cent.  Juice,  80.78  per  cent.  In 
one  ton  of  cane  there  were  231. G3  pounds  pure  sugar.  There 
were  left  in  the  chips  about  7 pounds.  Of  the  remaining  224. G3 
pounds  there  were  recovered  in  pure  sugar  2iG.75  pounds,  leav- 
ing about  8 pounds  in  the  masse  cuite  now  in  sugar  house. 
Chemical  analysis  show.",  the  latter  to  contain  about  15  pounds 
of  sucrose  per  ton  of  cane  worked — giving  an  unaccountable 
excess  over  theorj^  of  7 pounds  to  the  ton. 

LIQUID  SULPHUE  DIOXIDE. 

December  1st. — In  November  there  appeared  in  the  Louis- 
iana Planter  and  Sugar  Manufacturer  of  New  Orleans,  the  fol- 
lowing : 

SULPIIUIIOUS  ACID. 

A NEW  METHOD  FOR  ITS  APPLICATION  TO  SUGAR  SOLUTIONS. 

We  quote  from  Sugar  a report  of  a general  meeting  of  the  As- 
sociation of  Gei-man  Sugar  JManufacturers,  to  which  a report 
was  made  on  the  emjdoyment  of  gaseous  and  liquid  sul{)hurous 
acid  in  the  sugar  factory,  which  will  be  of  especial  interest  to 
our  readers  now,  as  we  have  so  recently  had  the  matter  discussed 
before  the  Louisiana  Sugarjdanters’  Association.  The  new 
method  seems  to  largely,  if  not  entirely,  avoid  inversion,  which 
is  the  comtnon  fault  with  our  [)reseut  use  of  gaseous  sulphurous 
acid. 

Mr.  D.  D.  Colcock,  the  enterprising  secretary  of  the  sugar 
exchange  has  taken  tlie  matter  in  hand,  and  is  now  endeavoring 
to  arrange  for  a complete  test  at  the  sugar  experiment  station,  in 
order  that  we  may  see  whether  or  not  wq  can  be  as  successful 
as  our  German  cousins  seem  to  have  been.  The  report  was  as 
follows : 

In  the  ordinary  mode  of  preparing  gaseous  sulphurous  acid 
the  i^eicentage  of  actual  acid  obtained  is  but  small.  In  fact  it 
is  prepared  by  burning  siil[)hur  in  atmospheric  air  supplied  to  it 
by  a force  pump.  Ordinary  air  contains  about  2L  per  cent,  of 
oxygen  to  71)  per  (ient.  of  nitrogen,  and  the  sulphurous  acad  gas 
thus  produced  is  therefore  very  much  contaminated  with  nitrogen. 

The  employment  of  sulphurous  acid  in  the  gaseous  state 
presents  also  another  iinjonvenience,  for  whenever  it  becomes 
uecessaiy  i'rom  any  cause  to  interrupt  the  work  of  saturation  the 
gas  must  be  allowed  to  escaj^e,  as  the  force  ])ump  cannot  bestop- 
l)ed,  as,  if  so,  the  burning  sulphur  would  be  extinguished. 

Again,  the  suIi)hnrous  acid  gas  thus  obtained  always  con- 
tains ceitain  imnurities,  such  as  a little  sulphuric  acid,  and  some 
sublimed  siili)hur,  w hich  ofren  attack  or  obstruct  the  pipes. 

For  a long  time  past  sulphurous  acid  has  been  produced  in 


345 


tbe  liquid  form,  but  its  high  cost  was  an  obstacle  to  its  use  in  the 
sugar.  A zinc  manufacturing  company  at  Oberhausur,  near 
Dusseldorf,  now  x)roduces  liquid  sulphurous  acid  in  a very  pure 
condition  and  at  a very  low  price.  The  liquid  is  sold  at  $3  per 
220  ])ounds,  and  as  the  product  is  pure  it  contains  50  per  cent, 
of  sulphur.  Now  220  [rounds  of  sulphur  cost  $2.50  to  $2.75,  and 
hence  sulphur  in  the  form  of  liquid  acid  can  be  bought  for  a 
little  over  twice  the  price  of  sulphur  burned  in  air. 

The  liquid  sulphurous  acid  is  forwarded  in  cast-iron  vessels^ 
and  its  conveyance  presents  no  difficulties.  The  vessel  contain- 
ing it  is  fitted  with  a valve,  which  enables  the  rate  at  which  the 
gas  ])asses  into  the  juice  treated  to  be  regulated  at  pleasure,  and 
stopjred  or  started  at  any  moment. 

The  concentrated  gas  does  not  attack  the  pipes.  It  is  well 
known  that  sulirhurous  acid  is  not  corrosive  so  long  as  it  remains 
anhydrous. 

Experiments  have  been  made  to  see  whether  sulphurous 
acid  in  this  new  form  inverted  sugar  as  some  have  feared.  The 
ex [leri merits  have  been  made  in  two  ways  : 1st.  The  vessel  con- 
taining the  liquid  acid  has  been  placed  above  the  saturator,  and 
the  liquid  acid  has  been  allowed  to  run  into  the  juice.  2d.  The 
vessel  of  liquid  acid  has  been  placed  below  the  0[)ening  of  the 
saturator,  and  the  acid  was  thus  made  to  reach  the  juice  in  the 
form  of  gas.  In  the  first  case  tire  saturation  was  eifected  in 
from  3 to  7 minutes;  in  the  second  case  in  17  minutes.  When 
the  acid  was  added  in  the  liquid  state  it  always  inverted  a little 
sugar,  but  this  did  not  happen  when  the  gas  acted  in  the  gase- 
ous condition.  The  comparative  effects  of  the  two  modes  of  em- 
ploying liquid  suliihurous  acid  may  be  stated  thus  : 

Position  of  vessel  of  1 quul  acid 
ill  relation  to  tljc  saturator 
^bove  Below 

Liquid  Acid.  Gaseous  Acid.. 

Time  retpiired  for  satura  ion  after  opening  the 

valves,  in  mimites 3 to  7..  17 

Retlnclrn  of  color 74  to  90..  48  to  87 

Kednetiun  of  ash,  cal-culated  on  the  diy  matter 

present 1.14  to  1.26.  .1 .08  to  1.30 

Imitrovemeut  in  CO- efficient  purity 1 r)er  cent.. 2 percent. 

Inverted  sugar  jiroduced a little.  . .not  a trace. 

If  we  can  buy  liquid  snlphnroiis  acid  in  transportable  form 
it  is  better  to  rise  it  in  the  second  manner — that  is,  to  place  the 
vessel  of  acid  below  the  sotnrator,  so  as  to  compel  the  acid  to 
enter  in  the  form  of  gas.  The  puritication  will  then  proceed  with 
more  energy,  and  there  will  be  no  production  of  inverted  sugar. 

A few  days*  after  the  appearance  of  this  article,  Mr.  Colcock 
secured  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Wiusliip,  President 
New  Orleans  Cold  Storage  Company,  75  pounds  of  the  liquefied 
sulphurous  acid  gas  (known  chamically  as  Sulphur  Dioxide)  in 
it^  anhydrous  state  and  after  having  it  securely  packed  in  a 


346 


copper  flask,  shipped  to  the  Station  for  experimental  purposes. 
The  first  experiment  was  made  December  1st.  Eleven  thousand 
tour  hundred  and  ninetj^-fonr  pounds  of  cane  were  used;  clarifi- 
cation in  cells  of  diffusion  battery  by  use  of  limej  each  clarifier 
ot  juice  treated  with  sulphur,  by  permittiug  the  liquid  dioxide  to 
volatilize  through  a pipe  attached  to  the  carboy,  and  provided 
with  an  ordinary  stop  cock  for  regulating  the  flow.  The  gas 
passed  into  the  juice  at  the  bottom  of  the  clarifier.  When  the 
juice  had  reached  a clear  amber  tint  the  cock  was  shut  and  the 
gas  cut  off.  Lime  was  then  added  not  quite  to  neutrality,  the 
juice  carefully  brushed  and  settled;  brushings  and  settlings 
returned  to  the  diffusion  cells.  The  clear  juice,  with  bright 
amber  tint,  was  concentrated  in  the  double  effect  and  grained  in 
the  vacuum  pan  at  130  to  140°  F.  with  the  following 

SUGAR  HOUSP]  RESULTS. 

800  pounds  first  sugar,  or  140  pounds  per  ton  of  cane. 

1041  pounds  first  molasses,  or  181  pounds  per  ton  of  cane. 

535  pounds  second  molasses,  or  01  pounds  i)er  ton  of  cane, 

338^  pounds  second  sugar,  or  58  pounds  ])er  ton  of  cane. 

113  pounds  third  sugar,  or  20  pounds  per  toq  of  cane. 

277  pounds  third  molasses,  or  48  pounds  per  ton  of  cane. 

Total  sugar  per  ton,  218  pounds. 

The  following  shows  the  carefully  conducted  chemical  analy- 
ses at  each  stage  of  manufacture  : 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 

Surrose. 

Diffusion  juice  before  snlpliuiing 9.5 

Diffusion  juice  after  snlpliuiinu- 9.4 

Diffusion  juice  after  liming  and  brushing 9.6 

Syrup 51.  C 

Sn^ar 9-^.6 

Molasses 46.6 

Masse  cnite 69.2 

In  the  above  there  was  a small  but  steady  increase  in  the 
glucose  ratio  everywhere,  except  in  the  double  effect,  where 
there  was  a slight  decrease.  We  had  been  cooking  string  sugar 
the  day  before  in  the  second  effect,  some  of  which  grained  therein. 
The  vessel  was  steamed  out,  but  not  thoroughly  washed,  and  it 
it  may  be  that  crystals  of  sugar  adhering  to  the  sides  may  have 


Glucose. 

Glucose 

Eatio. 

.60975 

6.418 

.70975 

6.486 

.62500 

6.511 

2.0000 

6.330 

.14 

— 

8.33 

— 

5.30 

7.659 

347 


been  dissolved  by  the  sulphured  juice  and  increased  its  purity 
coefficient. 

The  following  shows  the  loss  sustained  in  the  first  coohing : 

Su  rose.  Glucose. 


In  the  diffusion  juice  were 

Lbs. 

. . . 1301 

Lbs. 

83.43 

In  the  sugar  obtained 

In  the  niolass' s 

Sucrose. 

1.1)S. 

481.64 

Glucose 

Lbs. 

11.28 

86.63 

1279.35 

97.91 

Loss  of  sucrose 

Gain  of  glucose 

..  21.65 

14.43 

This  gain  of  glucose  equals  sucrose  inverted,  13. 7G  pounds, 
leaving  a balance  of  loss  of  sucrose  (21.  Go — 13  7G)  of  7.89  pounds 
unaccounted  for. 

Sucrose  in  cane  worked,  12.57  per  cent. 

Glucose  in  cane  worked,  .78  per  cent. 

The  juice  and  syrui)s  treated  thus  behaved  exactly  like  those 
treated  with  sulphur  in  the  usual  way.  Yield  per  ton,  first, 
second  and  third  sugars,  218  pounds. 

The  conclusions  arrived  at  are  : 

1st.  That  the  inversion  was  reduced  to  a minimum. 

2d.  Thaj;  the  bleaching  effect  of  the  sulphur  in  this  form 
quite  equalled  that  gained  in  the  ordinary  way  (sulphur  stove 
and  wash-barrel) ; and, 

3d.  That  the  application  was  far  more  simple  and  far  less 
disagreeable,  Avith  all  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  bleaching- 

An  attempt  to  use  this  reagent  in  the  diffusion  cells  was 
a disastrous  failure.  See  beyond  page. 

December  Gth— Diffused  5 tons  of  plant  cane.  Held  to  day 
a public  exhibition  Avitli  large  crowd  of  ])lanters  and  others  in- 
terested in  sugar  in  attendance.  Calcic  clarification  in  cells. 
Continuous  current  through  battery,  dis(diarging  a cell  every 
seAXii  minutes.  Discharge  jnade  from  cell  next  to  the  last. 

A clearer  and  bettter  juice  was  thus  obtained,  Avith  the  dis- 
disadv^antage  only  of  decreasing  the  effectiveness  of  the  battery 
by  eliminating  one  cell.  The  valves  were  so  arranged  that  the 
juice  in  going  from  cell  (O  cell  passed  through  two  heaters,  and 
Avhen  the  last  cell  was  filled,  the  valve  beyond  being  closed,  the 
juice  from  cell  next  to  the  last  Avent  OA’er  into  the  measuring 


348 


tank,  leaving  the  juice  in  the  last  cell,  as  it  were,  dormant.  By 
this  process  a much  higher  heat  and  a better  clarification  was 
obtained.  The  experiment  was  very  satisfactory.  The  heaters, 
however,  began  again  yesterday  to  leak,  causing  much  annoy- 
ance, and  continued  troublesome  through  this  experiment,  caus- 
ing a loss  of  about  14  pounds  per  ton. 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 


Cane  diffuse  1,  5 tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  397  pounds, 
trash,  *^.8  per  cent. 

Yield — 1st  sugar,  COO  Ihs. 

2d  sugar,  360  IBs. 

3d  sugar,  75  lbs. 

Total  sugars.  .1035  lbs.  or  207  lt3s.  per  ton. 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Sucrose. 

Diffusion  chips 1-0 

Mill  juice 13.3 

Difiusion  juice 9.3 

Syrup 43.0 

First  sugar 99.1 

Second  sugar 82.1 

Third  sugar  83.2 

First  molasses 53. 1 

Second  nmlases 42.3 

Thir  l molasses 31.1 


Percentage  of 


Glucose , 
Glucose.  lUitLi). 


.07 

7.00 

.73 

5.41 

..59 

6.34 

2.63 

6.11- 

.16 

.161 

4.13 

5.03 

5.01 

6.02 

7.93 

44.93 

12.19 

28.81 

17.88 

57.49 

CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar: 

COO  lbs.  1st  sugar  ^ 99 . 1 . . 594 . 60 
360  lbs  2d  sugar  'g)  82.1.. 295. 56 
73  lbs.  3d  sugar  ® 83.2..  60.74 


Total 950.90  or  190.18  lbs.  per  ton. 


Fibre  in  cane  10.34  per  cent.  Juice,  80. CG  per  cent.  One 
ton  of  cane  contained  233  pounds  pure  sugar.  There  remained 
in  the  chips  18  pounds,  leaving  220  pounds  in  the  juice.  Of  this 
amount  190  pounds  were  recovered  as  pure  sugar  and  there  is  in 
hot  room  in  the  masse  cuite  IG  pounds,  leaving  14  pounds  per 
ton  to  be  charged  to  leaky  heaters. 

December  8th — Diffused  5 tons  plant  cane.  Calcic  clarifica- 
tion in  cell.  Continuous  current  through  the  battery,  discliarg- 
ing  from  cell  next  to  the  last  every  IS  minutes.  Heaters  leaked 
very  badly  to-day. 


349 


SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Cane  diffused,  5 tous.  Chips  to  a cel!,  393  pounds.  Percentage  of  trash, 
2.6  per  cent. 

Yield — Ist  sugar,  6S0  lbs. 

2d  sugar,  210  lbs. 

3d  sugar,  110  lbs. 


Total.  .1000,  or  200  Ihs.  per  ton  of  cane. 


Diffusion  chips  . 

Mill  juice 

Diffusion  juice. . 

S\ rup  

First  sugar 

Second  sugar  . . . 
Third  sugar  ...  . 
First  molasses  . . 
Second  molasses 
•Third  molasses  . 


LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 


Siicrcse. 

.5 

. 12.6 

. .92 

. 39.0 
. 94,2 
. 79.2 
. 72.8 
. 52. 

. .52.7 
. 23.5 


Glucose. 

.04 

.88 

.66 

2.63 

1.31 

3.51 

7.14 

9.09 

14.70 

17.24 


Glucose 

Eatio. 

8.00 

6.98 

7.17 

6.74 

1.39 

4.46 

9.80 

17.48 

32.16 

73.35 


CHEMICAL  CONTROL. 

Summary — Reduced  to  pure  sugar: 

680  lbs.  1st  sugar  94.2.  .640.56 
210  lbs.  2d  sugar  ® 79.2.  .166.32 
110  lbs.  3d  sugar  'S)  72.8..  80.08 

Total 886.96,  or  177.39  lbs.  tou 

The  above  summary,  together  with  sugar  in  the  masse  cuite 
iu  the  hot  room,  indicate  a loss  of  about  21  pounds  sugar  to  the 
ton  of  cane  due  to  leaky  heaters. 


ANALYSES  OF  .JUICE  AND  CHIPS  FROM  EACH  CELL  OF  BATTERY. 

December  8th — On  same  day  an  experiment  was  made  to  test 
the  question  of  the  number  of  cells  necessary  for  economical 
ditfusion  of  sugar  cane. 

After  the  battery  had  gotten  well  under  way,  a stop  was 
made  and  samples  of  juice  from  each  cell  was  taken.  The  juice 
was  then  driven  out  of  each  cell  and  the  chips  taken  and  an- 
alyzed. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  in  a battery  of  14  cells  only  12 
are  in  constant  use;  the  other  two  are  being  filled  and  emptied. 
Therefore  at  any  given  moment  there  are  only  12  cells  filled  with 
juice.  Below  are  the  analyses.  Some  of  the  cells  towards  the 
end  of  the  battery,  where  the  juices  were  very  weak,  suffered 


350 


slightly  by  inversiou,  on  account  of  delay  in  analyzing  them.  It 
required  some  hours  before  the  analyses  were  completed.  Hence, 
glucose  ratios  are  somewhat  increased  to  the  last.  In  interpret- 
ing the  analyses  it  should  be  remembered  that  cell  Xo.  1 in  this 
list  was  about  to  be  emptied  of  juice  and  cell  Xo.  12  about  to  be 
emptied  of  chips.  Tlie  following  results  were  obtained: 


No.  Juice.  Chps. 

of  Cell  Sucrose.  Glucose.  S,icrose.  Glucose. 

1  9.0  .58  9.7  .65 

2 6.6  .42  9.8  .56 

3  5.6  .28  8.4  .55 

4  3.9  .18  5.7  .34 

5  3.4  .13  4.1  .29 

6 2.8  .098  2.9  .19 

7 1.0  .068  2.3  .14 

8  8 .052  1.7  .11 

9  f 5 .034  .9  .14 

10..... 4 .031  .7  .066 

11  3 .7  .05 

12  2 .6  .035 


From  the  above  it  appears  that  the  sugar  is  practically  ex- 
tracted in  eight  cells,  since  only  a very  small  amount  was  extract- 
ed by  the  last  four  cells,  and  suggests  that  a battery  with  ten 
cells  will  be  sufficient  for  economic  diffusion  of  cane,  provided 
clarification  is  not  performed  in  the  cell.  If  clarification  be  per- 
formed in  the  cell  and  the  juice  is  drawn  from  the  third  cell  from 
the  last  leaving  two  dormant  cells,  then  twelve  cells  will  perhaps 
be  required. 

EXPERIMENTS  WITH  CLARIFYING  AGENTS. 

December  11th — This  day  was  devoted  to  the  use  of  different 
agents,  to  test  their  efficacy  in  the  manufacture  of  sugar. 

The  battery  was  charged  as  usual.  Lime  was  used  in  slight 
excess  in  the  cells.  The  juice  drawn  from  the  first  8 cells  was 
used  for  experiments  with 

EHRMANNITE, 

a favorite  reagent  with  some  tropical  planters.  This  sub- 
stance is  a crude  Phosphate  and  has  an  acid  reaction.  It 
produces  a voluminous  precipitate  which  settles  slowly  and 
carries  down  with  it  many  impurities  and  a great  deal  of  the 
coloring  matter.  This  reagent  was  kindly  donated  by  Ool.  0.  M. 
Soria,  President  of  Standard  Guano  and  Chemical  Works,  of 
New  Orleans. 

The  above  mentioned  juice  was  divided  into  two  parts. 


351 


No.  1.  The  juice  was  clarified  in  the  cells  using  a slight 
excess  of  lime.  It  was  drawn  around  to  the  clarifier  and  there 
treated  with  a solution  of  Ehrmannite  until  it  showed  the  slight- 
est amount  of  acid  by  the  use  of  blue  litmus  paper.  It  was  then 
boiled  and  allowed  to  settle  and  carefully  decanted.  The  clear 
liquid  which  was  pure  and  but  slightly  improved  in  color,  was 
concentrated  to  a thick  syruj)  in  an  open  pan.  The  following 
analyses  show  the  results: 

Ghicoee 

Sucrose.  Glucose.  Katio. 

Diffusion  juice 10.6  0.51  4.bl 

Syrup 55.6  2.76  4.96 

Here  the  inversion  was  practically  naught. 

Experiment  No.  2 — The  juice  after  calcic  clarification  in  cell, 
was  limed  in  great  excess  in  the  clarifier  and  heated  to  boiling. 
An  excess  of  a solution  of  Ehrmannite  was  tlien  added,  again 
heated  and  then  settled.  The  clear  supernatant  juice  was  then 
withfiraw’ii  and  concentrated  to  a thick  syrup  in  an  open  pan. 
This  juice  was  quite  acid  and  very  bright  in  color.  It  made  a 
beautiful  and  delicious  syrup,  which  showed  a considerable 
amount  of  inversion.  The  following  are  the  analyses  : 

Gluc-so 

Suci'ose.  Glucose.  P.atio. 

Diffusion  juice 9.2  .66  7.17 

Syrup 51.5  5.05  9.‘0 

Frcm  the  above  trials  with  Ehrmannite  no  decided  benefits 
over  our  present  methods  of  clarifying  wdth  sulphur  and  lime 
could  be  detected.  In  fact,  juices  must  be  w orked  neutral  to 
jirevent  inversion,  and  any  acidity  must  be  avoided  to  secure  the 
largest  yield  of  sugar. 

No  attempt  was  made  at  making  sugar  with  these  small 
quantities  of  syrup  and  it  was  decided  at  some  future  time  to 
give  this  reagent  an  extensive  trial  in  sugar  making,  but  no 
opportunity  was  presented  this  season  and  further  trials  were 
deferred  till  another  year. 

BISULPHITE  OF  LIME. 

December  llth — After  discharging  eight  cells  in  the  usual 
way,  with  milk  of  lime  in  the  cells,  cell  No.  9 before  filling  re- 
ceived the  necessary  amount  of  bisulphite  of  lime.  It  was  filled 
with  chips  and  milk  of  lime  w^as  added  at  the  top.  In  this  way 
many  cells  were  filled.  The  juice  drawn  was  quite  clear  and 


352 


bright,  and  hopes  were  entertained  of  a success,  but  after  results 
proved  the  contrar3\  After  concentration  to  syrup  it  was  sent 
to  the  vacuum  pan,  where  it  was  sticky,  gummy  and  slow  to 
grain,  it  had  also  a peculiar  taste,  and  before  completion  had 
an  intensely  black  color.  It  grained  with  slowness  and  centri- 
fugalled  with  great  difficulty,  giving  a very  indifferent  sugar. 
It  was  found  .upon  examination  that  the  acid  bisulphite  had  ex. 
tracted  very  obnoxious  properties  from  thecane,  which  prevented 
graining  in  the  pan  and  obstructing  purging.  This  acid  juice 
in  its  passage  through  iron  cells  and  double  effect  blackened 
greatly.  This  experiment  fully  coudem: 
following  are  analyses: 

Diffns'on  jnico 0.5 



Sn^ar 02.0 

Molasses 52.4 

LIQUID  SULPHUR  DIOXIDE 
was  used  on  same  day  in  the  cell  with  very  disastrous  results. 
A tube  was  titted  to  the  receiver  and  its  end  inserted  in  the  hot- 
tom  of  the  cell  of  chips  before  liming,  or  sending  in  the  juice 
from  the  adjoining  cell;  the  stoi)-cock  was  turned  and  the  gas 
turned  in  until  it  was  perceptible  by  smell  above  the  cell.  It 
was  then  limed  as  usual.  The  juice  was  then  turned  on  and  after 
contact  for  ten  minutes  was  drawn  into  the  clarifier,  where  it 
was  closely  examined  and  sent  to  laboratory  and  analyzed. 

It  had  a strong  pungent  odor  of  sulphur,  as  clear  as  water 
and  perfectly  colorless.  It  was  apparent  that  too  much  gas  had 
been  added.  Accordingly  lime  in  large  quantitie.^.  was  added, 
heated  and  settled.  It  was  left  slightly  acid.  The  diffusion 
juice  before  treatment  with  this  gas,  the  diffusion  juice  after 
treatment  with  this  gas  and  after  treatment  with  lime  and  the 
concentrated  syrup,  were  all  analyzed  with  the  following  results  : 


this 

process. 

, The 

Sucrose.  Glucose 

Glncof  e 

Ifalir, 

9.5 

.62 

6.:  2 

15  4 

2.89 

18.:  () 

92.0 

2.. 35 

2.55 

52.4 

12.82 

24.54 

4 

disastrous  r 

esults. 

Gliicoso 

Sucro  e.  Or’iicrse.  Jiviiio. 


Diffusion  Jniro  witliont  SO  2 gns i^.5  .()2  (5.52 

Diffjision  Jiii<  e wiili  SO  2 7.5  2.47  32.93 

D ti'usioii  jni<  e .ittor  iiming  Inatin^’ 4.8  4.^5  101,40 

Syrup 28.0  31.25  Hi.  GO 


The  above  shows  at  least  the  danger  of  sultihur.  Here  at  a 
temperature  of  not  over  200°  F.  the  inversion  was  large  and 


353 


rapid.  At  boiling  temperature  it  was  fearful.  No  attempt  was 
made  to  secure  sugar  from  this  syrup,  since  the  glucose  was  far 
in  excess  of  the  sucrose.  This  gas  was  easily  controlled  in  the 
clarifier  as  our  previous  experiments  showed,  and*  whenever  sul- 
phur is  used  in  the  sugar  house,  this  form  used  as  described  in  a 
former  experiment  seems  to  be  preferable  to  any  other,  but  it  is 
certainly  not  adapted  to  use  in  the  cell. 

December  14th — On  this  day  all  operations  in  the  sugar 
house  were  suspended  leaving  a few  acres  of  cane  standing  in  the 
field.  This  cane  was  divided  into  four  parts. 

No.  1 — Left  standing  in  the  field. 

No.  2— Put  up  carefully  in  m a tel  as. 

No.  3 — Windrowed  for  the  mill. 

No.  4 — Cut  up  and  put  away  carefully  as  ensilage. 

There  were  several  questions  proposed  in  these  experiments* 
It  was  hoped  that  sufficient  cold  might  intervene  before  working 
up  these  experiments,  to  give  an  opportunity  of  testing  diffusion 
on  frozen  cane.  It  was  designed  further  to  test  diffusion  on  cane, 
differently  treated  as  above  and  lastly  if  cane  can  be  preserved 
by  ensUaging  without  detiiment  to  its  sugar,  there  are  vast  possi- 
bilities for  future  Central  Factories. 

PART  FIRST— LEFT  STANDING. 

Unfortunately  for  the  objects  sought,  but  fortunately  for  the 
general  interest  of  the  planters  of  the  State,  the  expected  freeze 
did  not  occur.  On  the  night  of  December  19th  thefoilage  of  the 
cane  and  most  of  the  eyes  were  killed,  but  the  cane  was  not 
frozen.  The  minimum  temperature  reached  was  27^  F.  This 
standing  cane  was  carefully  watched  after  this  cold  spell  and 
chemical  analyses  made  weekly  of  its  juice  to  detect  deteriora- 
tion if  any  should  set  in. 

This  cane  was  cut  on  the  evening  of  January  13th  and 
beyond  a very  slightly  acid  taste,  no  injury  was  perceptible.  It 
was  diffused  on  January  14. 

Jauuary  14th— Diffused  6 tons  of  plant^cane  cut  on  the  pre- 
vious day.  Calcic  clarification  in  the  cells.  Constant  current 
through  the  battery,  discharging  a cell  every  15  minutes.  Juice 
drawn  from  cell  next  to  the  last.  This  cane  diffused  with  ease 
and  suffered  apparently  no  loss  by  standing. 


354 


Glucose 

Sucrose. 

.9 

. 12  3 

G’ucose. 

llatio. 

.72 

5.85 

. 8.6 

.46 

5.35 

. 44.9 

2.39 

5.32 

. 91.7 

1.65 

1.81 

. 48.9 

7.41 

15.15 

Only  first  sugars  Inivc  been  made  as  yet  from  this  run,  the 
second  masse  cuile  beiug  still  in  the  sugar  bouse. 

SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS. 

Cane  cliffnsc  d,  G tons.  Chips  to  each  cell,  401  pounds.  Per  centage  of 
trash,  3.6  per  cent. 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 

Diffusion  chips 

Mill  jiii(  0 12  3 

Diffusioij  jnii  o 8.6 

Syinp 44.9 

First  ^ng:lr 91.7 

Fii sc  ino  a se-s 48.9 

The  second  masse  cuite  is  yet  in  the  hot  room  and  no  oppor- 
tunity has  been  alforded  since  shutting  down  the  sugar  house  iu 
January  of  centrirugalling  it. 

It  will  remain  through  the  summer  and  be  worked  just 
before  the  opening  of  next  season. 

PART  SECOND -MATELAS  CANE. 

January  IGth— Dift'ased  7 tons  of  plant  cane  taken  from  a 
mat,  which  had  been  laid  down  early  in  December.  There  was 
no  sign  of  alteration  of  any  kind,  and  so  far  as  sight,  chemical 
analysis  and  ease  of  diffusion,  could  detect,  it  was  as  sound 
and  as  perfect  as  on  the  day  it  was  harvested.  It  was  treateel 
as  the  rest.  Calcic  clarification  in  the  cell,  but  here  for  the  first 
time  the  juice  was  drawn  from  the  third  cell  from  the  last,  leav- 
ing two  dormant  cells  ahead.  This  process  enabled  us  to  send 
to  the  measuring  tank  a Jiiii^e  very  near  the  boiling  [)oint — ■ 
always  running  between  90°  and  IDO^  C.  as  shown  by  records  of 
the  Assistant  at  the  measuring  tank.  Dy  this  iirocess,  the  Juice 
was  thoroughly  cleansed  and  required  no  farther  clarification 
even  for  the  manufacture  of  the  finest  sugar.  This  was  demon- 
strated by  actual  trial  of  this  juice  in  our  vacuum  pan  by  two 
prominent  sugar  makers  of  this  atate,  who  were  here  as  visitors. 
They  satisfactorily  demonstrated  the  purity  of  the  juice  and  its 
capacity  to  make  the  whitest  sugar. 

LABORATORY  ANALYSES. 

Gluco'c 

Sucrose.  Gluc^'sc.  J.a  in. 

Mill  juice.. 11.5  .83  7.48 

Dittiisioii  juice 7.9  .59  7.46 

Syrup...'. 37.2  2.57  6 90 

The  juice  fj’om  this  run  was  used  in  experiments  at  the 
vacuum  pan  by  the  sugar  makers  present,  and  by  the  IStatiou-iu 


3 


355 


further  testing  (lari Tying  agents.  No  attempt  was  made  to  esti- 
mate the  total  sugars.  The  juice  was  excellent  and  made  beau- 
tiful sugar. 

The  following  experiments  were  made  with 
CLARIFYING  AGENTS. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Studniezka,  of  New  Orleans,  the 
Provident  Chemical  Works  of  St.  Louis  sent  the  Station,  with 
their  compliments,  5 gallons  Liquid  Acid  riinsphate  of  10*^ 
Ban  me  for  ex  peii  mental  ])ur  poses.  It  was  received  after  wo 
closed  the  sugar  house  in  December  and  therefore  had  only  one 
opportunity  of  giving  it  the  test  desired.  This  acid  was  care- 
fully tested  in  the  laboratory  and  found  quite  pure.  In  the 
regular  working  of  the  sugar  house,  this  acid,  if  intelligently 
used  would  be  a valuable  addition.  The  juice  coming  from  the 
mill  should  be  limed  to  perfect  neutrality  and  a very  small  quan- 
tity of  this  acid  added  until  a faintly  acid  reaction  was  visible. 
Theory  stamps  this  method  as  being  the  nearest  approach  to  a 
perfeot  clarihcation  and  the  limited  practice  of  this  station  with 
pure  i)hosi)hates  would  justify  such  a claim.  JJut  there  is  always 
danger  in  its  nse,  since  if  added  in  too  large  a quantit}’,  like 
all  other  acids,  it  will  invert  sugar  rapidly.  See  Bulletin  No.  10 
for  chemical  action  and  experiments. 

In  the  trial  made  this  day  the  slightly  acid  juice  directly 
from  the  celD  was  treated  with  excess  of  phosphoric  acid  and 
then  limed  nearly  to  neutrality.  The  clarification  was  very  fair, 
but  it  settled  slowly,  too  slowly  for  practical  work.  In  concen- 
trating to  syrup  the  inversion  was  practically  naught. 

It  is  evidently  undesirable,  when  clarification  is  performed 
in  the  cell,  to  use  any  reagent  in  the  clarifier  which  will  form  a 
precipitate  and  necessitate  a settling  and  decantation.  The  chief 
recommendation  of  cell  clarification  is  the  dispensing  with  the 
clarifier  and  its  attendant  delays,  losses  and  expenses.  There- 
fore, however  useful  this  pure  phosphoric  acid  may  be  in  the 
clarification  of  mill  juices,  it  is  hardly  desirable  in  diffusion 
work,  when  cell  clarification  is  practiced. 

fuller's  earth, 

which  is  successfully  used  for  bleaching  dark  oil  in  our  cotton  oil 
refineries,  was  tried  to  day  upon  cane  juice.  The  clear  juice  from 
the  cell  was  run  through  a layer  of  this  earth,  arranged  so  as  to 


356 


act  as  a filter.  It  filtered  qtiickly,  but  gave  a dark  lustre  and  a 
sliglitly  acid  taste  to  the  juice,  vhicli  was  very  objectionable. 
It  was  accordingly  condemned  and  discontinued. 

PART  THIRD— WINDROWED  FOR  THE  MILL. 

January  18th — Difl’nsed  three  tons  of  cane,  windrowed  in 
the  usual  manner  for  the  mill  on  December  14th.  It  had  kept 
well  and  no  deterioration  could  be  detected  by  any  of  theexperb 
ments  to  which  it  was  subjected.  The  juice  was  treated  as  here- 
tofore, drawing  irom  the  third  cell  from  the  last.  Thus  a juice 
of  excellent  quality  was  given  which  was  turned  over  to  the 
visiting  sugar  makers  for  the  manufacture  of  white  sugar.  This 
they  accomplished  with  ease  and  satisfaction  to  themselves. 
The  chips  from  this  run  were  used  for 

BURNING  UNDER  THE  BOILER. 

Tiiey  were  run  twice  through  the  three-roller  mill  and  then 
sent  directly  to  the  furnace  of  a 30  horse  fire  box  boiler,  which 
is  one  of  the  two  boilers  used  by  the  Station.  This  experiment 
was  very  successful,  the  mill  taking  them  with  great  case  and 
delivering  them  in  a continuous  roll  of  about  1 to  inches  in 
thickness,  not  unlike  in  shape  the  roll  of  cotton  delivered  by  a 
condenser  to  a large  gin.  These  chips  after  passing  twice  through 
the  mill  burnt  very  readily  under  the  boiler. 

This  experiment  performed  in  the  presence  of  several  promi« 
nent  planters  and  sugar  makers,  removed  every  doubt  as  to  the 
feasibility  of  burning  ditiusion  chips.  The  second  rolling  of  the 
chips  accomplished  but  little  and  it  is  believed  that  one  rolling 
will  suflice  for  good  combustion  in  a regular  bagasse  burner. 


These  chips  had,  when  s-nt  to  ili©  mill 87.94  per  cent,  water. 

After  the  lirst  rollinjr <>5.50  *•  “ ‘‘ 

After  the  second  iolliu<T 03.24  “ “ “ 


PART  FOURTH-ENSILAGED  CANE. 

Three  tons  of  cane  were  cut  up  into  small  pieces  of  about 
one  inch  in  length  on  December  IGth  and  packed  away  into  cyl- 
in  Irical  iron  tanks  7 feet  high  and  4 feet  in  diameter.  The  tanks 
were  filled  within  1 foot  of  the  top  and  then  carefully  covered 
with  paper.  On  the  paper  dry  diffusion  bagasse  was  packed  to 
the  dcfith  of  six  or  eight  inches.  Over  this  was  spread  a piece 
of  canvas  and  on  this  again  bagasse  chips.  Weights  were 
placed  upon  the  top  and  the  tanks  left  in  such  a position 
as  to  bo  shielded  from  the  Northern  blast  in  case  of  a very  cold 


357 


spell.  Bigli  hopes  were  entertained  of  the  success  of  this  experi- 
ment. Could  cane  be  successfully  preserved  in  silos  or  cold 
storage  rooms,  the  time  of  manufacture  could  be  greatly  pro- 
longed and  the  chances  for  laige  central  factories  in  the  near 
future  greatly  enhanced.  But  our  experiment  failed.  On  open- 
ing the  tanks,  the  cane  was  white  and  apparently  to  the  eye, 
perfect.  But  the  odor  of  vinegar  soon  regaled  the  olfactories, 
and  a taste  of  one  or  two  of  the  chips  revealed  its  acid  nature 
and  the  absence  of  sugar.  Pending  a chemical  analysis  of  the 
chips  to  determine  their  value,  a few  cells  were  diffused,  with 
xery  unsatisfactory  results.  Soon  the  entire  sugar  house  was  sat- 
urated with  the  acetous,  odor  and  further  working  with  them 
was  deemed  impracticable.  The  chips  and  juice  were  thrown 
away  and  the  cells  and  sugar  house  limed  from  top  to  bottom. 

The  chips  and  the  diffusion  juice  therefrom  were  investigated 
by  the  Laboratory  with  the  following  results : 

The  chips  gave— 


Moisture 83.72 

Fibre 10.11 

8olids  dissolved 6.17 


Total 100.00 

Ether  extract 27 

Alcohol  extract 3.01 

The  mill  juice  gave: 

Sucrose  by  polar  ii^cope 1.00 

Sucro.'-e  by  Feliiiugs I.IG 

Gluco.-e 44 

Total  solids  by  Biix G.OO 

Total  solids  by  cvapoiaiion G.34 

Ash 57 

Solids  Precipitated  by  Alcohol  (95  per  cent) 2.42 

Solids  Precipitated  by  Sub  acetate  Lead 1.81 


10  graumies  of  jii  co  required  13.6  N 10  of  Ammo  a ia  solutiuu  for 
ueiitializatiou. 

The  diffusion  juice  from  these  canes  gave— 

Total  solids,  2.9  per  cent. ; Sucrose,  0.5  per  cent.,  aud  Glucose,  .29  per  cent. 

The  sugar  in  these  canes,  of  which  there  was  about  13  per 
cent  at  time  of  harvest,  had  evidently  by  fermentation  been  con- 
verted into  alcohol  and  acetic  acid,  the  most  of  which  had 
evaporated. 

This,  our  first  attempt  at  ensilaging  cane,  was  a serious  dis- 
appointment, but  may  not  some  way  be  yet  found  by  which  canes 
can  be  preserved  for  an  indefinite  time?  The  importance  of  the 
subject  demands  further  trials,  which  will  be  made  in  the  future. 

TRASn. 

Tli‘o  hands  who  cut  the  cano  were  old  cane  cutters  and  per’ 


358 


formed  their  work  in  the  usual  way.  They  did  not  pay  very  care- 
fi  1 attention  to  a close  separation  of  fodder  from  the  cane,  since 
they  knew  that  the  f<in  would  remove  the  former.  However,  wo 
do  not  believe  that  our  trash  was  much  above  the  av'crage  of 
Louisiana. 

The  iiverago  trnf'li  ofllie  entire  season  was . . 3.G  per  cent  of  canc  cat. 

The  average  tra>li  of  ilic  2d  year  stnlible  was 3.98  ‘‘  “ “ “ “ 

The  avei  age  iiMsh  ot  tlie  1st  year  stubble  was 4.02  “ 

The  average  t rash  of  the  plant  eaiie  was 2.99  “ 

Unless  great  care  is  exercised  in  removing  the  leaves  from 
the  cane,  both  in  cutting  and  loading,  the  trash  will  usually  be 
from  2 to  4 per  cent,  of  the  cane  cut. 

WTilGHT  OF  THE  CHIPS. 

Several  times  during  the  season  the  cubical  contents  of  our 
diffusion  cells  were  carefully  measured  and  found  to  be  13.52 
cubic  feet.  Since  one  cubic  foot  of  water  weighs  G2J  pounds, 
this  will  gire  us  845  pounds  water  to  each  cell.  All  through  the 
season  every  effort  was  made  to  put  as  many  chips  in  each  cell 
as  possible.  To  secure  this  a hand  was  ket)t  constantly  busy, 
packing  them  with  a heavy  timber,  as  they  fell  into  the  cell. 
Theory  and  [)ractice  both  unite  in  recommending  close  packing 
for  good  extraction  and  concentrated  juice.  The  following  are 
the  results  of  the  season: 

Second  year  stubble  gave  350  pounds  per  cell  or  25.9  pounds 
per  cubic  foot. 

First  year  stubble  gave  353  pounds  per  cell  or  2G.1  pounds 
per  cubic  foot. 

Plant  cane  gave  395.5  pounds  per  cell  or  29.25  pounds  per 
cubic  foot. 

Average  of  above  gave  3GG.3  pounds  per  cell  or  27.10  pounds 
per  cubit  foot. 

From  the  above  the  density  of  plant  canc  is  considerably 
greater  than  stubble. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

The  experience  of  the  past  season  has  been  quite  a varied 
one.  Working  by  a new  process,  with  new  and  untried  ma- 
chinery, it  would  have  been  miraculous  to  have  encountered  no 
difficulties  and  made  no  mistakes.  It  is  therefore  to  the  credit 
of  the  process,  that  so  few  delays  were  experienced  and  no  break 
downs  of  any -serious  character  occurred..  Our  -heaters,  alotie, 


359 


gave  ns  continued  trouble,  by  leaking.  Frequently  wlien  every- 
thing else  was  working  very  satisfactorily’,  a leak  would  be  dis- 
covered, which  while  not  interfering  with  the  general  work, 
would  always  tell  in  the  summing  up  of  results  and  in  disturbing 
mental  equilibrium.  To  stop  these  leaks  required  an  entire  ces- 
sation of  work  for  several  days  and  a testing  by  steam  of  every 
heater.  This  was  done  once  and  for  several  days  thereafter 
no  trouble  was  given.  By  using  a back  pressure  of  steam 
greater  than  the  pressure  of  the  juice  in  the  cells,  leakage  of 
juice  was  prevented,  but  a diliitiou  of  the  juice  in  the  cell  by  the 
entry  of  the  condensed  steam  occurred  which  was  also  quite 
objectionable  from  an  experimental  and  economical  standpoint. 
An  entire  overhauling  of  each  heater  is  necessary  before  begin* 
uiug  the  next  campaign.  Excepting  these  leaks,  only  one  single 
accident  occurred  to  our  diffusion  outfit  which  occasioned  any 
repair,  and  this  only  required  the  work  of  a few  minutes.  One 
of  the  i)addles  of  the  fan  came  loose  on  one  of  our  runs,  and  the 
work  was  continued  through  the  experiment  without  the  fan. 
Early  the  next  day  the  fan  was  repaired  and  no  further  trouble 
experienced  from  it  during  the  season.  These  candid  statements 
of  the  slight  difficulties  of  the  runuing  of  new  machinery,  in  an 
entirely  new  process,  from  early  in  Sejitember  till  late  in  January, 
serve  to  show  the  conspicuous  merits  of  diffusion  machinery, 
viz:  the  simp’icity  of  its  working  and  the  entire  freedom  from 
expensive  break-downs.  In  the  experiments  detailed  above, 
many  difficulties  were  encountered  which  would  not  be  experi- 
enced with  a large  battery  lunning  continuously.  Every  day  wo 
began  and  finished  an  experiment  using  from  three  to  twelve 
tons  of  cane.  It  takes  at  least  one  round  of  the  battery  before 
the  cells  become  heated  up  to  such  a temperature  as  will  ensure 
good  extraction,  and  therefore  the  running  of  each  diffusion 
experiment  is  always  attendant  with  loss  of  sugar.  In  winding 
up  a battery,  a further  loss  occurs  from  failiiie  to  extract  all  of 
the  sugar  due  to  the  diminishing  number  of  washings  which  each 
cell  receives.  The  last  difiiidty  was  iiartially  overcome  by  using 
water  freely  in  washing  the  contents  of  each  cell  before  emptying 
as  we  neared  the  comiiletion  of  each  experiment.'  This,  howev’er, 
gave  a largely  increased  dilution.  From  these  causes,  the  aver- 
age amount  of  sucrose  left  in  the  chips  was  mucli  larger  than  it 


360 


would  have  been,  had  the  battery  beni  worked  continnonsly. 
It  was  frequently  tlie  case,  that  tlie  cliips  from  tlie  tiiird  and 
fourth  round  of  the  battery,  after  every  tiling  was  well  heated 
up,  contained  as  lo'iv  as  .3  per  cent  of  sucrose,  vrliile  those  from 
the  first  and  last  rounds  would  show  several  times  this  amount. 
It  was  dne  to  this  excess  that  the  average  sin^rose  in  the  chips 
was  so  high.  In  a well  constructed  batti  ry,  properly  managed, 
the  sucrose  left  in  the  chips  shouK!  not  exceed  .5  per  cent.  It  is 

very  questionable  whether  it  pays  to  get  a larger  extraction. 

% 

DXUTlOy. 

From  numerous  experiments  already  given  it  is  shown  that 
the  most  economical  results  are  obtained  where  an  amount  of 
juice  equal  to  the  weight  of  chips  jiresent  is  drawn  tVom  each 
cell.  This  on  an  average  will  be  about  IG  jier  cent,  dilution  on 
normal  juice.  Our  cane  usually  contains  about  90  per  cent, 
juice.  Of  this  amount  oidy  83  per  cent,  is  extracted  by  our  best 
mills,  leaving  17  per  cent,  in  the  bagasse.  If  we  assume  the 
average  sucrose  of  our  cane  juices  to  be  lUJ  jier  cent,  and  that 
.5  jicrcent.  be  left  by  diffusion  in  the  chips,  this  will  give  03  per 
cent  extraction,  or  13  per  cent  addition  to  the  mill  extraction. 

Therefore  if  we  designate  the  volume  of  juice  now  extracted 
by  the  best  mill  at  100,  the  juice  extracted  by  diffusion,  prc= 
vided  it  could  be  obtained  undiluted,  Avouhl  be  117^.  If  diluted 
IG  i)er  sent,  it  would  be  117Jx  IG  [)er  cent  = 13G.  Therefore  in 
changing  from  the  mill  to  diffusion,  an  increased  ca])acity  of 
evaporators  and  pans  of  at  least  one-thirtl  must  be  provided  for 
while  the  increase  in  sugar  can  only  be  about  one-sixth.  In  other 
words,  there  will  be  about  36  per  c-ent  increase  in  the  juice,  with 
an  increment  in  t ugar  of  only  17  ])er  cent.  Surely' this  com= 
pares  well  with  some  of  our  best  mills,  Avhich  now,  with  a satura- 
tion of  at  least  12--20  per  cent.,  obtained  as  a return  only  10 
imunds  of  sugar  per  ton  of  cane. 

WHAT  SHALL  WE  DO  WITH  OUR  CHIPS. 

Three  Avays  of  successfully  using  them  have  been  suggested  : 

1st.  That  they  be  returned  to  the  soil  as  manure.  When 
clarification  is  performed  in  the  cell  their  fertilizing  value  is 
greatly  enhanced.  They  can  be  evenly  and  nicely  distributed 
over  either  plowed  or  stubble  land,  by  one  of  the  improved  manure 
distributors. 


This  method  of  disposin^^  of  the  chips  is  essentially  the  one 
suggested  by  rationnl  agricidtnre. 

2d.  They  enn  b(‘  bin  ned  under  the  boilers.  After  pnssing 
through  the  mill,  diffusion  chips  can  easily  be  binned  and  can 
thus  be  disposed  of  'without  fin  ttn  r annoyance.  AVIiether  they 
can  serve  as  a valuable  fuel  for  making  steam  is  a question  not 
yet  satisfactorily  solved.  Blill  there  is  eveiy  reason  to  believe 
(hat  in  a few  years  “this  burning  question will  be  successfully 
settled. 

This  method  of  disposing  of  the  chijis  is  suggested  by  a pres- 
ent blind  economy  and  should  not  be  practiced  save  in  a coun- 
try where  on  account  of  scarcity  the  elements  of  fuel,  Carbon  and 
Hydrogen  are  rated  by  a tariff'  of  prices  similar  to  the  elements 
of  fertilizei s in  this  State. 

3d.  They  can  be  made  into  paper  pulp.  This  Station  has 
already  forwarded  to  a New  York  paper  mill,  threugh  Mr.  J.  IJ. 
Duggan,  Now  Orleans,  sevi*ral  tonsot  dilfusion  chips  to  be  man- 
ufactured into  ))api‘r,  but  it  has  not  yet  obtained  the  lesults. 
This  question  will  also  be  soon  settled. 

This  disposition  of  the  chips  is  a manufacturing  one.  What 
will  be  the  disposition  of  the  chips,  will  soon  be  sifftled  by  Jictin.l 
expm-iments.  That  they  will  liecome  ultimately  a source  of 
])roht  to  the  planter,  is  now'  cUmrly  for(*s]mdowed  by  the  intense 
interest,  which  a money-loving  and  money  getting  i>eoi)le  aie 
taking  in  their  disposition.  Let  no  one  be  deterred  tVoin  adopt- 
ing the  diffusion  jirocess  of  extr.ac.ting  sugar  from  tin;  cane, 
because,  as  yet  the  disposition  of  the  chips  has  not  been  satis- 
factorily solved.  Humanity  is  at  w'ork  on  this  [iroblem  and 
sooner  or  later  it  w ill  be  solved. 

ESSENTIALS  TO  SUCCESS  IN  DIFFUSION. 


1st.  Finely  comminuted  cane.  Hence  necessity  ofkec])ing 
knives  shar[>. 

2d.  Abundance  of  heat,  so  as  to  maintain  the  temperature 
between  2(H)o  to  2UJO  F. 

3(1.  Time  of  diffusion  of  cacli  coll.  It  bas'becu  found  here 
that  10  minutes  to  each  cell  is  probably  the  minimum  lime  for 
good  extract  ion. 

The  above  are  absolutely  essential  ffm  the  best  wmrk. 

It  might  be  added  that  packing  the  chii)s  tightly  in  tlio  cell 
is  also  ])Toductive  of  good,  wddie  the  deiith  of  the  cell  and 
the  slowly  continuous  current  through  the  cell  .seem  to  have  cer- 
tain influences  also  upon  extraction.  Kemoval  of  the  leaves 
and  adherent  sheaths  gives  a purer  juice— hence  no  battery 
sliouhl  be  without  a faiifor  cleaning  the  chi[)s. 

For  economic  diff'ii>ion  there  must  be  a -limit  to  dilution. 
From  cxp(*riments  already  described,  this  limit  is  included 
betweeu  lo  and  20  per  cent  ou  the  normal  juice  in  the  cane. 


■^ERRATAD^ 


Od  page  :i26,  tifteenth  line  from  top,  for  inverter],  read  inserted. 

On  page  337,  second  line  below  table  of  analyses,  for  90.40  lbs.,  read 
9040  lbs. 

On  same  page,  sixth  line,  for  9.7  lbs.,  read  97  lbs. 

On  page  339,  seventh  line  below  table  of  analyses,  for  one  masse  cnite, 
read  our  masse  cuite. 

On  same  page,  eighth  line,  for  per  to,  read  per  ton. 

On  same  page,  seventh  line  from  bottom,  for  nearly  eight,  read  ninety- 
eight. 

0»  page  340,  tirst  line  below  table  of  analyses,  for  93.35  per  cent,  read 
90.35  per  cent. 

On  page  360,  eighth  line  from  bottom,  for  obtained,  read  obtain. 


No.  24. 


BULLETIN 

OF  THK 

AGRICULTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

OF  THK 

UNIVERSITY  OF  LOUISIANA 

AND 

AGRICULTURAL  AND  MECHANICAL  COLLEGE. 

BATON  IlOQGR,  LA. 

W'M.  C.  Stubbs,  Ph  O.,  Directov.  B.  B-  Ross,  M.  S.,  Clienii.st  . 


TLice  and  its  By  Bjjodncts. 


'Vi 


i.SSrKD  BY  THE  BUREAU  OF  AG  U rCU  BTU  HE, 

T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner. 

BATON  ROUGE,  B.\. 


THE  AGEieDLT.DEAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION: 

OF  THE  nSlVESSlTV  OF  LOUISIANA. 

0 BUREAU  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

GOV.  F.  T.  NICHOLLS,  President. 

WM.  GARIG,  Vice-President  Board  of  Supervisors. 

T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 

STATION  STAFF. 

WaM.  C.  STUBBS,  Ph.  D.,  Director, 

D.  N.  BARROW,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Baton  Rouge.- 
J.  G.  LEE,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Calhoun. 

Assistant  Director,  Audubon  Park. 

B.  B.  ROSS,  M.  S.,  Chemist. 

M.  BIRD,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Chemist. 

A.  T.  PRESCOTT,  M.  A.,  Botanist. 

H.  A.  MORGAN,  M.  S.  Entomologist  and  lTo"ticulturisi. 

W.  H.  DALKYMl’LE,  M.  R.  C.V.  S., Veterinary  Surgeon^ 

A.  M.  GARPNER,  B.  S,,  Farm  iManager  Audubon  Park. 

J.  E.  PRATT,  Farm  Manager,  Baton  Rouge. 

L.  M.  CALHOUN,  Farm  Manager,  Cnlhoun. 

H.  SKOLFIELD,  ‘Treasurer. 

J.  D.  STUBBS,  Secretary. 


The  bulletins  and  reports  will  be  sent  free  of  charge  to  all  farmers,  by  apply- 
ing  to  Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioiuir  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La. 


LOUISIANA  STATE  UXIVEESTTY  AND  A.  AND  M.  COIJ.KGE,  ^ 
Office  of  Expeuimknt  Stations.  / 
lliitou  Eougo,  La  ) 

Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rou-ge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir : I hand  you  herewith  a report  upon  Eice  and  its 
by-products.  I ask  that  it  be  published  as  Bulletin  No.  24. 

Embodied  in  this  rei^ort  is  the  thorough  chemical  investiga- 
tion of  rice  and  all  of  its  by  products  by  Prof.  B.  B.  Boss.  It  is 
believed  that  this  will  be  a valuable  contribution  to  thescienti^c 
literature  of  this  cereal. 

Eespectfully  submitted, 

Wm.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


Mr.  Hugh  N.  Starnes  opens  an  article  upon  the  ‘^Eice  Fields 
of  Carolina,”  in  the  Bivouac^  with  the  following  : 

‘‘Colonel  John  Screven,  a distinguished  rice  planter  of 
Savannah,  some  four  years  since,  in  a public  address,  referred 
to  a rice  plantation  as  a “great  agricultural  factory.’’  IMr.  Tren- 
holm,  of  Charleston,  lately  a prominent  member  of  the  Tbiited 
States  Civil  Service  Commission,  a year  or  two  afterward  made 
use  of  nearly  the  same  words,  though  evidently  in  ignorance  of 
their  previous  employment.  That  authorities  so  high  and  entire- 
ly independent  should  mutually  employ  the  same  expression  is 
liiost  excellent  prima  facie  evidence  of  its  applicability  and 
epigrammatic  fitness. 

And  a factory  truly  a rice  plantation  is,  in  the  fullest  sense 
of  the  the  word  ; for  Nature— passionless  step-mother  that  she 
is— exerts  so  slight  and  attentive  art  so  complete  and  watchful  a 
control  over  every  process  attending  its  production,  that  rice  is 
substantially  “manufactured,”  not  cultivated. 

But  in  this  instance  utilitarian  art  blends  unconsciously  a 
wondrous  beauty  with  its  practical  economies.  No  fairer  pros- 
pect exists  in  the  whole  realm  of  agriculture  than  the  landscape 
of  a well-appointed  rice  plantation,  whether  viewed  in  early  spring- 
before  planting,  with  the  tawny  seams  of  its  embankments 


3()5 


hitersectiiig  tlie  checkered  squares,  the  mellow  mold  yet  steaming 
from  the  plow^  and  the  whole  visible  area  apparently  as  cleanly 
swept  and  garnished  as  a parlor  floor  5 or  later,  during  the 
jiursery  reign  of  the  fostering  ‘^stretch  water,’’  each  square  a 
lake,  its  wavelets  rippling  under  the  fresh  sea  breeze,  with  tlm  top 
of  the  young  plants  ijiimersed,  for  forcing- in  long,  waving  lines  of 
tendrils  floating  on  the  water,  and  the  russet  banks,  separating 
lake  from  lake,  now  paths  of  emerald,  their  grassy  carpet  blowing 
in  the  April  sun  ; or  later  still,  during  the  "flong  water,”  the  en- 
tire landscape  one  waving  sea  oi  green,  broken  only  by  the  crystal 
ribbons  ol  canals  and  quarter  drains  5 or,  finally,  in  the  full 
noontide  of  harvest-time,  the  level  fields,  now  lakes  no  more,  but 
vast  stretches  of  stubble  dotted  with  stacks  of  golden  grain,  as  if 
an  army  tented  there. 

The  wheat  lands  of  Dakota  are  impressive,  but  their  unbi'oken 
unrelieved  monotony  is  almost  painful.  The  vine-clad  hills  of  the 
Upper  Ohio  are  novel  and  interesting  ; the  velvety  slopes  of  the 
valley  of  the  Doanoke  and  Kentucky’s  blue-grass  meat  flows  in’etty 
and  atti-active  ; but  a study  of  the  rice-fields  of  he  Atlantic 
deltas  is  simply  fascinating.  e 

In  other  agricultural  pursuits  man’s  efforts  are  th  sport 
of  Ue  elements,  and  largely  dependent  upon  the  caprice  of 
nature.  In  this  man  works  with  God,  in  the  very  shadow  of  his 
presence,  with  intelligence  and  judgment  regulating  the  wayward 
freaks  of  nature,  grafting  chemical  affinity  and  physical  force, 
and  directing  both  to  an  end,  reasonably  certain  if  proi^erly 
compassed.” 

The  botanical  relation  of  rice  and  the  various  species  now 
under  cultivation  have  been  discussed  in  Bulletin  15  of  thiy 
Station. 

In  this  saine  bulletin  the  results  of  experiments  with  rice, 
using  the  difi'erent  fertilizers,  with  a view  of  determining  the 
manui  ial  requirements  of  this  cereal,  arc  presented.  These  ex. 
perimente  have  been  continued  under  varying  conditions,  and  as 
yet  with  no  i^ositive  conclusions.  In  1888  a series  of  experiments 
Avas  conducted  upon  the  adjoining  plantation  of  Messrs.  Soniat 
Bros.  Through  their  kindness  every  facility  was  afforded  and 
enjoyed  of  properly  conducting  this  work.  On  April  25th  the 
ground  was  broken  and  harrowed,  fertilizer  distributed  broad- 
cast, rice  sown  and  both  harrowed  in  together.  This  Avas  nicely 
accomplished  by  harrowing  both  ways. 

The  following  are  the  experiments  with  manures  used  per 
acre. 


366 


3- 


Experimeiit  No.  1 — No  iiianiire. 

“ 2 — 75  lbs  Sulphate  of  Ammonia. 

( 300  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

1 150  ll)s  Acid  Phosphate. 

, f 75  lbs.  Dried  Blood. 

I 37  lbs.  Bone  Meal. 

.5 — No  Manure. 

6 — 200  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

200  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

100  lbs  Acid  Phosi)hate. 

( 100  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

u u q 1 25  lbs.  Fish  Scrap. 

j 25  lbs.  Nitrate  Soda. 

1 100  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

9 — Manure. 

The  straw  was  not  weighed.  Each  experiment  was  taken  to 
thresher  and  carefully  threshed  separately,  with  following  i-e- 
sults  in  grain. 

Experiment  No.  1^ — 13<S2  lbs. 

Experiment  No.  2 — 1392  lbs. 

Experiment  No.  3 — 1664  lbs. 

Experiment  No.  4 — 1543  lbs. 

Experiment  No.  5 — 1056  lbs. 

Experiment  No.  6 — 1344  lbs. 

Experiment  No.  7 — 1.'^84  lbs. 

Experiment  No.  S — 1677  lbs.  . 

* Exi^eriment  No.  9 — 1559  lbs. 

The  above  experiments  were  made  upon  cuts  varying  in  size 
from  one  and  one  half  to  two  acres.  The  natural  fertility  of  the 
soil  varied  greatly,  as  the  results  of  the  plats  with  ^‘no  manure’^ 
l)lainly  show.  The  average  of  the  three  “no  manure^’  plats  wnK 
1332  lbs.  It  is  difficult  therefore  to  deduce  conclusions  as  to  the 
actual  benetits  of  the  fertilizers  used,  and  to  attempt  it  wmuld  be 
misleading.  But  one  fact  is  quite  apparent  and  that  is  a mixture 
of  two  parts  of  cotton  seed  meal  and  one  i:)at‘tof  acid  phosphate 
has  given  the  lai’gest  yields.  Comparing  Nos.  3 and  7 with  “no 
manure’’  there  is  found  to  be  quite  a balance  in  favor  of  this  mix- 
ture. In  Experiment  No.  8,  wdiere .cotton  seed  meal  is  partially 
displaced  with  fish  scrap  and  nitrate  soda,  the  yield  is  still  lai-ge 


367 


lint  not  so  great  as  No.  7.  These  results  were  obtained  by  the 
usual  wate]-  culture.  Simultaneously  with  these  the  following 
series  of  dry  culture  was  inaugurated  on  the  grounds  of  this  ' 
station.  A plat  of  ground  which  had  the  previous  year  been  in 
early  coni  and  sw(?et  potatoas  was  selected  and  carefully  broken 
broadcast  with  four  horse  plow,  the  ground  levelled  and  pul- 
verized with  harrows.  Kows  were  laid  off  18  inches  apart  with 
a small  shovel  plow.  The  plat  divided  into  20  parts.  The  rice 
was  sown  in  the  drill  and  the  manuras applied  broadcast  and  both 
harrowed  in  at  the  same  time.  This  was  done  on  March  29th. 
Tlie  following  were  the  manures  used  per  acre. 

. ( 200  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

' } 50  lbs.  Muriate  Potash. 

j 200  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

“ ( 50  lbs.  Muriate  Potash. 

3 —  No  Manure. 

4 —  300  lbs.  Tankage. 

1200  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

“ 5 — ^ 200  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

( 50  lbs.  Nitrate  Potash. 

1225  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

I 6 — - 200  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

( 50  lbs.  Sulphate  Potash. 

i 225  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

7—  200  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

( 50  lbs.  Sulphate  Potash. 

( 225  lbs.  <^lotton  Seed  Meal. 

‘‘  8 — ] 200  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

(^200  lbs.  Kainite. 

9 — No  Manure. 

Tankage. 

Acid  Phosphate. 

Kainite. 

Fish  Scrap. 

Acid  Phosphate. 

Kainite. 

Dried  Blood. 

Acid  Phosphate. 

Kainite. 

Sulphate  Ammonia. 

Acid  Phosphate. 

Kainite. 


10- 


11- 


12- 


13- 


C 225  lbs. 
] 200  lbs. 
(200  lbs. 

lbs. 


200  lbs. 
lbs. 


C 250 
- 200 
(200 

( 200  lbs. 

200  lbs. 
(200  lbs. 

( 75  lbs. 
- 200  lbs. 
200  lbs. 


368 


I 112  j lbs.  I^itrate  Soda. 

14 — A 200  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 
(200  lbs.  Kainite. 

15 —  No  Manure. 

1 225  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

16 — 200  lbs.  Acid  Phosj)hate. 


17- 


18- 


(200  lbs. 
< 200  lbs. 
] 200  lbs. 
j 225  lbs. 
[ 200  lbs. 


19— 


Kainite. 

Acid  Phosphate. 

Kainit( . 

Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

Kainite. 

i 225  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

I 200  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate. 

20 — -225  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

Upon  experiments  Nos.  1 and  2,  on  May  10,  when  rice  was 
well  up,  were  scattered  broadcast  112  i pounds  nitrate  soda  and 
75  pounds  sulphate  of  ammonia. 

This  plat  was  kept  clean  of  grass  and  weeds  by  - frequent 
hoeing  and  received  no  water  except  from  rains.  The  rice  grew 
finely  and  early  in  August  presented  a beautiful  appearance, 
showing  clearly  the  distinction  between  the  manured  and  un- 
manured plats.  Every  hope  was  entertained  of  a successful 
issue  of  the  experiments  until  the  night  of  August  19th  when  the 
Station  was  visited  by  a fearful  storm  which  prostrated  nearly 
everything.  The  fences  were  blown  down  and  during  the  night 
a large  quantity  of  cattle  roamed  over  the  plat  nipping  the 
heads  of  rice  just  now  beginning  to  ripen.  In  this  way  the  com- 
parison of  results  was  rendered  impossible.  The  rice  was  cut 
and  threshed,  but  the  results  w ere  so  discordant  that  they  w^ere 
discarded  as  useless. 

An  inspection  of  above  will  show  that  an  attempt  was  made 
to  test  thoroughly  every  manurial  want  of  rice  on  this  soil  and 
it  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  a series  of  experiments  so 
promising  and  so  near  maturity  should  have  been  so  suddenly 
vitiated. 

CONCLUSION. 

Although  our  experiments  have  not  positively  declared  the 
fertilizing  ingredients  needed  by  rice  on  our  alluvial  soils,  yet 
the  suggestion  of  a mixture  of  nitrogen  and  phosphoric  acid  as 


369 


a suitable  fertilizer  for  this  cereal  is  very  strongly  made.  In  no* 
form  can  they  be  better  resented  to  this  crop,  than  in  cotton  seed 
meal  and  acid  phosphate,  using  them  in  the  proi^ortions  of  twO' 
parts  of  former  to  one  of  the  latter.  This  mixture  should  be  ap- 
plied broadcast  on  the  land  after  it  is  thoroughly  broken  and 
harrowed  and  then  harrowed  in  with  the  rice.  It  iscpiite  certain 
that  thus  carefully  applied,  (luantities  fi‘om  300  to  500  lbs.  per 
acre  will  firove  remunerative. 


THE  CHEMISTRY  OF  RICE  AXD  ITS  PRODUCTS. 

Rice  is  a staple  article  of  human  food  and  its  value  is  well 
understood.  Its  by-pi oducts,  ^ Tice  bran,”  ‘Tice  polish,’’  “rice 
straw,”  “rice  hulls”  and  “rice  hull  ashes,”  have  not  yet  been 
introduced  into  distant  markets,  though  used  to  some  extent  at 
home.  Frecpient  impiiries  are  made  as  to  the  values  of  rice  bran, 
and  rice  polish  as  cattle  food  and  their  comparative  merits  with 
wheat  bran  and  cotton  seed  meal  and  gluten.  The  following  cor- 
respondence has  recently  taken  placn,  whicli  will  explain  itself., 

THE  LOUISIAX  \ SUGAR  AND  RICE  EXCHANGE,  | 

New  Orleans,  Sept.  16,  1889.  j, 
Dr.  W.  C.  Stubbs,  Kenner,  La  : 

Dear  Sir — I hand  you  herewith  for  analysis  sample  of  gluten 
meal  sent  me  from  Chicago  and  quoted  there  at  $16  00.  pei-  ton, 
f.  o.  b.  Rice  bran  is  selling  here  at  $6  00  to  $7  00  per  ton.  With 
the  analysis  please  send  formula  for  calculating  the  commercial 
values  of  such  stuffs,  as  without  a formula,  the  analysis  has  but 
little  meaning  to  a layman. 

Yours  respectfullv,  , 

D.  D.  COLCOCK,  Secretary^ 


J.OUISIANA  SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION,  1 

Kenner,  La.,  Sept.  21,  1889.  )• 

Mr.  D.  D.  Coi.cocK,  Sugar  Exchange,  New  Orleans, 

My  Dear  Sir — Y^ouj-s  received.  Ifor  the  purpose  of  compar- 
ing the  valuation  of  different  kinds  of  feed  stuffs,  a tariff  of  prices- 
of  different  ingredients  has  been  determined  from  the  analyses  of 
leading  articles  with  fixed  values  per  ton.  The  Connecticut  Ex. 


370 


periment  Station  has  thus  determined  the  cost  of  ingredients  as 
follows  : 

Albuminoids,  1.6  cents  per  pound. 

Fat, “4.2 

Carbohydrates,  .96 


The  following  are  analyses  : 


Water 

Asll 

Fat 

Fibre 

Albuminoids 

Carbohydr: 

Bran 

11  10 

9.97 

10.95 

11.29 

46.02 

Biee  Polish.  . . . 

10.63 

5.45 

7.02 

2.62 

10.94 

63.34 

Gluten 

1.15 

8.79 

.77 

30.81 

50. 1 3 

GOee  Bian 

9.56 

8.82 

9 50 

11.81 

9.85 

.50.46 

If  we  apply  the  above  tariff  of  prices  we  will  find  for  Rice 
Bran  the  folio wiifg  in  a ton 

225.8  lbs.  Albuminoids  at  16  cents 61 

199.4  Fat  at  4.2  cents 8.36 

9.2u  ‘‘  Carbohydrates  at  96  cents — 8.83 


Value  per  ton 

la  like  manner  we  find  : 

1 ton  Rice  Polish  worth 

1 ‘‘  Glutin  Meal  worth 

fl  Rice  Bran 

By  same  tariff  we  have  value  : 

1 ton  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

1 Linseed  Meal 2 

1 Wheat  Bran 

1 Wheat  Middlings 

1 Corn  Meal 


..i^20  80 

*21  55 
. 26  85 
. 20  81 

$30  37 
. 25*92 
. 20  22 
21  20 
. 19  59 


Th-ese  are  relative  commercial  values  and  by  no  means  re- 
presents the  true  feeding  value.  The  latter  is  determiiipd  by  th^ 
wants  of  the  animal  fed  and  the  food  which  the  above  are  requir- 
ed ro  supplement.  The  above  are  denominated  concentrated  fod- 
ders and  are  used  only  to  supplement  coarser  foods.  Therefor^ 
to  compare  Gluten  with  Rice  Bran,  from  an  economical  feedin 
standiaoint,  two  things jmust  be  determined  by  the  purchaser  • 
First,  the  demands  made  on  animal  feed,  which  determines  th^ 
character  of  rations  to  be  used,  and  secondly,  the  comiaosition 
and  digestibility  of  the  coarser  foods,  to  which  the  above  are 
only  siipi^Ieinental.  An  animal  may  be  fed  for  work,  hesh,  milk, 
wool  or  simply  for  maintenance.  These  l eqnire  difterent  pro- 
l^ortions  of  the  valuable  ingredients  of  food  and  to  meet  each, 
accurate  formulas  have  been  prescribed  from  actual  experiments 
upon  animals,  kept  for  various  purposes  mentioned  above.  To 


^ Miide  l)y  Piof.  Koss  from  samples  sent  by  yon. 
i.Made  by  Hntcbinson  trcim  saluiiles  sent  by  Air.  nioomliebl. 
f.Mr.  Gay’s  sample,.-  '! 


371 


Illustrate  : It  has  beeu  found  that  a cow  weighing  1000  pounds, 
to  give  the  best  flow  of  milk,  must  be  fl^d  upon  a daily  ration 
<iontaining  24  pounds  dry  matter,  consisting  of  2.4  pounds  albu- 
ininods,  A pounds  fat  and  12  pounds  carbohydrates,  or  with  a 
nutritive  ratio  of  one  part  of  albuminoids  to  four  to  five  of  car- 
bohydrates. In  maintenance  the  ratio  is  considerably  increased. 
The  above  ingredients  all  must  be  digestible,  which  is  carefully 
fletermined  both  in  the  laboratory  and  stables. 

It  can  now  be  seen  that  while  the  above  feeds  can  be  com- 
pared commercially,  thej^  cannot  be  from  an  economical  feeding 
standpoint.  Gluten  can  be  better  used  as  a supplement  to  coarse 
hays  and  straws — while  Eice  Bi  an  or  Polish  would  serve  better 
as  adjuncts  to  the  best  hays  and  fodders.  At  some  day,  I trust 
not  far  distant,  the  entire  subject  of  economic  feeding,  may  be  as 
thoroughly  understood  in  Louisiana,  as  it  is  to-day  in  several  of 
the  Northern  and  Western  Stales. 

Y ours  respectfullv, 

W.  C.  STUBBS. 


The  analysis  given  further  on,  shows  that  rice  straw  even 
when  properly  cured,  contains  an  excess  of  mineral  and  indigest- 
ible mattef  and  therefore  has  a low  feeding  value.  It  should  be 
supplemented  largely  with  concentrated  foods  when  used  for 
fodder. 

Ashes  of  rice  hulls  are  almost  totally  devoid  of  fertilizing 
ingredients  and  therefore  are  nearly  worthless.  To  give  an 
idea  of  how  these  products  of  rice  are  obtained,  the  following 
is  inserted  : 

^‘The  rice  is  threshed  in  the  straw  by  a thresher  similar  to 
the  one  used  to  thresh  other  small  grains.  It  is  now  ‘rough  rice^ 
and  as  such  is  shipped  to  the  city  of  New  Orleans  where  it  is 
usually  sold  to  the  millers,  on  the  floor  of  the  Sugar  & Eice  Ex- 
change. 

The  process  of  milling  can  be  understood  by  the  following 
extract  from  the  article  quoted  from  above.  The  fii“st  process 
is  “screening’’  to  remove  foreign  particles,  trash  and  foot  stalks. 
The  paddy  then  passes  to  the  “milling  stones,”  where  the  outer 
husk  is  removed.  The  rice  falls  through  an  opening  in  the 
upper  stone,  and  the  revolution  of  this  stone,  or  “runner,”  as  it 
is  called,  over  the  “bed  stone”  which,  as  its  name  indicates,  is 
fixed,  produces,  or  is  supposed  to  produce,,  a draught,  which 
causes  the  grains  to  fall  into  a semi- upright  position  at  an  angle 


372 


of  a>out  forty-five  degrees.  The  runner,  revolving  over  the 
bed-stone  at  a distance  above  it  equal  to  about  two-thirds  the 
length  of  the  rice  grain,  then  cracks  or  splits  open  the  husk,  the 
grain  dropping  out  and  husk  and  grain  both  passing  out  to- 
gether. The  moving  grains  have  a uniform  centrifugal  motion 
from  the  center  of  the  stones  to  their  circvtmference.  They  can 
be  raised  or  lowered,  and  regulated  with  adjustment  for  large  or 
small  grain. 

From  the  stones  the  material  passes  into  a horizontal  screen, 
called  the  ^ ^screen  blower,,”  where  the  ground-up  chaff  and 
-small  particles  of  grown  grain,  reduced  by  the  action  of  the 
stonas,  are  separated  and  blown  out.  This  is  used  to  mix  with 
the  rice  flour.  Some  grains  of  rough  rice  have  gone  through 
the  stones  without  being  husked  ; these  now  pass  over  the  head 
of  the  horizontal  screen  and  are  conveyed  back  to  the  stones. 
The  main  portion  of  the  chaff  blown  out  the  screen  is  carried  to 
the ‘‘shaker,”  where  the  small  particles  of  broken  rice  still  re- 
maining are  seperated,  in  order  that  nothing  may  be  wasted, 
and  then  passed  from  the  shaker  to  the  “chaff  fan,”  whei*e  they 
join  the  residue  from  the  screen  blower  consisting  of  all  heavy 
particles  other  than  the  un husked  head- rice  and  a little  remain- 
ing chaff,  which  is  left  to  give  the  rice  elasticity  under  the 
pestles. 

Passing  from  the  chaff  fan  which  separates  still  more  of  the 
cliatt',  the  rice  goes  into  the  “ground  rice  bin.”  This  is  a long 
gallery  over  the  pestles,  so  arranged  that  the  rice  is  distributed 
regularly  over  the  holes  or  sluices  leading  to  the  mortars 
beneath,  into  which  it  is  delivered  in  a constant  stream  that  may 
be  increased,  diminished,  or  stopped  at  pleasure. 

The  rice  is  now  of  a white  or  mixed  white  and  yellow  color. 
The  outer  covering  or  husk  has  been  cracked  olf  and  nearly  all 
the  loose  chaff  removed,  and  the  next  process  is  the  “skinning” 
or  decorticating  process,  which  is  accomplished  by  the  pestles. 
It  is  necessary  to  remove  the  yellow,  gluey  covering  ot  the  grain 
to  give  it  the  creamy  color  so  much  desired.  This  the  pestles  do 
by  friction.  The  mortars  hold  from  four  to  six  bushels  each,  and 
are  made  of  wood  cased  with  iron  ; the  pestles  are  also  of  wood 
cased  with  iron  at  the  lower  end,  are  about  ten  feet  long  and 
four  hundred  pounds  each.  The  mortars  are  ranged  in  a long  row 
boarded  in  so  as  to  resemble  somewhat  the  counter  in  a shop, 
only  lower.  The  pevstles  are  raised  and  dropped  into  the  mortars 
T>y  means  of  a huge  horizontal  revolving  drum  as  long  as  the 
mortar  counter  and  fitted  with  spokes,  which,  as  the  drum 
•counter  and  fitted  with  spokes,  which,  as  the  drum  revolves, 
pass  into  and  under  slots  in  the  pestles,  raising  them  up,  passing 
•out  and  dropping  them  suddenly  with  a heavy  thud  into  the  mass 


.373 


of  rice  in  the  mortars.  Each  one  can  be  stopped  and  i^inned  iir 
place  without  interfering  with  the  others. 

Strange  to  say,  the  heavy  weight  of  the  pestles  breaks  very 
little  grain.  f 

When  sufficiently  decorticated  the  contents  of  the  mortars, 
consisting  now  of  hour,  hue  chaff  and  cleaned  riceofa  dull,  hlmy, 
creimy  color,  are  removed  to  the  ‘‘hour  screen’’  where  the  hour 
is  sifted  out.  From  thence  the  rice  and  fine  chaff  goto  the  “hne- 
chafffan,”  where  the  hue  chaff  is  blown  out  and  mixed  with  the 
oMier  hour.  The  rice  hour,  as  we  call  it,  or  more  properly  ‘bice 
meal,”  as  our  English  neighbors  term  it,  is  very  valuable  as  stock 
feed,  being  rich  in  h\ dro-carbons  as  well  as  albuminoids. 

From  the  hne-chaff*  fan  the  rice  goes  to  the  “cooling-bins,” 
which  the  heavy  frictional  process  through  which  it  has  just 
passed  render  necessary.  It  is  allowed  to  remain  here  for  eight 
or  nine  hours,  and  then  passes  to  the  “brush  screen”  whence  the 
‘ niallest  rice  and  what  little  hour  is  left  i)assdown  one  side,  and 
the  larger  rice  down  the  other. 

The  grain  is  now  clean  and  ready  for  the  last  process — 
polishing.  This  is  necessary  to  give  the  rice  its  high  pearly 
luster,  ami  makes  all  i he  difference  imaginable  in  its  appearance. 
The  polishing  is  effected  by  the  friction  against  the  rice  of  pieces 
of  moose  liide  tanned  and  worked  to  a wonderful  degree  of  soft- 
ness, loosely  tacked  around  a double  cylinder  of  wood  and  wire 
gauze.  From  the  polishers  the  rice  goes  to  the  seperating 
screens,  composed  of  different  sizes  of  guaze  where  it  is  divided 
into  its  ap])rop]  iab‘  grades,  then  barrelled,  headed  and  made 
ready  for  market”  • 

This  description  will  serve  to  exihain  how  the  differei.t 

l^roducts,  wliose  analysis  are  given  further  ou  are  obtained. 

The  accompanying  paper  has  been  prepared  by  Prof.  B.  B. 
Boss,  the  Chemist  of  State  Experiment  Station  at  Baton  Rouge, 
and  it  is  believed  that  thisds  the  first  co'mplete  chemicaj  exam- 
ination that  lias  ever  been  mhde  of  rice  and  its  i^roducts.  The 
attention  of  the  public  is  earnestly  called  to  this  able  paper. 
It  is  of  peculiar  importance  to  the  rice  planter  and  millers  and 
to  those  concerned  in  economic  cattle  feeding,  the  analysis  of 
rice  bran  and  polish  and  their  comparison  with  other  standard 
feeds,  must  be  of  Si:)ecial  interest. 


JNVESTIGAT10]S^  OF  THE  COMPOSITITIOA  OF  EIOE 
AAD  THE  VARIOUS  PRODUCTS  OF  THE 
RICE  MILLING  PROCESS. 


BY  PKOF.  B.  B.  ROSS,  CHE.MIST. 


The  clieiilical  literature  (h*  rice  and  the  pi’oducts  of  rice  mills 
has,  up  to  the  present  time,  been  very  meagre  in  quantity  and 
very  incomprehensive  in  scope.  With  the  exception  of  analyses 
of  rice  and  rice  polish  by  the  Connecticut  Agricultural  Experi- 
ment Station  ; of  bran,  polish,  hulls,  etc.,  by  the  North  Carolina 
Experiment  Station  in  1882,  and  an  investigation  of  the  compo- 
sition of  rice  bran  and  polish  by  llie  Louisiana  Sugar  Plxperiment 
■Station  in  1887,  A^ery  little  has  been  published  with  regard  to 
the  chemical  composition  and  properties  of  rice  and  its  products 
It  Avas  therefore  determined  by  the  Station  to  make  an  accurate 
chemical  investigation  as  to  the  composition,  digestibility  and 
nutritive  values  of  the  field  and  mill  products  of  this  Amluable 
bread  grain.  Accordingly  through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  D.  D. 
Colcock,  Secretaiy  of  the  Louisiana  Sugar  and  Rice  Exchange, 
there  Avere  procured  from  one  of  the  princiiAal  rice  milling  es- 
tablishments of  New  Orleans,  samples  representing  the  products 
of  the  difiei  ent  steps  in  the  pi  eparatioii  of  rice  for  the  market. 
To  these  Avere  added  a sample  of  the  ashes  obtained  by  burning 
the  rice  hulls  under  the  boilers  of  the  mill,  and  a sample  of 
rice  straAv  obtained  from  Soniat  Bros.,  Tchoupitoulas  Planta- 
tion, Jefferson  Parish.  For  the  sake  of  coiiA^enience  in  analysis 
and  tabulation  of  results,  the  samples  selected  Avere  designa- 
ted by  the  folloAving  numbers. 

Sample  No.  1— Rough  Rice — Avas  apparently  draAvn  Irom  a 
lot  of  the  rough  grain,  just  as  shipped  from  the  plantation,  as 
it  had  not  been  freed  from  theattendant  lAarticles  of  straAV,  trash, 
etc. 


875 


Sample  No.  2 — ‘^Kiee  from  the  stones^’’ — rei^reseiited  the 
rough  rice  after  being  prss'^cl  between  the  stones  which  are  used 
to  seperate  the  hulls  from  the  grain.  Both  the  appearance  and 
chemical  analysis  of  the  samples  however,  indicated  that  a large 
proportion  of  the  hulls  had  been  removed  and  there  is  according- 
ly a considerable  discrepancy  between  its  composition  and  that  of 
rough  rice.  ^ 

No.  8 — Ponnded  Rice— is  obtained  by  pounding  the  grain, 
from  which  most  of  the  hulls  have  been  separated,  for  some  time 
in  mortars  to  remove  the  second  coating  of  the  rice  grain  in 
the  form  of  bran,  which  constituted  sample  No.  4. 

Sample  No.  5 — Or  rice  from  the  ‘‘cooling  floor’’— exhibits 
the  grain  from  which  the  bran  has  been  detached  by  the  pound- 
ing process  just  referred  to. 

No.  ()  represents  the  polish  which  is  obtained  by  brushing 
off  the  (ioating  of  the  grain  from  the  “cooling  floor”  sample. 

No.  7 — The  milled  rice  is  the  thoroughly  cleaned  grain  ready 
for  the  market. 

No.  8 is  a sample  of  the  hulls  removed  from  the  rough  rice 
by  means  of  the  fanning  process,  and  No.  9 is  an  air  dried  sampel 
of  1‘ice  stiaw.  No.  1 0 is  the  sample  of  ashes  before  referred  to.  Pre. 
paratory  to  analysis,  the  samples,  with  the  exception  of  the  rice 
bran  and  i^olish,  were  subjected  to  a thorough  grinding  and  pul- 
verization in  order  to  secure  as  flue  a mechanical  division  of  the 
l)articles  as  possible.  Tn  addition  to  the  proximate  constituents 
ordinarily  determined  in  feed  stuffs,  viz : water,  fat,  fibre,  crude 
protein  and  carbohydrates,  true  albuminoids  and  digestible  albu- 
minoids have  also  been  carefully  estimated,  the  latter  by  means 
of  an  artificial  gastric  juice.  The  methods  of  analysis  followed, 
were  with  slight  modifications,  those  adopted  by  the  Association 
of  Official  Agricultural  Chemists  of  the  United  States.  * In  the 
determination  of  fats  it  was  found  necessary  to  continue  the  per- 
colation with  ether  for  at  least  twelve  hours  in  , order  to  insure 
the  complete  extraction  of  fats  from  a majority  of  the  sample^^ 
analyzed.  Instead  of  using  individual  condensers  for  each  per. 
colator,  it  was  found  advantageous  to  attach  the  latter  to  the 


376 


lower  ends  of  tubes  passing  vertically  through  a tin  condenser^ 
20  inches  in  height,  the  large  bulk  of  water  contained  therein 
undergoing  a scarcely  appreciable  rise  in  temperature.  The 
tared  flasks  were  all  heated  by  contact  with  water  contained  in  an 
elongated  water  bath,  thus  rendering  the  regulation  of  the  rate 
of  evaporation  comparatively  easy. 

In  the  estimation  of  fibre,  an  improvised  apparatus  was 
used,  by  means  of  which  a great  saving  of  time  and  labor  in 
fibre  determinations  was  accomplished  and  very  closely  cor- 
responding results  were  obtained.  Four  Erlenmeyer  flasks  of 
500  cubic  centimeters  capacity  each  were  used  in  the  determina- 
tions, and  were  i^laced  in  a row  upon  a stand  like  that  used  for 
the  supx^ort  of  the  distillation  flasks  in  KjeldahFs  nitrogen 
method.  The  flasks  were  wide  mouthed  and  were  fitted  with 
Xo.  7 Eimer  and  Amend  rubber  stoppers  with  double  perfora- 
tions. Through  one  of  the  holes  in  each  stopper  was  passed 
the  short  arm  of  a glass  tube  bent  at  right  angles,  the  longer  arm 
being  connected  by  a short  piece  of  rubber  tubing  with  a glass 
tube  dipi)ing  in  a large  beaker  sitting  on  the  stand  in  rear  of  the 
central  flasks.  Through  the  other  perforation  of  the  stopper  is 
l^assed  the  short  arm  of  a syphon-shaped  tube,  the  lower  end 
of  which  is  connected,  by  means  of  a short  piece  of  I'ubber  tub- 
ing. with  an  inverted  funnel,  (1  inch  in  diameter,)  covered  with 
fine  muslin.  The  outer  and  longer  arm  of  the  syphon  tube  luis 
a rubber  connection  with  a glass  tube  passing  through  a stopper 
into  one  of  the  three  necks  of  a Woultf’s  bottle.  This  rubber 
connecting  tube  can  be  opened  er  closed  at  pleasure  by  means  of 
a burette  pinch  cock.  The  two  outer  necks  of  the  Woulff  bottle 
are  supplied  with  double  perforated  stoppers  with  tubes  for  con- 
nection with  the  Erlenmeyer  flasks,  while  the  central  neck  is 
supplied  with  a tube  leading  to  a filter  pump,  and  a syphon  over- 
flow tube  wdth  burette  clamp  attached.  The  Erlenmeyer  flasks 
are  each  marked  at  a point  indicating  200  0.  C.  capacity,  and 
the  short  funnel  arm  of  the  syphon  tube  is  so  arranged  that  it 
will  readily  slide  np  and  dowm  through  the  opening  in  the  stop- 
per. The  sulphuric  acid  of  11  jier  cent,  strength  is  placed  in 


377 


tlie  large  beaker  on  tlie  rear  of  the  stand,  tlie  tubes  from  the 
ilasks  dipping  in  the  liquid.  The  sample  to  be  analysed  having- 
been  placed  in  the  several  flasks,  and  the  funnels  having  been 
drawn  nj)  above  the  200  C.  C.  line,  the  Alter  pump  is  started  and 
the  flasks  All  readily,  the  flow  of  acid  into  the  flasks  being  regu- 
lated easily  by  means  of  the  pinch  cocks  attached  to  the  syphon 
tubes.  While  the  acid  solution  is  boiling,  the  loss  of  the  water 
t>y  evaporation,  can  be  replaced  by  running  in  water  by  suction 
from  the  large  beaker  or  beakers  formerly  containing  the  acid, 
though  the  tubes  must  not  dij)  in  the  beakers,  except  when  it  is 
desired  to  i-eplace  the  evaporated  water.  When  the  usual  half 
hour  limit  of  boiling  has  been  reached  the  funnels  are  lo:rered 
nearly  to  the  bottom  of  the  flasks  and  the  liquid  is  quickly  'filter- 
ed off  by  means  of  the  Alter  pump.  Having  raised  the  lunuels 
al)ove  the  200  C.  C.  line,  but  without  ox^ening  the  flasks,  they  are 
Ailed  by  suction,  up  to  the  mark  referred  to,  with  water,  and  the 
contents  are  boiled  for  twenty  to  thirty  minutes  and  after  lilter- 
ing  as  before,  the  process  is  repeated.  In  the  same  manner  the 
samx)le  is  treated  with  the  alkali  solution  and  afterwards  twice 
with  water,  the  liquid  being  syphoned  off  and  the  flasks  filled  iqr 
as  before  described.  The  undissolved  residue  in  each  flask  is 
now  brought  upon  a Alter , prejrared  by  placing  a plug  of  freshly 
ignited  asbestos  at  the  apex  of  the  cone  of  an  ordinary  glnss 
funnel.  It  is  then  washe  I with  hot  water,  alcohol  and  ether  as 
nsiial,  and  dried  in  an  air  bath  at  from  100  to  110  degrees 
C.  The  /unnel  is  next  inverted  in  a platinum  dish  and 
weighed,  after  which  the  contents  of  the  funnel  are  transferred 
with  the  aid  of  a spitula  and  feather  to  the  dish,  xtreparatory  to 
thorough  ignition.  The  funnel  i*  then  replaced  in  the  dish,  and 
dish  and  contents  are  again  weighed.  The  loss  in  weight  rextre- 
sents  fibre.  This  method  of filterirg  and  weighing  is  especially 
advantageous  when  the  residues  are  bulky  and  Gooch  crucibles 
of  sufficient  caxtacity  or  number  are  not  at  hand. 

In  the  utilization  of  this  xtrocess  of  fibre  determination,  the 
amount  of  time  consumed  in  the  operation  was  lengthened,  but  the 


378 


tiare,  attention  and  labor  of  manipulation  was  mucli  reduced. 
The  number  of  flasks  can  be  increased,  if  so  desired,  and  a large 
number  of  determinations  can  be  made  simultaneously.  In  the 
estimation  of  crude  and  true  albuminoids,  as  well  as  of  digestible 
albuminoids,  the  Kjeldahl  battery  was  used  and  gave  uniformly 
^tisfactory  results.  A])pended  are  found  the  results  of  analyses  of 
all  the  various  sample*  above  described,  the  composition  of  both 
the  air  dried  and  water  free  substance  being  given.  In  addition 
the  per  centage  digestibility  of  albuminoid?,  and  the  per  cent 
ratio  of  true  albuminoids  to  crude  albuminoids  is  stated. 

There  are  also  added,  mainly  foi*  the  sake  of  comx)arison, 
analyses  of  wheat  and  rye  bran,  wheat  shorts,  the  straw  of  wheat, 
rye  and  oats  and  the  chaff  of  wheat  and  oats.  These  data  were 
obtained  ehiefly'from  reports  of  the  Connecticut  Agricultural 
Experiment  Station. 

EXPLAXATIOX  OF  AXALYSES. 

In  the  analysis  of  feed  stuffs  the  proximate  and  not  the 
ultimate  (or  elementary)  constituents  are  generally  det(M‘niined^ 
It  has  been  found  that  in  oi-der  to  arrive  at  the  relative  meilts  of 
fodders,  etc.,  for  feeding  pui‘j)oses,  it  is  only  necessary  in  most 
(rasi's  to  aseeilain  thepei*e(mtages  of  ash^  albuminoids  (or  i)r()tein), 
tats,  earbohydiates,  ami  woody  fibre,,  or  cellulose.  It  is  also  of 
the  utmost  im])oi‘tanee  that  tlie  proportion  of  water  i)resent  in 
the  sample  be  correctly  deteianined,  as  the  perc'cntage  of  this  sub- 
stance in  feed  stuffs  is  so  varialde  that  no  pro])er  coni])arison  of 
^he  ir  relative  nutritive  values  ('an  be  instituted  until  the  jvroportiou 
of  the  (‘onstituents  ])resent  in  the  dry  substance  ('an  be  juscei’t aim'd. 

The  amount  of  di*y  matter  can  be  (h'termined  by  heating  the 
Substance  at  a temperature  of  212  degrees,  Fahrenheit,  until  the 
Siimi)le  shows  no  furthei-  loss  of  weight  ; the  difterence  in  weigh^ 
rei)resenting  the  amount  of  water  ])resent.  I^pon  ex])osui“e  to  the 
atmosphere  the  dry  sample  will  re-absorb  a ('onsi(l(‘i-able  pro])ortion 
of  moisture,  usually  regaining  the  amount  previously  cointaiiied 
in  the  air  dried  feed  stuff. 

The  ash  contains  the  mineral  constit  uents  ofthe  feeding  stuffs 
and  its  proportion  is  ascertained  by  burning  out  the  combustible^ 


379 


l)ortioiis,  with  fi-ee  access  of  air.  These  mineral! siilist'ances  consist 
chiefly  of  potash,  soda,  lime  and  magnesia  in  combination  with 
hydiochloric,  carbonic,  phosphoric  and  snlphnric  acids,  and  also, 
silica,  together  with  a little  nnconsnmed  charcoal. 

As  these  mineial  substances  generally  occnr  in  sufficiently 
abundant  ([iiantities  in  mast  forage  plants,  the  amount  of  ash  if 
considered  of  little  importance  in  estimating  the  feeding  value  of 
fml  stuffs.  Crude  protein  (or  albuminoids)  constitutes  the  chies 
bulk  of  nitrogenous  substances  prasent  in  feedi  iig  stuffs.  The  term  is 
<(nite  comprehensive  in  its  scope,  and  inchuh^s  such  substances  as 
<*iusein  of  milk,  fibrin  of  flesh,  and  albumen  of  blood  and  the  egg,, 
which  are  considered  as  modifications  of  a ])rimary  substance 
(|)roteiu),  tlu\se  differtmt  forms  beai'ing  a general  resemblance  to 
aich  other  in  coni])osition  and  properties,  and  convertilfle  into 
inch  other  by  processes  carried  on  in  the  animal  body.  These 
albuminoid  sul)stances  contain  cai*bon,  hydrogen,  nitrogen,  and 
oxygen,  and  frecpiently  a ])ro])ortion  of  sulphur.  Indeed,  the 
exad  chemical  comj)osition  of  the  different  modifications  of  albu- 
minoids has  not  been  detinitidy  determined,  but  it  is  known  that 
jiitrogen  is  one  of  the  leavst  variable  (in  quantity)  of  their 
constituents,  and  that  the  average  proportion  of  that  valuable 
element  is  about  sixteen  per  cent.  So  that,  in  analysis  of  feed 
stuffs,  the  inle  generally  adopted  in  asc'erfaining  the  percentage 
of  albuminoids  is  to  first  determine  the  ])e]*centage  of  nitrogen 
present  and  then  multiply  this  percentage  by  6.25  (16x6.25— -100> 
This  does  not  give  us  the  exact  but  only  the  approximate  amount 
af  albuminoids  i)r(‘sent,  as  all  albuminoids  do  not  contain  sixteen 
per  cent.,  nor  is  all  the  nitrogen  in  the  feed  stuffs  combined  in 
the  form  of  albuminoids.  Plowevei*,  in  the  statement  of  the  per- 
centages of  the  proximate  constituents  deteianined,  the  propor- 
tion of  crude  albuminoids  given  is  in  each  case  obtained  by  multi- 
plying the  nitrogen  present  by  6.25.  This  has  been  done  because  it 
ai)i)roximates  very  closely  the  time  percentage,  and  because  all  o^ 
the  standards  of  comparisons  to  whidi  we  can  refer  in  determin- 
ing the  relative  nutritive  values  of  feed  stuffs,  give  albuminoids 
as  determined  in  the  same  manner. 


380 


In  the  analysis  of  all  of  the  sami)le-s,  however,  both  albumi- 
noidal  and  non-albuminoidal  nitrogen  have  been  detei  iniiuM:!,  but 
the  analysis  of  sample  2 and  also  of  samples  8 and  9 (hulls  and 
stmw)  indi('ates  the  absence  of  non-albuminoid  nitrogenous  sub^ 
stanees.  The  different  non-albuminoidal  nitrogenous  bodit^  o(*. 
cuirring  in  the  various  parts  of  plants  are  nitiates,  niti’ites,  am* 
monial  salts,  alkaloids,  amide  bodies,  etc.  The  last  named  class 
is  the  most  abundant  in  0{*curence,  tliough  the  nutritive  value 
of  amide  substances  has  not  been  clearly  detined  as  yet.  As  a 
general  rule  these  substances  decrease  in  quantity  as  the  plant 
ai')proaches  maturity,  being  utilizcsl  to  some  extent  in  the  farther 
production  and  elaboration  of  albuminoids.  They  aie  al mast  in- 
variably more  soluble  than  protein  compounds,  and  in  chemical 
analyses,  they  are  dissolved  out  very  leadily  after  the  albuminoids 
3 u)t  already  insoluble  have  been  piecipitated  o!‘  coagulated.  In 
the  table  of  analyses  given  it  is  seen  that  he  larg(‘st  per('ent- 
.ag(^  of  non-albuminoidal  nitrogen  are  found  in  the  rough  ri('4> 
bran  and  clean  rice. 

The  albuminoids  ar(‘  legarded  as  the  (*hief  constituent  of 
value,  as,  without  uudeigoing  any  very  considerable  alteratioi  ? 
they  ar(‘  utilized  in  the  animal  body,  in  the  formation  of  animal 
albuminoids,  such  as  the  fibrin  of  muscles  and  tendons,  and  th(^ 
albumen  and  casein  of  blood  and  milk  5 and  not  only  contributes 
to  the  growth  of  the  animal,  but  tend  to  repair  and  replace  the 
worn  out  muscles,  nu^mbranes,  tissues,  etc. 

The  term  fats  includes  all  mattei*s  extracted  from  the  dry 
fodder  by  ether,  and  the  i)roportion  of  fats  is  generally  less  than 
that  of  any  other  proximate  constituent.  Vegetable  fats  ai‘e 
utilized  in  the  animal  economy,  either  in  making  fat  or  in  fur- 
jnshing  heat  to  the  body  l)y  the  oxidation  of  their  (*arbon  and 
hydrogen,  this  ])rocess  of  oxidation  being  perfectly  analagous 
to  the  ordinary  proc(?sses  of  combustion. 

The  class  of  substances  called  carbohydrates  are,  in  conjunct 
tion  with  the  tats,  also  of  great  utility  in  producing  and  main- 
taining animal  heat,  but  practical  experiments,  within  leccEfc 
.years,  have  led  scientists  to  believe  that  fats  have  two  and  one- 


881 


lialf  (21)  times  the  value  of  carbohydrates  in  the  production  of 
heat  by  their  oxidation.  Carboli  yd  rates,  as  the  name  implies) 
consist  of  cai'bon  together  with  hydi'Ogeu  and  oxygen,  in  the 
]'elative  pioportions  in  wluch  they  exist  in  water.  Under  this 
term  are  included  starch,  sugar,  gums  and  other  bodies  closel}^ 
allied  in  chemical  com])osition  and  ])roj)erties. 

Of  course  the  predominating  constituent  of  this  class  occur* 
ring  in  j ice  and  its  products  is  starch.  This  substance  in  the 
granulai’  form,  under  ordinary  conditions,  is  completely  insoluble 
in  cold  water,  and  even  in  a very  finely  powdered  state,  only  a 
small  pj-opoition  is  dissolved.  When  lieated  .nearly  to  boiling 
with  watei’  the  partichvs  of  stardi  swell  up  forming  a gelatinous 
.mass,  miscible  with  water,  bnt  very  little  comes  in  solution.  When 
heated  to  a much  highto'  tempeiuture  out  of  contact  with  water  it 
forms  d(‘xtrin  or  British  gum,  I’cadily  recognized  by  its  mucilag' 
inous  characteristics.  It  is  only  when  pure  starch  gi-anules, 
oi‘  grains  rich  in  stairh  and  in  finely  powdered  condition,  are 
boiled  down  with  water  that  a viscid  liquid  of  uniform  consis' 
tency  is  obtained.  When  the  grains,  in  an  integral  state  or  very 
coarsely  ])owdered,  are  thus  ti*eab‘d,  th(‘  individual  grains  expand 
separately  forming  in  the  aggregate  a veiy  i)alatable  and  digestibl^ 
nntss.  Star(‘hy  gi-ains.  when  thus  treated,  or  when  their  starch  i^ 
couvei't(‘d  into  dextrine  at  a highei*  temperature,  furnish  a large 
propoition  of  nutritious  and  heat  producing  constituents  to  the 
minimal  body.  Both  starch  and  dextrine  ai*e  readily  acted  upon 
both  by  the  saliva  and  the  pancreatic  juice,  being  converted  into 
sugars,  in  which  form  they  are  readily  assimilable.  The  cellulose 
or  fibre,  constit  utes  the  most  insoluble  and  generally  the  most  indi- 
gestible portion  of  fiasling  stuffs.  Although  pure  cellulose  (as 
lint  cotton)  is  identical  in  comiK)sition  with  starch,  in  its  physical 
properties  and  cheini(‘al  depojtment  there  is  the  widest  difference. 
It  was  formeily  considered  almost  if  not  whollj^  indigestible,  bu^ 
ex^periments  have  shown  that  quite  a large  percentage  is  digested 
by  animals,  and  may  be  turned  to  account  either  as  an  auxiliary 
or  as  a sul)stitute  for  fats  or  carbohydrates,  in  furnishing  oiidiz' 
able  and  heat  producing  constituents  to  the  blood. 


382 


In  order  tliat  each  of  the  eoirstituents  of  feeding  stuffs  may 
1)e  utilized  to  tlie  greatest  possible  advantage,  in  the  piudbriuaiice 
of  their  several  functions  in  the  animal  econouiy,  it  has  been  tbund 
essential  that  they  exist  in  ceifaiu  relative  propoi  tions,  just  aKS 
in  the  application  of  commei  cial  fertilizers  to  soils  the  relative 
percentages  of  tludr  three  essential  constituents  must  be  taken 
into  consideration. 

Ithasbeim  ascertained  by  caiidiilly  conducled  experiments 
in  cattle  feeding  that  in  estimating  tin*  (‘omparative  feeding  values 
of  fodders,  there  should  be  detenu iiuMl  what  is  known  as  the  nu- 
tritive ratio — or,  the  ratio  of  digestible  cai'bohydrates  to  digesti- 
ble albuminoids — list  as  in  the  opmation  of  a steam  engine  there 
s a ratio  betw  e^n  the  ('ost  of  fuel  and  tlie  cost  of  the  materials  cf 
of  repair.  In  determining  this  nutritive  ratio,  fats  must  also  be 
taken  into  consideration,  and  as  they  are  as^aimed  to  have  a 
value  of  two  and  one  half  (21)  times  their  weight  of  carbohy- 
drates, the  amount  of  digestible  fat,  after  being  multiplied 
by  two  and  one-half  (21)  is  added  to  the  digestible  carbo- 
hydrates. 

Tn  calculating  the  nutritive  ratios  of  the  bran,  polisli  and 
straw  analyzed,  the  percentages  of  digestibility  of  the  carbohy- 
drates and  fats  were  taken  from  the  results  of  practical  digestion 
experiments  on  wheat  bran,  shorts  and  straw,  while  the  percent- 
age  digestibility  of  albuminoids  was  determined  by  means  of  arfr 
tificial  digestion  with  pepsin  solution. 

It -was  found  that  the  bran  had  a nutritive  ratio  of  1:6.07,  the 
polish  of  1:6.75  and  the  straw  of  1 ;7.74.  As  the  ratio  best  adap- 
ted for  working  farm  animals  has  been  shown  to  be  1:7,  it  would 
apiiear  that  in  the  case  of  the  bran  and  polish  th«re  was  not  a 
sufficient  discrepancy  between  the  amounts  of  digestible  album- 
inoids and  digestible  carbohydrates  while  the  reverse  case  is  true 
with  regard  to  the  strawx 

DIGRSTlOl^  EXPERIMENTS. 

The  digestibility  of  the  albuminoids  in  the  feeding  stuffs  wa 
determined  by  treatment  with  pepsin,  solution  corresponding’ 


3S3 


t^losely  in  composition  and  solvent  or  digestive  po^Yer  to  the  ga^s- 
tric  juice,  the  most  important  of  all  the  animal  digestive  fiuidvS. 
The  principal  c.  n ;tituents  of  this  juice  are  lactic  and  hydro- 
chloric acids,  and  a subtance  called  pepsin,  secreted  in  the  lining 
of  the  stomach  and  possessed  of  wonderful  digestive  or  peptonix. 
ing  properties,  especially  as  I'egards  albuminoids. 

Pepsin  is  at  present  largely  prepared  from  the  stomach  of 
t\i^  \V\g  {pepsina  pord),  and  is  frequently  administered  medicin-' 
ally  to  aid  or  promote  digestion. 

The  pepsin  solution  used  contained  ten  (10 ) grams  of  scale 
pepsin  in  two  (2)  litres  of  water,  acidulated  with  ten  (tO)  graiUvS 
hydrochloric  acid — (Sp.  gr.  1.1075)--and  the  finely  ground  ma- 
terial was  kept  at  a constant  tem])eratnre  of  104  degrees,  Fahren- 
heit, for  two  ])eriods  of  twelv^e  hours  each,  one-tenth  (0.1)  per 
cent,  of  hydrochloi-ic  acid  being  added  at  intervals  of  three  honrs> 
so  that  at  the  end  of  twenty-foni*  hours  (24)  one  per  cent.  (1)  of 
the  acid  would  be])resent. 

As  the  ])rin('ipal  function  of  the  gastiac  juice  is  to  digest  albu- 
minoids, only  the  i-esult  of  the  digestion  of  albuminoids  is  given 
in  the  statement  of  analysis. 

It  wiis  found  that  the  milled  rke  showed  the  highest  ]xn’cent- 
age  of  digestibility  of  albuminoids,  (83.11),  while  the  rice  i)olivSh 
ranked  next  in  the  digestibility  of  its  ])rotein  (82.44.)  .The 
branexhibited  a closeappi-oximationof  its  digevStion  co-efiicient  to 
that  of  wheat  bran,  the  former  being  76. 75  and  the  latter  78  as 
determinexl  by  i^ractical  fending  experiments.  The  percentage 
digestibilities  of  the  hulls  and  straw  M ere  26.64  and  38.98  l espec- 
tively,  thus  indicating  a very  small  proportion  of  assimilable  al. 
buminoids,  the  total  albuminoids,  themselves,  being  present  in 
very  small  projxortion.  In  addition,  the  large  propoi'tions  o 
mineral  niattei',  (13.85  i)er  cent,  in  the  hulls  and  19.97  per  cent 
^n  the  straw)  consisting  chiefly  of  silica,  furnish  an  argument 
against  the  use  of  these  substances  as  feeding  stuffs,  and  the  con. 
sequent  introduction  of  large  quantities  of  indigestible  and  un- 
assimilable  mattei’S  into  the  animal  stomach.  It  m ill  Ire  seen  by 
reference  to  the  tables  of  analysis  that  the  ash  percentages  of  these 


384 


substances  are  niuch  higlier  than  those  of  similar  products^  of' 
other  grains.  The  proportion  of  albuminoids  in  the  straw,  liow- 
ever,  compares  fairly  well  with  the  amounts  contained  in  the^ 
straw  of  wheat  and  oats.  As  is  the  case  with  all  grains  anti 
forage  plants,  when  maturity  a])j)roaches,  there  is  a concentiu- 
tion  of  the  nutrient  constituents  in  the  seed  of  the  plant,  leacln^ 
the  stems  and  blades  some  what  impo vanished,  and  conse<iuentI]f 
less  adapted  to  use  as  feed  stuffs. 


HULL  ASHES. 

Below  is  given  a detaihMl  analysis  of  the  liull  ashes,  as  takem 
from  the  mill  fnriuK'es.  it  will  be  seen  that  silica  (insolublei 
matter)  j^redoini nates,  and  only  veiy  small  proportions  of  phosv 
l)horic  acid  and  potash,  the  fei  tilizing  constituents  of  value  in  thet 
f^sh  of  plants,  are  present. 

ANALYSIS  OF  HULL  ASHES. 


Sand  and  Insoluble  matter 87.05^ 

Sol  uble  Si  1 ica  0; 

Sulphuric  Acid I.ll 

Phosphoric  Acid 0,82^ 

Oxide  of  Iron  } 

Alumina  j 

Lime (XS’S 

Magnesia 0.56^ 

Potash 

Soda 

Chlorine — 0;II 

Moisture — 3.8T 

Unconsumed  Organic  Matter 

Total lOaOT 


As  the  hulls  themselves,  when  completely  igniteil  in  thi' 
laboratory,  yield  13.85  jier  cent,  miueral  matter,  we  can  approxi- 
mately calculate  the  proportion  of  ashes  obtained  by  burning  the- 
hulls  at  the  mill.  The  ashes  from  the  mill  contain  6.73  per  cenU 
of  volatile  and  un consumed  organic  matter  together  Avith  hygr<!J5- 


885 


scopic  moistui*e,  leaving  a pere(aitage  of  98.27  of  iniiieral  inattej. 
indicating  14.85  pei*  cent,  of  crude  ash  obtainaVde  from  tlie  Imlls 
at  the  mill. 

ABSOLUTE  AND  BELATIVE  QUANTITTES  OF  THE 
PBOXTMATE  OONSTITITENTS  IN  THE 
SAMPLES  ANALYZED. 


According  to  data  oldained  from  rice  milling  establish- 
ments, it  appears  that  from  1G2  U>s.  of  rough  rice,  on  an  average^ 
there  are  obtained  : 

95  11)S.  of  clean  l ice  of  all  grades, 

8 llxs.  of  j)olish, 

80  lbs.  bran,  and 

29  lbs.  of  chali',  straw,  trasli,  dust,  etc. 

In  the  earlier  pai-t  of  the  seavson,  it  is  estimated  that  the  pro- 
portion of  bi'an  obtained  is  50  pei*  cent,  gi’eater.  Owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  above  figures  represent  only  avei-ages,  and  that  the  2tt 
of  straw,  chaff,  trash,  etc.,  is  so  cfunprehensive  ius  to  include 
several  waste  ])rodu('ts  of  no  definitely  known  cojn])osition,  the 
hulls  alone  having  been  analyzed,  together  with  the  fact  that  the 
])roducts  of  rice  wiieii  se])arate<l  from  each  other,  perhai>s,  have 
different  hygrasco])ic  (^apacaties  from  those  posvsessed  in  the  rough 
grain,  it  has  been  difficult  to  obtain  results  from  the  chemical 
analysis  of  these  prodinds,  coinciding  precisely,  in  the  aggregate?' 
with  the  results  of  the  analysis  of  the  rough  rice  itself.  In  the  102:. 
lbs.  of  the  rough  rice  we  find  by  determination  and  (Calculation. 
8.83  lbs.  of  ash  (mineral  matter.  ) 

4.18  lbs.  of  fat, 

15.03  lbs  of  fibre, 

12.05  ll>s  of  albuminoids, 

104.10  lbs  of  carbohydrates. 

In  like  manner,  in  80  lbs  of  bran  we  find 
3.83  lbs  of  ash, 

2.97  lbs, of  fat, 

8.28  lbs.  of  fibre, 


386 


13.81Jbs.  of  carboliydrates. 

In  8 lbs.  of  polish  there  are  eoiitaiiied 
.44  lbs  of  ash, 

.56  lbs  of  fat, 

.21  lbs.  of  fibre, 

.87  lbs.  of  albimiiiioids, 

5.07  lbs.  of  carbohydrates. 

Ill  same  manner,  in  95  lbs.  of  ch^an  rice  there  are 
.69  lbs.  of  ash, 

.36  lbs  of  fat, 

.45  lbs  of  fibre, 

7.15  lbs.  of  albuminoids, 

74.45  lbs  of  carbohydrates. 

likewise  in  29  l]>s.  of  chaff  or  hulls  we  have 
4.02  lbs.  of  ash, 

;o.25  lbs  of  fat, 

11.06  lbs.  of  tibi*e, 

.83  ll>s.  of  albuminoids, 

10.15  lbs.  of  carbohydrates. 

In  this  eaum  nation  of  th'^  ab^alnte  ([uintities  of  tiie  sevaral  eon 
stitnents,  water  is  omitted,  though  it  ('onstitutes  the  balance 
necessar\'  to  make  up  the  full  weight  of  each  substances  consid- 
ered. Com])ining  the  amounts  of  each  proximate  constituent 
contained  in  the  ([iiantities  of  these  samples  mentioned  above,  we 
find  of  ash, 

3.33  11)S.  in  Bran, 

.44  lbs.  in  Polisli, 

.69  lbs.  in  Clean  Rice, 

4.02  lbs.  in  Chaff. 

Total  8.48  lbs.  of  Ash. 

Found  in  162  lbs.  rough  rice  8. 83  lbs. 

Of  fats,  there*  aj-e 

2.97  lbs.  in  Bran, 

.56  lbs.  in  Polish, 

.36  lbs.  in  Clean  Rice, 


.25  IbK  in  ^ 

'Total  4.14  lbs.  of  fat'^.  ' 

mount  in  162  lbs.  rougb  rioe  4.18  lbs.  * . 

Hbre,  there  are  contained 
3.2i^ll>s.  in  Bran, 

.21  lbs.  in  Polish, 

.45  lbs.  in  Clean  Kiw, 

11.06  lbs.  in  Hulls. 

Total  15.00  lbs.  in  tibre 

Amount  contained  in  162  lbs.  rough  rice — 15.03  lbs. 
albuminoids,  there  are  found 
3.38  lbs.  in  Bran, 

.87  lbs.  in  Polish 

7.15  lbs.  in  Clean  Eice,  — 

.83  11  m in  Hulls 

'Total  12.23  lbs.  of  albuminoids. 

Amount  contained  in  162  lbs.  rough  rice  12.05  lbs. 

Jn  like  manner,  of  carbohydrates,  there  are 
13.81  lbs.  in  Bran, 

5.07  lbs.  in  Polish, 

74. 15  lbs  in  Clean  Eice, 

10.15  lbs.  in  Hulls, 

Total  103.  L8  lbs.  carbohydrates. 

Amount  contaiued  in  162  lbs.  rough  l ice  104.16  lbs. 

Converting  thes(‘ absolute  amounts  into  percentages,  we  ob- 
fejim  the  following  relative  distribution  of  the  j)roximate  constitu- 
<j^n.Ts  determined,  in  the  several  samples  referred  to. 

Of  the  ash  ingredients  0('curing  in  the  rough  rice,  there  are 

In  the  bran,  30.27  per  cent  of  the  whole  amount. 

In  the  |)olish,  5. 19  per  cent. 

In  the  (dean  rice,  8. 14  p(a’  cent. 

In  the  hulls,  47.41  xmr  cent. 

Of  the  fats,  there  are  contained. 


388- 


In  the  bran^  71.74  i3er  cent,  of  the  total  amount  ocenrmtg^ 
ill  the  rough  rice. 

In  the  polish,  13.52  percent. 

In  the  clean  rice,  8.  70  per  cent. 

In  the  hulls,  0.04  j>er  c^nt. 
l)f  fibre,  there  is  found 

In  the  bran,  24.89  i^er  cent,  of  the  total  amount  contained 
in  the  rough  rice. 

In  the  polish,  1.40  per  cent. 

In  the  clean  rice,  3.00  per  cent. 

In  the  hulls,  73.73  per  cent. 

Of  albuminoids,  there  ai'e 

In  the  bran,  27.04  per  cent,  of  the  total  amount  contained' 
in  the  rough  rice, 

In  the  polish,  7.1 1 per  cent. 

In  the  ('lean  rice,  58.40  per  cent. 

In  the  hnlls,  0.79  percent. 

Of  the  carbohydrat(\s,  there  oci'ur 

In  the  bran,  13.38  per  cent,  of  tlu'  total  amount  in  rougit 

rice, 

In  the  polish,  4.91  per  cent. 

In  the  clean  rice,  71.87  per  cent. 

In  the  hulls,  9.84  per  cent. 

Comparing  the  composition  of  ri('e  bian,  with  that  of  wheat 
and  rye  bran,  we  see  that  the  latter  contain  larger  proportions 
of  carbohydrates  and  albuminoids,  while  in  the  former  the  fats., 
fibre  and  ash  occur  in  gi-eater  quantities.  On  compai-ing  the 

polish  with  wheat  shorts,  it  is  found  that  the  polish  contains 
larger  amounts  of  carbohydrates,  fats  and  minei’al  matter,  while 
the  shorts  show  larger  lau'centages  of  fibre  and  albuminoids.  The 
composition  of  both  shorts  and  polish,  as  taken  from  differenf 
milling  establishments,  is  somewhat  variable,  and  appears  to  be 
to  some  extent  dependant  upon  the  mechanical  proc(^sses  of 
separation  of  these  substances  at  the  mills.  The  ]iolish  on  being- 
compared  vdth  oat  meal,  shows  an  almost  perfect  coincidence  in 
the  proportions  of  fats  and  carbohydrates  present  in  the  twc«> 
substances,  but  the  polish  possi^sses  levSS  albuminoids  and  more 
mineral  matter  than  the  oat  meal.  It  has  been  shown  in  a pre- 
vious bulletin  that  ri('e  bran  and  polish  must  be  mixed  in  certain 
ratios  with  various  hays  and  fodders,  in  order  to  obtain  a feed 
stuff  containing  the  nutrient  constituents  in  the  best  relative  pro- 
portions. 


TABLE  OF  ANALYSES, 


ANALYSIS  OF  THE  AIR  DRIED  SUBSTANCE. 


SAMPI.E. 

1 i 

^ sc 

* ' 

1 Fibre 

1 

j Crude  Protein.,! 

Carbohydrates.  1 

1 

1 Total  Nitrogen.  1 

j Albuminoid 

I Nitrogen.  i 

True  Protein,  j 

Per  cent  ratio 

true  to  crude 

protein. 

( -.s 

T ® 

; 

: 03 

1 Q 

^ Per  cent  digest  i-, 
bility  of  Protein  i 

1. 

Rough  Rice 

10.9o; 

5.45  2.58 

1 ! 

9.28  7.44, 6-1..S0  1.19  ,1.134 

' 

7.09 

1 I 

95.29' 

5.,58 

75.00 

2. 

Rice  from  the 

Stones 

12.12' 

2.55'  2.10 

3.03  8.09 

'72.11 

1.29»  1.29fc! 

8.09 

]00.0>. 

6.36 

78.68 

3. 

Pounde*  Rice 

12.42! 

2 381  2.50 

2.. 55  8.14 

'72.01 

1.30  1.274: 

7.96' 

97.85 

• 6.41 

78.81 

4. 

Rrau—  - 

10.()7lll  .0  9.97 

10.95  11.29  46.02 

1.806  1.708' 

10.67 

94.57 

j 8.66 

76.75 

i. 

Bice  from 

ooolino-  floor 

12.75  i 

o;82’  1.05 

0.72  7.74 

76.92 

1.24  1.19  ' 

7.44 

t>6.12 

6..3f 

81.65. 

6. 

Polish 

10.93 

5.451  7.02 

2.62’i0.94  63.34 

1.75  ! 1.736, 

10.851 

99.181 

9.01 

82.44 

7. 

Clean  Rice 

J2.85 

0.73'  0.38 

! 0.47:  7., 52 

7S.05d.204ll.148! 

7.17! 

95.48' 

6.25 

83.11 

8. 

Hulls 

8.27 

13.851  0.85 

138.15  2.89  34.99!  .46  ' .46  ' 

2.89, 

100.00! 

0.77 

26.64 

9. 

Straw 

8.97 

19.97  1.87 

,.32.2(5  4.72 

32.2  i! 

.756  .756 

4.72^ 

100.00; 

1.84138.98 

Wheat  bran 

12.08 

0.84;  3.67 

: 8.55jl4.82'.'),5.04; 

_j . 

1 

Rj  p hrnn 

12.30 

3.62'  2.19 

I .3.51;15.26'63.l2 

j 

Wheat  shorts 

11.8;5 

4.32'  3.79 

1 7.94!13.14  58.96, 

— j — 

— 

Whonf  straw 

H.Ofi  1 49' 

!38(I8'  4.98  41.991 

- J - _i 

( 

ttnt  straw 

4.72,  2.07  42.78  3.35: 

,36.97. 

. _ 1 j 

Bve  straw 

1.84  1.84!, 38. 75  4.  ,54 

.38..37 

_i  _ 

! 

1 

Wheat  chaff 

14.30 

6..50  2., 30 

27.10  9.50  40.30, 

i 

Oat  chaff 

13.60 

11.00!  1.40|31.70-  4.90  37.40 

1 

j 

ANALYSIS  OF  THE  WATER  FREE  SUBSTANCE. 


Sample. 

Ash 

1 

Fibre 

' 1 
"5 

. '3  i 

0 ^ j 

6 1 

1 Total 

j Nitrogen 

j Albuminoid 
Nitrogen 

QpJ 

"o 

u 

. 

' S-I 

t-( 

! Digestible 
j Protein 

No.  1 

6.12 

i 

2.88 

^ 10.42 

8.24 

, 1 

72.;34 

1..32 

1.27 

i 

7.86  1 

6.26 

No.  2 i 

2.1K) 

, 2.39 

: 3.45 

9.21 

82.05  : 

1.47 

1.47 

i 

1 7.24 

No.  3 

2.72 

2.85 

; 2.91 

9.29 

: 82.23 

1.49 

1.45 

1 9.09  1 

7.32, 

No.  4 

12.43 

11.16 

' 12.26 

12.64 

51. .51 

2.02  i 

1.91 

11.95 

9.70 

No  5 

®.94  ; 

1.2:3 

0.82 

8,88 

88.13 

1.42  ! 

1.36 

! 8.42 

7.2(5 

No.  6 

6.10  ' 

7.85 

2.93 

12.24 

' 70.88 

1.96  i 

1.94 

' 12.14 

; 10.09' 

No.  7 

0.84  1 

0.44 

; 0..5t 

8.63 

89..5,") 

l.:38  1 

l.:32 

: 8.23 

1 "-i" 

No.  8 

1,5.10 

0.93 

! 41.59 

3.1,5 

.39.2.3 

0..50 

0..50 

' 3.15 

1 0.84' 

No.  9 

21.94  . 

12.05 

, 35.43 

0.19 

. 85.39 

0-8.3 

0.83 

5.19 

; 2.02: 

Ko.  25. 


BULLETIN 

OF  THE 

AGRICULTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

Wm.  C.  STTBBS,  Pii.  D.,  Director  and  Official  State  Chemist. 


(d:b' 

COMMERCIAL  FERTILIZERS 

AND 

OTHER  SUBSTANCES  USEFUL  TO  AGRICULTURE. 

ISSUED  BY  THE  BUREAU  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner. 


RR.NTED  ATTHETRUril  .TOB  OFFICE. 
BATON  ROUOB,  LA. 


AGRIGUITURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  LOUISIANA. 


BUREAU  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

GOV.  F.  T.  NICHOLLS,  President. 

WM.  GARIG,  Vice-President  Board  of  Supervisors. 

T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 

STATION  STAFF. 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Ph.  D.,  Director, 

D.  N.  BARROW,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Baton  Rouge. 
J.  G.  LEE,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Calbouu. 

Assistant  Director,  Audubon  Park. 

B.  B.  ROSS,  M.  S.,  Clieraist. 

M.  BIRD,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Cbeinist. 

A.  T.  PRESCOTT,  M.  A.,  Botanist, 

H.  A.  MORGAN,  M.  S.  Entomologist  and  Horticulturist. 
W.  H.  DALRYMPLE,  M.  R.  C.V.  S., Veterinary  Surgeon. 
A.  M.  GARDNER,  B.  S,,  Farm  Manager  Audubon  Park. 
J.  E.  PRATT,  Farm  Manager,  Baton  Rouge. 

L.  M.  CALHOUN,  Farm  Manager,  Calhoun. 

H.  SKOLFIELD,  Treasurer. 

J.  D.  STUBBS,  Secretary. 


The  bulletins  and  reports  will  be  sent  free  of  charge  to  all  fanners,  by  apply- 
to  Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La. 


Office  Bueeau  of  Ageiculture,  | 
Baton  Eouge,  La.  Oct. , 1888.  ) 

To  His  Excellency  Francis  T.  Nicholls,  Governor  of  Louisiana  and  President  of  the 
State  Bureau  of  Agriculture  ; 

SiE  : 

In  compliance  with  the  provisions  of  Act  54,  of  1889,  herein 
please  find  the  analyses  made  by  Dr.  W.  C.  Stubbs,  Director  and 
Official  Chemist  5 also  a list  of  the  Commercial  Fertilizers  sold 
in  tlie  State  during  the  season  of  1888-89,  their  guaranteed  analy- 
ses^ names  of  the  dealers  to  whom  licenses  have  been  issued,  etc. 
The  demand  for  fertilizers  during  the  last  season  has  decidedly 
increased.  The  general  character  of  the  article  offered  for  sale 
has  been  fairly  within  the  guarantee  given.  The  costs  of  the 
different  brands  have  varied  but  little  from  that  of  the  previous 
season,  and  indications  are  that  no  material  changes  can  be  ex- 
pected this  Season.  There  is  also  included  in  this  report  analy- 
ses of  an  agricultural  nature  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  public, 
which  I am  sure  will  prove  instructive  to*  the  farmers  and  plan- 
ters of  this  State. 

Eespectfully, 

T.  J.  BIED, 

Commissioner  Bureau  of  Agriculture. 


LOUISIANA  STATE  UNlVERSI  l'Y  AND  A.  AND  M.  COLLEGE,  ^ 
Office  of  Expeiument  Stations,  > 
Baton  Kouge,  La. } 

Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — I hand  herewith  the  Analysis  of  Commercial  Fer- 
tilizers made  since  our  last  report,  together  with  the  Fertilizer 
Law,  with  the  request  that  you  publish  same  as  Bulletin  25, 
I have  also  included  other  analyses  of  an  agricultural  character 
made  in  the  Station  Laboratory,  which  may  be  of  i)ublic  interest. 
Eespectfully  submitted, 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


392 


REPORT  OF  THE  DIRECTOR, 


The  analyses  contained  in  the  report  ere  of  four  kinds  : 

1.  t)f  samples  selected  at  the  discretion  of  the  Commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture. 

2.  Of  samples  drawn  hy  the  purchaser,  under  regulations 
prescribed  by  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 

The  above  are  required  by  law. 

3.  Of  samples  used  by  the  Stations. 

4.  Of  samples  sent  by  private  parties. 

While  the  Station  is  not  required  by  law  to  work  for  private 
parties,  yet  all  samples  sent  by  individual  citizens  of  the  State 
will  be  analyzed  without  charge  ; provided,  the  means  of  the 
Station  will  permit ; Siud  provided,  always,  that  in  the  discretion 
of  the  Director  such  analyses  will  be  conducive  to  public  welfare. 

The  Fertilizer  Law  is  herein  inserted  for  the  guidance  of 
the  public.  Und  ^r  it,  every  citizen  of  the  State  is  amply  pro- 
tected from  fraud  and  imposition  by  unscrupulous  dealers,  and 
there  exists  absolutely  no  cause  for  distrust  in  the  purchase 
of  commercial  fertilizers,  if  the  farmer  will  but  claim  the  protec- 
tion afforded  him.  The  sellers  of  good  wares  are  also  protected, 
as  ample  facilities  are  afforded  them  of  properly  advertising 
their  goods. 

Only  cottonseed  meal,  land  plaster,  salt,  ashes,  lime,  and  hones 
*fiot  specially  treated,  are  exempt  from  the  provisions  of  this  law. 

Bones  ground  to  a poioder  hy  machinery,  as  well  as  hones 
treated  with  acid,  are  included  in  the  law,  since  they  have  been 
specially  treated 

The  following  is  the  law  : 

Sec.  2.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  any  manufacturer  or  dealer  in  commercial  fertilizers, 
before  the  same  are  offered  for  sale  in  this  State,  to  submit  to 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture  a written  or  printed  statement 
setting  forth:  First — the  name  and  brand  under  which  said  fer- 


393 


tilizer  is  to  be  sold,  tiie  number  of  pounds  contained  or  to  be 
contained  in  the  package  in  which  it  is  to  be  put  upon  the  mar- 
ket for  sale,  and  the  name  or  names  of  the  manufacturers,  and 
the  place  of  manufacture  ; Second — A statement  setting  forth 
the  amount  of  the  named  ingredients  which  they  are  willing  to 
guarantee  said  fertilizers  to  contair  : (1)  nitrogen,  (2)  soluble 
phosphoric  acid,  (3)  reverted  phosphoric  acid,  (4)  insoluble  phos- 
phoric acid,  (5)  potash.  Said  statement,  so  to  be  furnished, 
shall  be  considered  as  constituting  a guarantee  to  the  i)uchaser 
that  every  package  of  such  fertilizers  contains  not  less  than  the 
amount  of  each  ingredient  set  forth  in  the  statement.  This 
shall,  however,  not  j)reclude  the  party  making  the  statement 
from  setting  forth  any  other  ingredient  which  his  fertilizer  may 
contain,  which  additional  ingredient  shall  be  considered  as 
embraced  in  the  guarantee  above  stated. 

Sec.  3.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  every  person 
proposing  to  deal  in  commercial  fertilizers  shall,  after  filing 
the  statement  above  provided  for,  with  the  Commissioner  of 
Agriculture,  receive  from  the  said  Commissioner  of  Agriculture 
a certificate  stating  that  he  has  complied  with  the  foregoing 
section,  which  certificate  shall  be#furnished  by  the  Commissioner 
without  any  charge  therefor.  That  the  said  certificate,  when 
furnished,  shall  authorize  the  party  receiving  the  same  to  manu- 
facture for  sale,  in  this  State,  or  to  deal  in  this  State  in  com- 
mercial fertilizers.  That  no  person  who  has  failed  to  file  the 
statement  aforesaid  and  to  receive  the  certificate  of  authority 
aforesaid,  shall  be  authorized  to  manufacture  for  sale  in  this 
State  commercial  fertilizers.  And  any  person  so  manufacturing 
for  sale,  in  this  State,  or  so  dealing,  without  having  filed  the 
aforesaid  statement,  and  received  the  certificate  aforesaid,  shall 
be  liable  for  each  violation  to  a fine  not  exceeding  one  thousand 
dollars,  which  fine  shall  be  recoverable  before  any  court  of 
competent  jurisdiction,  at  the  suit  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture, or  of  any  citizen,  and  shall  be  disposed  of  as  hereafter 
provided. 

Sec.  4.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  it  shall  be  the 


394 


duty  of  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture,  or  its  Commissioners,  at  the 
opening  of  each  season,  to  issue  and  distribute  ciiculars,  setting 
forth  the  brands  of  fertilizers  sold  in  this  State,  their  analysis  as 
claimed  by  their  manufacturers  or  dealers,  and  their  relative  and 
(if  known)  their  commercial  value. 

Sec.  5.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc. , That  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Commisioner  of  Agriculture,  under  the  regulations  of  the 
said  Bureau,  to  cause  to  be  prepared  tags  of  suitable  material 
with  proper  fastenings  for  attaching  the  same  do  packages  of 
fertilizers,  and  to  have  printed  thereon  the  word  “guaranteed,’^ 
with  the  year  or  season  in  which  they  are  to  be  used,  and  a fac- 
simile of  the  signature  of  said  Commissioner.  The  said  tags 
shall  be  furnished  by  said  Commissioner  to  any  dealer  in  or 
manufacturer  of  commercial  fertilizers,  who  shall  have  complied 
with  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  act,  upon  the  payment  by 
said  dealer  or  manufacturer,  to  the  said  Commissioner,  of  fifty 
cents  for  a sufficient  number  of  said  tags  to  tag  a ton  of  such 
commercial  fertilizer. 

Sec.  6.  Be  it  enacted,  etc..  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
every  person,  before  offering  for  sale  any  commercial  fertilizers 
in  this  State,  to  attach  or  cau^  to  be  attached,  to  each  bag, 
barrel  or  package  thereof,  one  of  the  tags  herein  before  described 
designating  the  quantity  of  the  fertilizer  in  the  bag,  barrel  or 
package  to  which  it  is  attached.  Any  person  who  shall  sell  or 
offer  for  sale,  any  package  of  fertilizer  which  has  not  been  tagged 
as  herein  provided,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a misdemeanor, 
and,  on  conviction  thereof,  shall  be  fined  in  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  each  offense,  and  the  said  per- 
son shall  be,  besides,  liable  to  a penalty  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  for  each  omission,  which  penal tj^  may  be  sued  for 
either  by  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  or  by  any  other 
person  for  the  uses  hereinafter  declared.  Any  person  who  shall 
counterfeit  or  use  a counterfeit  of  the  tag  prescribed  by  this  act 
knowing  the  same  to  be  counterfeited,  or  who  shall  use  them  a 
second  time,  shall  be  guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and  on  convic- 
tion thereof,  shall  be  fined  in  a sum  not  to  exceed  five  hundred 


395 


<dollars,  oneialf  of  which  fine  shall  be  paid  to  the  informer^ 
which  fine  shall  be  doubled  or  trebled  at  each  second  and  third 
^conviction,  and  so  on  progressively,  for  subsequent  convictions. 

Sec.  7.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  all  fertilizers  or 
•chemicals  for  manufacturing  or  composting  bhe  same,  offered  for 
sale  or  distribution  in  this  State,  shall  have  printed  upon,  or 
attached  to  each  bag,  barrel  or  package,  in  such  manner  as  the 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture  may  by  regulation  establish,  the 
true  analysis  of  such  fertilizer  or  chemical  as  claimed  by  the 
manufacturer,  showing  the  per  cent,  of  valuable  ingredients  such 
fertilizers  or  chemicals  contain. 

Sec.  8.  Beit  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  the  Commissioner 
-of  Agriculture  may  obtain,  or  cause  to.be  obtained,  at  his  dis- 
cretion, fair  samples  of  all  fertilizers  sold,  or  offered  for  sale,  in 
this  State,  from  manufacturers  or  dealers,  and  shall  have  them 
analyzed  by  the  official  chemist,  and  shall  publish  the  analysis 
for  the  information  of  the  public. 

Sec.  9.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That'  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  every  person  who  sells  a lot  or  package  of  commercial 
fertilizer,  upon  the  request  of  the  purchaser,  to  draw  for  same, 
and  in  the  presence  of  the  purchaser  or  his  agent,  a fair  and  cor- 
rect sample,  in  such  manner  as  the  Commissioner  of  Agricul- 
ture may,  by  regulation,  establish. 

Sec.  10.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  copy  of  the 
official  chemist’s  analysis  of  any  fertilizer  or  chemical,  certified 
to  by  him,  shall  be  admissible  as  evidence  in  any  court  of  this 
State,  on  the  trial  of  anything  involving  the  merits  of  said 
fertilizer. 

Sec.  11.  Beit  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  Bureau  of 
Agriculture  shall  adopt  needful  rules  and  regulations  providing 
for  the  collection  of  the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  tags,  or 
from  fines  imposed  under  this  act,  and  shall  require  the  same  to  be 
deposited  with  the  Treasurer  of  the  State,  and  only  to  be  drawn 
therefrom  upon  the  warrants  issued  by  the  Auditor  of  the  State 
npon  the  requisition  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  made 
in  pursuance  of  such  rules  and  regulations ; and  the  said  Com- 


396 


missioner  of  Agriculture  shall  be  eutitled  to  receive  uo  fees  for 
collectiug  or  disbursiug  said  money,  except  his  salary  as  provided 
for  by  law  ; but  he  shall  be  allowed  a clerk  at  the  salary  to  be 
fixed  by  the  said  Bureau,  and  to  be  payable  out  of  the  fertilizer- 
funds  ; and  all  sums  of  money  arising  from  the  provisions  c f this- 
act  shall  be  known  as  the  “Fertilizer  Fund,^’  and  shall  be  kept 
by  the  Treasurer  separate  from  other  public  funds,  and  shall  be 
exclusively  used,  as  far  as  they  may  go,  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  developing  agriculture  by  making  practical  and  scientific 
experiments  in  relation  thereto; 

Sec.  12.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.^  That  for  the  purpose 
of  making  practical  and  scientific  tests  or  experiments,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  said  Commissioner,  subject  to  the  approval  of  said 
Bureau,  to  enter  into  contracts  specifying  the  duration  and  con- 
ditions thereof,  with  a competent  chemist  and  expert  in  experi- 
mental agriculture,  to  perform  the  duties  of  official  chemist  and 
to  carry  on  and  to  conduct  the  experiment  station  established  by 
said  Bureau  at  Baton  Eouge  ; and  with  the  Louisiana  Scientific 
Agritultural  Association,  having  an  experiment  station  in  the 
Parish  of  Jefferson  5 and,  in  making  such  contracts,  the  said 
Commissioner  shall  provide  that  exjDeriments  be  made  for  the 
develoi)ment  and  benefiit  of  agriculture,  especially  in  relation 
to  the  standard  crops  of  the  State,  such  as  cotton,  sugar,  rice^ 
corn,  the  cereals  and  grasses,  and  the  like. 

Sec.  13.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  as  compensation- 
for  the  conduct  of  such  experiments^  the  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  to  apply  the  net  result 
from  the  sale  of  tags,  and  from  fines  or  penalties  imposed  for 
violations  of  the  terms  of  this  act,  to  the  two  stations,  and,  if 
necessary,  x>arts  of  other  sums  that  may  be  appropriated  by  law,, 
and  subject  to  the  control  of  himself  or  said  Bureau  ,*  provided^ 
That  said  contract  shall  not  give  more  than  one-half  of  the  result: 

of  the  sale  of  tags,  and  fiaes,  to  any  one  of  said  stations  ; and' 
provided  further.  That  the  said  stations  undertake  to  perform, 
for  and  on  behalf  of  the  Commissioner  of  Agricultui'e,  under- 
such  regulations  as  may  be  ageed  on,  all  analyses  requii*ed 
under  this  act  free  of  any  charge  whatsoever.  , 


397 


Sec.  14.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc.,  That  the  Director  of  the 
State  Experiment  Station  shall  be  considered  as  the  official 
chemist  of  the  Bureau  of  Agrigulture.  He  shall  also  attend 
such  chemical  and  agricultural  conventions  as  may  be  necessary; 
the  traveling  expenses  incident  to  such  attendance  shall  be 
chargeable  and  collectable  from  the  revenues  derived  from  the 
Aale  of  tags. 

Sec,  15.  Be  it  further  enacted  etc.,  That  the  Commissioner 
of  Agriculture  shall  keep  a correct  and  faithful  account  of  all 
tags  received  and  sold  by  him,  showing  the  number  sold,  to 
whom  sold,  and,  as  far  as  practicable,  for  what  fertilizers  they 
were  intended  to  be  used,  and  the  amount  of  money  collected 
therefor,  and  all  money  arising  from  fines,  under  this  act. 

Sec.  16.  Be  it  further  enacted,  etc..  That  the  term  “com- 
mercial fertilizers,’’  or  “fertilizers,”  where  the  same  are  used  in 
this  act  shall  not  be  held  to  include  lime  or  land  plaster,  cotton 
seed  meal,  ashes  or  common  salt,  or  raw  bone,  not  specially 
treated. 

The  following  taken  from  a previous  Bulletin,  is  hei^ein 
inserted  as  explanatory  of  the  terms  to  be  subsequently  used : 

COMMEPCIAL  FERTILIZERS. 

The  ingredients  which  give  value  to  all  commercial  fertilizers 
are,  1st,  Nitrogen  (Ammonia);  2d,  Phosphoric  Acid  ; 3d,  Potash. 
A fertilizer  may  contain  one,  two,  or  all  of  these  ingredients. 
When  all  are  present,  the  compound  is  usnaly  styled  a ‘‘^complete 
manure”;  when  only  one  or  two  are  present,  it  is  a partial 
manure.” 

Partial  manures  may  consist  of : (1),  Nitrogen  (Ammonia) 
alone;  (2),  Phosphoric  Acid  alone  ; (3),  Potash  alone  ; (4),  Nitro- 
gen (Ammonia)  and  Phosporic  Acid  ; (5),  Phosphoric  Acid  and 
Potash ; (6),  Nitrogen  (Ammonia)  and  Potash.  No.  6 is  rarely 
found  in  Southern  markets ; the  others  are  common  wares, 

(1.)  NITROGEN  MANURES. 

Nitrogen  is  the  most  costly  ingredient  in  manures.  It  is 
offered  to  the  trade  in  three  forms  : 

a. — Mineral  Nirtogen — in  Nitrate  of  Soda  and  Sulphate 
of  Ammonia. 

h. — Animal  Nitrogen — in  Dried  Blood,  Tankage,  Azotin, 
Ammonite,  Fish  Scrai3  and  Leather. 


398 


c. — Vegetable  Nitrogen— in  Cotton  Seed,  Cotton  Seed  Meal^ 
Linseed  Meal,  Castor  Pomace  and  Peat. 

Blood  Tankage,  Fish  Scraps  and  Oil  Meals  are  highly 
active  fertilizers,  while  Leather  and  Peat  are  slowly  available. 
The  result  of  decomposition  of  organic  forms  of  Nitrogen  is 
either  Ammonia  or  Nitric  Acid;  fourteen  parts  of  Nitrogen 
yielding  seventeen  parts  of  Ammonia,  or  twenty- eight  parts  of 
Nitrogen  forming,  by  nitrification,  one  hundred  and  eight  parts 
Nitric  Acid.  The  mineral  forms  of  Nitrogen  are  highly  prized 
in  the  North  and  England  ; but  in  the  South,  on  account  of  the 
<ase  with  which  they  are  washed  from  the  soil,  they  should  be 
used  with  great  care. 

Cotton -seed  Meal  contains,  besides  Nitrogen,  small  amounts 
of  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash.  A fair  sample  of  meal,  free 
from  hulls,  should  yield  7 per  cent.  Nitrogen,  3 per  cent.  Phos- 
phoric Acid,  and  2 per  cent.  Potash.  This  is  a cheap  source  of 
Nitrogen,  and  exi:)eriments  have  demonstrated  that  it  is,  perhaps, 
the  best  form  for  Southern  Agriculture.  In  buying  it,  however, 
caution  is  necessary  to  see  that  it  is  well  decorticated,  i.  e.,  free 
from  hulls.  Samples  containing  30  per  cent,  of  hulls  have  been 
found  on  the  market. 

(2.)  PHOSPHORIC  ACID  MANURES. 

These  are  generally  phosiihatic  rocks  treated  with  Sulphuric 
Acid.  Sometimes  pure  bones  or  bone  black,  or  bone  ash,  are 
treated  with  the  same  acid,  and  the  resulting  mixtures  styled 
Dissolved  Bones  or  Superphosphates.  When  made  from  phos- 
phatic  rock,  bone  black  or  bone  ash,  they  contain  only  Phos- 
phoric Acid.  AVhen  pure  bones  are  used,  3 to  5 per  cent,  of 
Ammonia  is  also  found.  These  phosphatic  manures  usually  con- 
tain their  Phosphoric  Acid  in  diffefent  forms.  Some  of  it  is 
readily  soluble  in  whter,  and  is  highly  available  as  plant  food  ; 
some  of  it  is  only  soluble  in  acids,  and  is,  therefore,  only  slowly, 
if  at  all,  available  to  plants,  while  another  portion  is  interme- 
diate in  solubility  between  the  water  soluble  and  the  acid  soluble. 
The  chemist  uses  Citrate  of  Ammonia  to  dissolve  this  form  ; and 
hence  it  is  deii^^minated  as  Citrate  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid.  It 
is  belinved  by  many  that  this  form  of  Phosphoric  Acid  has 
resulted  from  a chemical  action  of  the  water  soluble  upon  the 
acid  soluble,  and  hence  it  is  often  called  ^ ^r everted  f ^^r educed f 
etc.  The  water  soluble  is  readily  available  on  all  soils  and  by 
all  plants  ; the  citrate  soluble  in  soils  containing  vegetable  mat- 
ter is  believed  to  be  available  to  many  plants,  while  the  acid 
soluble  is  immediately  useful  only  to  certain  plants  and  ujion 
certain  soils.  The  water  soluble  and  citrate  soluble  are  usually 
t aken  together  and^called  Available  Phosphoric  Acid.  In  buying 


399 


phosphatic  manures,  preference  should  be  given,  first  to  the 
water  soluble,  then  to  the  citrate  soluble.  If  there  is  much  Acid 
Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  present,  inquiry  should  be  at  once  made 
as  to  its  origin,  for  the  Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid  from  bones 
is  more  easily  transferred  into  plant  food  than  that  from  rock. 
"These  three  forms  of  Phosphoric  Acid  are  usually  called  ^‘solu- 
ble,” ‘ deduced’ ^ and  ‘insoluble.” 

(3.)  POTASH  MAKURES. 

These  are  now  obtained  almost  exclusively  from  Leopoldshall 
and  Stassfurth,  Germany,  and  are  largely  sold  in  this  country 
;as  (a)  Kainite,  which  is  a crude  product  of  the  mines,  and  con- 
.sists  of  Potash,  Magnesia,  Soda,  Sulphuric  Acid  and  Chlorine. 
This  form  of  Potash  is  now  extensively  used  in  the  South,  either 
in  the  compost  of  stable  manure,  cotton  seed  and  Acid  Phos- 
phate, or  mixed  with  Acid  Phosphate  and  cotton  seed  meal  to 
form  a complete  manure.  Whether  our  soils  need  Potash  can 
only  be  determined  experimentally.  After  careful  experimenta- 
*tion  the  right  quantities  can  be  easily  determined.  It  is  a cheap 
.and  an  excellent  source  of  Potash. 

(b)  Sulphate  of  Potash,  a refined  product  containing  a large 
amount  of  Potash  in  a very  desirable  form,  is  extensively  used 
in  some  countries  upon  certain  crops,  notably  tobacco  and  Irish 
potatoes. 

(c)  Muriate  of  Potash,  another  refined  product  containing 
a large  percentage  of  Potash.  Th  is  salt  furnishes  pobish  in  the 
‘Cheapest  form. 

(4)  NITROGEN  AND  PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 

Formerly  bones,  treated  with  Suliihuric  Acid,  were  fre- 
quently found  uiipn  our  market ; recently,  however,  Potash,  in 
some  form,  has  always  been  added  to  them.  Whether  this 
addition  has  been  made  by  the  demands  of  the  soil  or  by  the 
inclination  of  the  manufacturers,  is  yet  to  be  determined.  Potash 
is  the  cheapest  ingredient  in  fertilizers,  and  any  demand  for  it  is 
readily  met.  At  present  we  find  on  our  markets  a manure  of  this 
class  which  is  being  extensively  used  under  sugar  cane,  viz  : 
Tankage.  This  is  a variable  goods,  containing,  usually,  from  5 
to  12  per  cent,  of  Xitrogen,  and  from  6 to  20  percent.  Phosphoric 
Acid.  This  later  is  in  the  insoluble  form  ; but,  being  of  animal 
origin,  upon  certain  soils  is  slowly  available. 

(5.)  PHOSPHORIC  ACID  AND  POTASH. 

To  make  Acid  Phosphates  suitable  for  comiiosting,  many 
^dealers  have  recently  added  Potash.  This  addition  necessarily 


400 


lowers  the  percentage  of  Phosphoric  Acid.  Manufacturers  in: 
and  around  Charleston,  S.  C.,  have  adopted  the  custom  of  calling 
this  class  of  goods  “Acid  Phosphates,”  and  those  which  contain^ 
no  Potash,  “Dissolved  Bones.”  These  are  extensively  used  for 
the  compost  of  stable  manure  and  cotton  seed. 

(6.)  NITROGEN  AND  POTASH. 

The  great  and  crying  want  of  Southern  soils  is  Phosphorie 
Acid;  hence  no  manure  without  it  has  hitherto  met  with  favor.. 
Accordingly  this  class  of  manures  is  w^anting  in  the  South. 


COMPLETE  MANURES, 

Are  those  which  contain  Nitrogen,  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash- 
For  different  crops  these  ingredients  should  exist  in  different 
proportions.  Before  purchasii  g any  fertilizer,  the  farmer  should 
study  well  the  wants  of  his  soil  and  his  crop,  and  buy  accord- 
ingly. 

Before  buying,  get  from  the  dealer  reiffies  to  the  following 
questions  ; 

How  much  Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  do  you  guarantee  ? 

How  much  Keverted  Phosphoric  Acid  do  you  guarantee  ! 

How  much  Ammonia  do  you  guarantee? 

How  mueh  Potash  do  you  guarantee  ? 

In  a plain  Acid  Phosphate  at  least  12  per  cent,  available^ 
Phosphoric  Acid  should  be  guaranteed.  In  cane  fertilizers^  3 
3 per  cent.  Ammonia  and  7 per  cent.  Phosphoric  Acid,  and  in 
cotton  fertilizers  2 per  cent.  Ammonia  and  8 per  cent,  of  Phos- 
phoric Acid  should  be  found. 

EXPLANATION  OF  ANALYSES. 

Nitrogen,  Phosphoric  Acid  and  Potash  are  the  three  ingre- 
dients wdiich  give  value  to  commercial  fertilizers,  and  are  the 
only  ones  determined  in  official  analyses. 

Nitrogen  is  the  most  costly  as  well  as  the  most  valuable  fer- 
tilizing ingredient.  It  occurs  as  Organic  Nitrogen  in  animal  and 
vegetable  matters — easily  decomposed  and  quickly  available  in 
blood  and  meat,  slowly  disintegrated,  and  of  doubtful  value  in 
leather  or  peat  unless  specially  treated. 

All  Organic  Nitrogen  is  first  converted  into  Nitric  Acid  or 
Ammonia  in  the  soil  or  compost  heap,  before  it  can  be  used  by 
plants.  Nitric  Acid  and  Ammonia  are  furnished  in  commerce, 
the  one  in  the  forms  of  Nitrates  of  Soda  and  Potash,  the  other 
as  Sulphate  of  Ammonia. 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid  refers  only  to  such  phosphates  as: 


401 


;are  soluble  in  pu.e  w iter  and  is  made  by  treating  bones^  bone 
ash,  bone  black,  or  mineral  phosphate  with  sulphuric  acid.  It 
is  the  chief  ingredient  of  Acid  Phosphates,  Superphosphates  or 
Dissolved  Bones. 

By  Reverted  Phosphoric  Acid,  reference  is  made  to  that 
form  of  acid  which,  though  insoluble  in  water,  is  freely  soluble 
in  certain  salts,  particularly  Citrate  of  Ammonia. 

Insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid  refers  to  that  form  that  is  soluble 
only  in  acids. 

Potash  is  the  ingredient  usually  found  in  ashes,  and  should 
be  soluble  in  water. 

VALUATION  OF  I- ERTII IZEES.* 

The  commercial  value  of  a fertilizer  is  regulated  by  the  prices 
demanded  in  commerce  for  the  different  forms  of  the  three  ingre- 
dients, 'N^itrogen  (Ammonia),  Phosphojic  Acid  and  Potash. 
These  prices  fluctuate  according  to  the  demand  and  supply.  In 
Ihe  North,  Nitrogen  is  assigned  a separate  valuation  for  each  of 
the  forms — that  in  Nitrates  and  Ammonia  Salts  receiving  the 
highest  figure,  and  in  leather  and  peat  the  lowest. 

In  Connecticut  or  Massachusetts,  a determination  of  the 
forms  in  which  this  ingredient  occui*s  must  be  made  before  its 
commercial  value  can  be  calculated.  All  the  forms  of  Nitrogen 
have  heretofore  been  considered  of  ecpial  money  value  in  the 
South,  and  but  one  price  assigned.  This,  of  course,  precludes 
the  existence  of  Nitrogen  in  form  of  leather  dust,  or  powdered 
horn,  forms  regarded  as  unavailable  and  of  little  money  or  agri- 
cultural value. 

The  soluble  and  reverted  forms  of  Phosphoric  Acid  have  to- 
gether been  styled  as  “available,’^  and  assigned  one  value.  The 
insoluble  Phosphoric  Acid  has  received  no  valuation.  All 
forms  of  Potash  soluble  in  water  have  been  regarded  as  of  equal 
value. 

At  a convention  of  Southern  State  Chemists,  held  at  Athens, 
<xa.,  in  1886,  the  following  tariff  of  prices  was  adopted  : 

Ammonia,  16  cents  per  pound. 

Nitrogm,  191  cents  per  pound. 

Soluble  Phosphoric  Acid,  7 1 cents  per  ix)und. 

Reverted  Phosphoric  Acid,  7 1 cents  per  pound. 

Potash,  (soluble  in  water),  5 cents  per  pound. 

The  writer,  though  not  iiresent  at  the  convention,  deems  it 
best,  for  tlie  sake  of  harmony  in  State  valuations,  to  adopt  this 
tariff  for  the  present  year,  though  he  wishes  to  dissent  from  the 
opinion  that  Reverted  Phosplioric  Acid  is  of  eiiual  value  as  the 
soluble  form,  or  that  Nitrogen  is  of  the  same  money  value  in  all 
its  forms. 


402 


The  above  are  commercial  values,  that  is  what  these  ingre- 
dients, ‘properly  mixed  and  sacked,  can  be  purchased  for  in  the 
markets  of  the  South.  The  above  tariff,  when  applied  to  fertili- 
zers bought  in  New  Orleans,  will  be  found  to  give  values  beyond 
the  actual  selling  prices.  Good  cotton  seed  meal  contains  7 per 
cent.  Nitrogen,  a per  cent.  Phosphoric  Acid  and  2 per  cent. 
Potash,  and  estimating  its  value  only  on  its  content,  there  will 
be  obtained  for  one  ton  140  pounds  of  Nitrogen  at  19^  cents — 
$27  30.  It  is  well  known  that  this  fertilizer  could  be  bought  at 
any  time  in  the  year,  in  New  Orleans,  at  about  $20  per  ton. 

This  form  of  Nitrogen  comes  entirely  from  the  South,  while 
all  others  are  products  of  Northern  and  foreign  climes.  Home- 
consumption  takes  only  a small  portion  of  the  output  of  our 
mills,  the  greater  part  finding  its  way  to  the  North  and  to  Europe. 

Tliis  export  demand  regulates  the  price,  and  hence  we  have: 
the  cheapest  form  of  Nitrogen  x^i’esented  to  us  in  our  own  home 
l^roduct,  viz  : Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

By  ax:)plying  the  above  to  a fertilizer  of  known  composition^, 
and  comx:)aring  the  result  with  the  actual  selling  x^rice,  the  consu- 
mer can  easily  tell  whether  he  is  getting  value  received. 

HOW  TO  COMPUTE  THE  VALUE  OF  A FEETILIZEE. 

A fertilizer  is  x^nrchased  whose  guaranteed  analysis  recorded! 
on  the  sack,  is  as  follows  : 

Nitrogen,  3 per  cent. 

Soluble  Phosx^horic  Acid,  6 per  cent. 

Eeverted  Phosphoric  Acid,  4 per  cent. 

Potash,  2 per  cent. 

"What  is  its  commercial  value  ? 

IN  ONE  TON  WE  HAVE  ; 

3 per  c€nt.  Nitrogen- 60  lbs.  at  19^  cents  $11  70 

6 per  cent.  Soluble  Phosxihoric  Acid,  120  lbs.  at  7 2 cents  9 OO 

4 xier.  cent.  Reverted  Phosphoric  Acid  80  lbs.  at  7 1 cents  6 00 

2 xier  cent.  Potash 40  lbs.  at  2 cents  2 00 


Commercial  value,  per  ton $28  70 

By  comparing  the  above  with  the  amount  paid,  the  consumer 
can  easily  calculate  whether  he  has  paid  too  much. 


The  work  done  in  the  Laboratory  of  the  Station,  since  our 
last  rexiort,  Sexitember  1st.  1888,  may  be  classified  as  follows  : 

2 Special  Manures. 

13  Ammoniated  Superphosxihates  and  Guanos. 


403! 


5 

n 

i 

3 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

8 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 


Acid  Phosphates. 

Cotton -seed  Meal. 

Tankage. 

Bone  Meal. 

Nitrate  of  Soda. 

Sulphate  of  Ammonia. 

Dried  Blood. 

Fish  Scraj). 

Bat  Manure. 

Garbage. 

Pigeon  Manure 
Poudrette. 

atural  Phosphates. 

Land  Piaster. 

Cotton  seed  Hull  Ashes. 

Limestone. 

Marl. 

Kainite. 

Potassium  Sulphate. 

Glutin  as  a feed  stutf. 

Guano  taken  irom  ground  the  year  after  it  was  used. 
Water. 

Bituminous  Coal. 


SPECIAL  MANURES. 

These  are  prepared  by  manufacturers  for  special  crops  upon 
certain  class  of  soils,  from  formulas  furnished  either  by  the  plan- 
ers, the  Experiment  stations,  or  some  agricultural  chemist.  It  is 
quite  fashionable  now,  to  prepare  manures  for  every  crop  that  is 
extensively  grown,  and  it  is  claimed  hy  the  manufacturers  that  in 
so  doing  a vast  saving  is  insured  the  agriculturist  by  furnishing 
him  the  right  ingredients  in  the  proper  proportions  for  the  crop 
to  be  cultivated.  Such  a practice,  however,  looks  only  to  the 
requirements  of  the  crop  grown  and  ignores  the  natural  capacity 
of  the  soil,  to  which  it  is  to  be  applied.  It  is  entirely  irrational 
but  inThe  absence  of  a knowledge  on  the  part  of  the  farmer  of 
the  contents  of  his  soil  and  the  requirements  of  his  plants,  it  is 
to  be  recommended  over  the  usual  habit  of  buying  our  fertilizer 
for  all  kinds  of  crops. 

While  quite  a number  of  special  manures  are  manufactured 
in  our  State,  only  two  have  been  sent  to  this  station  for  analysis. 


404 


SPECIAL  MANURES. 

Station  No.  193 — Sugar  Cane  Special — prepared  by  Planter’s 
Fertilizer  Co.,  New  Orleans,  La.,  and  sent  by  D.  E.  Calder, 
Franklin,  La. 

Station  No.  194 — Cotton  Special — pi  epared  by  Planter’s  Fer- 
tilizer Co.,  New  Orleans  and  sent  by 


Analyses  of  Special  Manures. 


Amnioniated  Suiierphospbatcs  and  Guanos  constitute  tbe 
bulk, of  the  fertilizers  sold  in  our  markets.  They  contain  all  three 
of  the  chief  fertilizing  ingredients  and  are  then  really  complete 
lertilizers,  though  the  x)roportions  of  these  ingredients  are  by  no 
means  constant,  varying  according  to  the  manufacturers’  ideas 
of  what  constitutes  a suitable  fertilizer  for  our  leading  crops. 
Hence  we  find  them  varying  largely  in  chemical  contents  and 
commercial  value. 

AMMONIATED  SUPERPHOSPHATES  AND  GUANOS. 

Station  No.  186. — Bradley’s  Fertilizer  ; manufactured  in  Boston 
by  Bradley  Fertilizer  Co.,  and  sent  to 
the  Station  by  Ames  Bros.,  Milladon  Plan- 
tation, La. 

Station  No.  187. — Bowdker’s  Fertilizerj  manufactured  by  Browd- 
ker  Fertilizer  Co.,  of  Boston,  and  sent  to 
Uie  station  ])y  Ames  Bros.,  Milladon  Plan- 
tation, La. 

Station  No,  189. — Ohlendorf’s  Dissolved  Peruvian  Guano  5 made 
by  Anglo  Continental  Works,  London, 


Guaranteed  Analyses  of  Commercial  Fertilizers,  as  Rendered  to  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  by  Dealers  and  Manufacturers  to  whom  Licenses  hare  been  Issued  for  Season  1888-9. 




BV  WHOM  REPORTED. 

BY  WHOM  MANUFACTURED. 

WHERE  MANUF.ACTURED. 

1 

g 

K 

PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 

o 

NA.MK  OF  FERTirjZEH  OU  CI1EMICAI> 

NAME. 

ADDRE.SS. 

1 

O 

O 

H 

S 

Solubl 

Revert  cc 

Insolubl 

PAT AS  I 

Plantcr'.s  Fertilizer  Manufaeturin"  Co — 
do.  do 

Planter's  Fertilizer  Jlanufacturing  Co 

New  Orleans 

100 

4V<  to  5 

0 

1 

1 to  2 

1 to  2 

4 to  1 
.5 

Oats  Fertilizer 

Rice  Fertilizer 

100 
1(0 
101) 
100 
; 1(0 

1 200 
; 2(K) 

■iy,  to  5 
•1  to  .') 

5 to  (i 

‘irio'i 

7 to  8 
to  8 
7.10 

4.12 

7.  to 

1.(11 

1..50 

(1 

6 

4 

11  to  11 

Fruit  Tree  Fertilizer - 

Vestetalde  Fertilizer 

do.  do 

do.  do 

“ “ "“■Illllllllirilll 

:::::::: 

EiiKlisl'  Acid  l'li()Si)liiltc 

(ieriiiaii  Kainit 

do!  do.- 

“ “ “ 

('1*10  o-  111 

Armour’s  Powdered  Rone 

do,  - - 

xf GW  Oi'lca ns,  Ija.- — — — 

xVrmour  & Co 

iieago, 

* 

* 

2 lo  8 
t 

Armour's  Iloft  Tankage.. — 

do^  

ii  ' a 

11  ii 

1()8 

1 108 
i KiS 

I 200 

1 2(10 

1 200 
20;) 

Studniezka’s  Staiulurd  (’une  Kertilizors 

C (’ra^yl'^rd 

New  Orleans,  La - - 

Anglo  Continental  (xuano  Works •_ 

London  . _ _ _ . 

8.21 

2.10 

7 

8,70 

2 

1 

1 

Dissolvod  IVruviun  (iuano 

do  * . . .. 

do 

i - 

Early  Cane  Manure 

((  u 

Atlantic  Phosphate  Co 

8.21 

(1 

8 

8 

10 

t 

t - 

Special  Cane  Manure 

At  Ian  tie  Soluble  (Juano- 

Pclzcr,  Itodf^crs  & (_'o.,  Agents 

Charleston,  S.  C.  

Charleston,  S.  C 

2 

2 

2 

2 

1 ,10 
z 

2 

2 

d’o.  ” do.  - - 

Aiiiiuoniatod  AtlaiiticJ  Ois.solvcd  lioiiG------ 

(t  a 

ii  ii  ii 

Alliintic  Acid  riiosi)hatc 

, do.  do.  

u a 

ii  it  ii 

Atlantic  Dissolved  Hone — 

Hon  H.  l*ring-_--- - 

Xow  Orleans,  La  

[inported  by  Carib  Gnano  Co. 

P>altimoro i 

*200 

200 

_ 

(’aril)  ( I nano 

lieo.  \\C  Scott  Alauut'aeturing  Conii)any— 
do.  do.  do. 

do.  do.  do. 

North  Western  Fertilizing  Company 

Atlanta,  CJa 

Geo.  W.  Scott  Manulacturing  Co. 

Atlanta,  (ia i 

2.2r) 

5.10 

.'1..10  1 

1..10 

1.7)0 

( lossipiuin  IMiospho — 

Scott  K ..\ninial  AiiiiHonia.— 

200 

7.0) 

8.00 

1.00 

1.00 

it  u mil 

Xorth  Western  Fertilizing  (’c). 

a n I i_im' 

200 

200 

200 

8.00. 

X- 

1%  to  r,>/. 

1.00 

2]4  to  .1 

2.00 

•2'A 

2'4  to  8% 

Scott's  Ili^li  (ij'udo  A(Md  Hhosj)liato-_---._-———. 
•V in inon iated  J )lssol  v(*d  1 lone. - - 

Union  Stf)ck  Yards,  Chicago,  III. 

LTnion  Stock  Yard,  Chicago,  111 

"uiT"' 

l,(i4  to  2.4.5 

M to  1.08 

Dclican  sufxar  (’anc  Korlilizor»-_-----------~----_-- 

do.  do.  do. 

“ “ 

“ a rr  ! 

x^at ional  llonc  Dust' 

do.  do.  do. 

“ “ “ “ ‘‘ 

“ “ <<  “ 

it  a a a 

2(M) 

1.01  to  2.4'1 

raX  to  (i'A 

2K  to  8 

2>.,  to  81-j! 

1 to 

1 to  6 

.11  to  ) 08 

Stern's  .Vninmniated  Raw  Bone  Superpliospliate 

Standard  (iuano  & Clicmieal  Manuf'g  Co. 
do'  do.  do. 

do.  do.  do. 

do.  do.  do. 

do.  do.  do. 

aiidden  & Curtis  represented  by 

W.  P.  Rieliardson 

Xew  Orleans,  I^a 

Standard  Guano  & Chemical  M'f’g  Co 

New  Orleans - - 

2(0 

200 

2 0 
200 

1.01  to  2.47 

!)  to  l.i 

12  to  11 

\}4  to  3 

fir). 

Pacific  (lUano  Co.,  Boston,  Mass 

rio 

a •i 

12 

I?<i  llrii m 

rin. 

.t  It 

2.88  to  .8.20 

28  to  21 

i;|!Xonii  Oi-.Uivc 

rlo. 

ii  a 

Sinlnltln  1^‘ArMfW*  muinfv 

Boston,  Ittass 

W'onfl'B  TTiiIl  Mnxs  I 

( ’<)!  ton  (iradc....-.— w....... 

iS  Carondelot  street,  New  Orleans  — 
do.  do.  do. 

New  Orleans,  I.a 

r'hnrIoKton,  W (V  nnrl 

200 
20  ■ 
1(X) 
100 

2.1,1 

2.17 

(1.10 

/) 

8 

2..10 

1 

2 

2.71 

8 50 

2 to  3 

2 

Snonr  (Jrndp  

do.  do.  do. 

Planter's  Fertilizer  Manufacturing  Co 

do.  do.  do 

Planter's  Fertilizer  Manufacturing co 

( arribean  Sea  j . 

Su jjar  Fcrti  1 i zer — - - 

Xf*vv  OrU'aiis 

Cotton  Fertilizer 

do.  do.  _ _ — - _ _ 

*n  to  11  por  cent.  Aviiilalilc  riio.splioric  Acid, 
t 1.8  p(!r  cent.  Ki'vcrtcd  !i)ul  ln.solul)lo  I’liosplioric  .\cid. 
i O.Ki  jicr  cent.  Ueverted  niid  IinsoUiljlc  I’liosplioric  Acid. 


40j 


England,  and  presented  to  the  Station  by 
0.  0.  Crawford,  Agent,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  190. — Ohlendorf  s Early  Cane  Manure  ; made  by 
Anglo  Continental  Worfe,  London,  Eng- 
land, and  presented  to  the  Station  by  C.  ( t 
Crawford,  Agent,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  191. — Ohlendorf  s 9 per  cent.  Ammonia  5 made  by 
Anglo  Continental  Works,  London,  and 
presented  to  the  Station  by  C.  C.  CraAvford, 
Agent,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  203. — Guano  sent  by  Mr.  Cartwright  Eustis,  New 
Orleans. 

Station  No.  205. — Guano  sent  by  Mr.  Wm.  B.  Bloomfield,  New 
Orleans,  La. 

Station  No.  223. — Guano  ; sent  by  Mr.  J.  M.  McBride,  Ellen- 
dale,  La. 

Station  No.  224— Guano  ; sent  by  Mr.  J.  M.  McBride,  Ellen - 
dale.  La. 

Station  No.  225. — Stern’s  Ammoniated  Superphosphate ; made 
and  sent  by  Standard  Guano  and  Chemical 
Manufacturing  Co.,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  226. — Standard  Soluble  Guano;  made  and  sent  by 
Standard  Guano  and  Chemical  Manufatcur- 
ing  Co.,  N ew  Orleans. 

Station  No.  227. — Champion  Farmer’s  Choice  Guano  ; made  and 
sent  by  Standard  Guano  and  Chemical 
Manufacturing  Co.,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  231. — Nonpareille  Guano  ; sent  by  J.  J.  Martin, 
New  Orleans. 

Analyses  of  Ammoniated  Superphosphates  and  Guanos. 


Station 

No. 

a 

<V 

p 

2 

! Equivalent  to 

j Amniona 

Soluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid. 

Reverted  Phos_ 
phoric  Acid. 

Insoluble  Phos- 
piioric  Acid. 

! Total  Phosphoric, 

j Acid. 

.d 

w 

s 

0 

Ph 

Relative  Com- 
mercial Value 
per  ton 

186 

2.66 

3.23 

8.11 

2.10 

1.69 

11.90 

3.04 

m.72 

187 

2.10 

2.55 

7.36  : 

1 4.16  ■ 

2.94 

14.46 

2.02 

27.99 

189 

6,c8 

7.99 

8.32 

1.22 

.96 

IO..I) 

3.16 

43.13 

190 

2.56 

3.11 

3-68 

.77 

.67 

5.12 

7.52 

24. 1« 

191 

7.14 

8.67 

9.69 

1.73 

.83 

12.16 

3.76 

48.60 

293 

2.97 

3.69 

1.92 

4.42 

.70 

7.04 

21.08 

205 

5.95 

7.22 

13.2 1 

223 

3.78 

4.59 

^28 

"■35 

2^02 

7.60 

.95 

23.922 

224 

3.64 

4.42 

7.04 

1.28 

.38 

8.7* 

.98 

27.6.56 

225 

2.24 

2.72 

7.04 

3.07 

.64 

10.75 

1.76 

25.661 

226 

2.38 

2.89 

7.20 

2.85 

1.  1 

11.26 

2.12 

26  ATT 

227 

2.31 

2.80 

6.72 

1.38 

.35 

8.45 

1.97 

2:3.13 

231 

2.94 

3.57 

5.28 

2.63 

1.05 

8.96 

3.78 

27.111 

406 


ACID  PHOSPHATES 

Are  pliosphates  made  soluble  by  treatment  with  Sulphuric  Acid, 
and  contain  usually  only  oiie  ingredient,  viz  : Phosphoric  Acid, 
This  ingredient  should  be  in  a soluble  or  available  form.  There 
is  a current  belief  that  Phosphoric  Acid  from  Bone  is  more  valu- 
able than  that  from  rock.  This  is  true  only  in  regard  to  the  in- 
soluble forms  of  Phosphoric  Acid.  Soluble  and  reverted  Phos- 
phates are  of  equal  agricultural  value^  whether  from  rock  or 
Bone  ; and  a good  Acid  Phosphate,  whatever  its  source,  should 
contain  little  or  no  Insoluble  Phosphates. 

ACID  PHOSPHATES. 

Station  176. — Eockdale  Acid  Phosphate  ; sent  by  Standard 

’ Guano  and  Chemical  Manufacturing  Co., 

New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  177. — Capulet  Acid  Phosphate  ; sent  by  Standard 

Guano  and  Chemical  Manufacturing  Co., 
New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  185. — English  Acid  Phosphate  ; imported  ; sent  by 
Planter’s  Fertilizing  Co.,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  188. — English  Acid  Phosphate  5 imported  ; sent  by 
Planter’s  Fertilizing  Co.,  New  Orleans, 
Station  No.  207. — English  Acid  Phosphate,  imported  ; sent  by 
Planters  Fertilizing  Co.,  New  Orleans,  La. 


Analyses  of  Acid  Phosphates. 


.station  No. 

1 

' '0 

' c/2 

0 

5i 

S 

0 

0 w 

c.g- 

i 

00 

0 

! S 3 

1 0 

0 

H 

Relative  Commercial 
Value  Per  Ton 

of  2000  10s. 

176  i 

12.41 

1.34 

.09 

! 

14.44 

|20  62 

177  i 

12.1.» 

2.i7 

.81 

15.16, 

21  48 

12.48 

l.«3 

.9.5 ; 

14.46 

20  26 

188  1 

I4.:3i 

.84 

.41  : 

15.56 

22  72 

'2i>7  1 

i3.76 

1.10 

.16  1 

15. u2 

22  26 

The  prevailing  prices  of  above  goods  in  New  Orleans  during 
the  past  year  have  been  below  the  above  estimates. 


407 


COTTOK  SEED  MEAL. 


This  is  our  cheapest  and  best  source  of  Nitrogen.  It  is  large- 
lyiused  all  over  Louisiana  as  a' fertilizer.  Being  a feed  stuff,  it  is 
excluded  from  the  provisions  of  the  Fertilizer  Law.  Hence, 
great  care  is  necessary,  in  its  purchase,  to  see  that  it  is  well  de- 
corticated, i.  e.  free  from  hulls.  Pure,  undamaged  meal  should 
be  dry,  ])ulverulent^  and  of  a bright  yellow  color.  Hulls  in  the 
meal  can  easily  be  detected  by  close  examination,  or  by  running 

a small  quantity  of  meal  through  a common  kitchen  sifter,  when 
the  hulls  will  separate.  Damaged  meal  has  a dark  color,  and 
while  it  is  probably  unfit  for  cattle  food,  it  is  rarely  injured  as  a 
fertilizer.  The  commercial  value  of  cotton  seed  meal,  reckoned 
by  our  tariff,  is  far  in  excess  of  its  actual  value  in  New  Orleans. 
Station  No.  184. — Cotton  Seed  Meal  5 sent  by  Daniel  Thomi^son, 
The  best  meal  should  always  contain  7 per  cent.  Nitrogen, 
3 per  cent.  Phosphoric  x\cid^  and  2 per  cent.  Potash. 

Pattersonville,  La. 

Station  No.  21 1, — Cotton  Seed  Meal;  sent  by  Trosclair  & Eo- 
bechaux,  Thibodeaux,  La. 

Station  No.  212. — Cotton  Seed  Meal  ; sent  by  Trosclair  & Eobe- 
chaux,  Thibodeaux. 

Station  No.  214. — Cotton  Seed  Meal ; presented  to  the  Station  by 
the  Union  Oil  Co.,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  216. — Cotton  Seed  Meal ; sent  by  North  Louisiana 
Experiment  Station. 

Station  No.  220. — Cotton  Seed  Meal  ; sent  by  Dugas  & LeBlanc, 
Paincourtville,  La. 

Station  No.  222. — Cotton  Seed  Meal ; sent  by  Wm.  B.  Bloom- 
field, NeAV  Orleans. 

* Analyses  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 


StatioE. 


No.  184 

6.90 

“ 2U 

7.07 

“ 212 

7.21 

214 

7.00 

2U) 

7.14 

“ 218 

7.42 

22.1 

6.79 

222 

7.24 

8.39 

2.. 57 

1.93 

8.58 

3.29 

1.74 

8.7a 

3.42 

i.74 

8.50 

3.16 

1.67 

8.67 

3.16 

1.56 

9.01 

3.29 

1 .85 

8.24 

3.55 

1.93 

8.79 

3.04 

1.74 

408 


TANKAGE. 

This  fertilizer  is  growing  in  popularity  in  this  State,  and  its 
extending  use  attests  its  supposed  profitable  results.  It  varies 
greatly  in  composition,  as  the  analysis  below  will  show.  It  is  a 
refuse  product  of  the  slaughter  house,  and  consists  essentially  of 
bone  and  meat  which  collects  at  the  bottom  of  tanks  in  which  the 
wastes  of  slaughter  houses  are  cooked  to  extract  the  grease. 
When  bone  predominates,  the  Phosi)horic  Acid  content  is  large 
and  the  Nitrogen  small,  and  the  action  of  both  is  slow.  When 
meat  is  the  chief  ingredient,  the  i^er  cent,  of  Nitrogen  is  large 
and  the  Phosphoric  Acid  low,  and  the  action,  (esi)ecially  of  Nitro- 
gen) is  quite  satisfactory. 

TANKAGE. 

Station  No.  179. — Tankage  ; sent  by  A.  A.  Maginnis,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 

Station  No.  219. — Tankage  ; presented  to  the  Station  by  Stand- 
ard Guano  and  Chemical  Manufacturing 
Co.,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  230. — Tankage  ; sent  by  Henry  Studniczka,  St. 
Louis,  Mo. 


Analyses  of  Tankage. 


Station  No. 

Nitrogen. 

Ammonia. 

Total  Phosplioric 
Acid. 

179 

4.41 

5.37 

19.19 

219 

5.88 

7.14  1 

11.26 

23« 

5.. 32 

6.46  1 

8.26 

In  the  tariff  of  prices  no  value  is  assigned  the  Insoluble  Phos- 
phoric'Acid.  In  tankage  the  origin  is  chiefly  bone,  and  the  value 
of  the  latter  depends  largely  upon  the  fineness  of  pulverization. 
Very  finely  ground  bone  becomes  available  in  the  soil  far  quick- 
er than  that  that  has  been  coarsely  pulverized.  The  latter  has 
little  or  no  value  as  a fertilizer.  Leaving  out  the  phosphoric  acid 
and  estimating  the  commercial  values  of  above  from  their  Nitro- 


409 


gen  content  alone,  we  find  a ton  of  each  to  be  worth,  'No.  179, 
$16  80  5 No.  219,  $22  93.  and  i7o.  230,  $20  75.  Great  caution 
is  needed  in  the  purchase  of  this  kind  of  fertilizer,  since  its  vary- 
ing composition  can  be  detected  only  by  chemical  examination. 
Therefore,  every  purchase  should  be  based  upon  a guaranteed 
•content  of  both  Nitrogen  and  Phosphoric  Acid. 

BONE  MEAL. 

Bones  ground  to  a powder  are  largely  used  in  some  countries 
as  a fertilizer,  and  are  held  in  high  esteem.  They  are  not  popu- 
lar in  the  South.  The  more  finely  ground  they  are,  the  higher 
their  commercial  value.  Hence,  in  estimating  their  value,  both 
a mechanical  and  chemical  analysis  are  necessary.  The  sample 
analyzed  was  presented  to  the  Station  by  the  Standard  Guano 
and  Chemical  Co.,  of  New  Orleans  : 

ANALYSIS  : 

Station.  Nitrogen.  Phosphoric  Acid. 

No.  217  3.57  percent.  20.99  percent. 

IPs  mechanical  condition  was  fairly  good. 

NITRATE  OF  SODA 

Is  obtained  from  the  nitre  beds  of  Chili  and  Peru  and  is  one  of 
the  most  active  forms  of  Nitrogen,  and  is  hence  used  largely  for 
top  dressing  small  grains  and  grasses.  It  is  subject  to  rapid 
loss  by  leaching,  hence  should  only  be  applied  to  growing  crops, 
or  upon  very  stiff  clayey  soils,  and  then  in  limited  quantities,  at 
a time  to  insure  the  best  results.  The  sample  analyzed  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Sugar  Experiment  Station  by  the  Standard  Guano 
and  Chemical  Co.,  of  New  Orleans,  La. 

ANALYSIS  : 

Station  No.  209.  Nitrogen  16.29  per  cent. 

Equivalent  to  Pure  Nitrate  of  Soda,  98.90  per  cent. 

SULPHATE  OF  ' AMMONIA. 

Is  a by-product  of  the  gas  works  of  cities.  It  is  made  by  treat- 
ing the  ammonical  wash  water  with  sulphuric  acid,  and  then 
•evaporating  to  dryness.  Like  Nitrate  of  Soda,  it  is  an  active 


410 


form  of  Nitrogen,  and  but  slightly  inferior  to  that  salt  in  solu- 
bility and  leaching  property.  It  too  must  be  handled  carefully 
or  else  great  loss  may  be  sustained.  Tne  sample  analyzed  was. 
made  and  presented  by  the  Stan  lard  Guano  and  Chemical  Co.,  of" 
l^'ew  Orleans. 

ANALYSIS. 

Station  ]^o.  213.  Ammonia  24.82  per  cent. 

Equal  to  Sulphate  of  Ammonia.  96.87  per  cent. 

DRIED  BLOOD 

Occurs  in  commerce  as  black  and  red  blood.  The  former  has  - 
been  prepared  by  drying  the  blood  of  slaughter  houses  by  super-^ 
heated  steam,  the  latter  at  a lower  temperature.  The  former  is^ 
of  ten  lumpy,  and  shouki  be  thoroughty  pulverized  before  use.. 
They  both  contain  from  8 to  15  per  cent.  Mtrogen  and  are 
usually  sold  upon  a guarantee  of  so  many  units  of  ammonia. 
This  is  a most  excellent  source  of  Nitrogen.  Field  and  labora- 
tory experiments  have  shown  a slight  degree  of  availability  iir 
favor  of  the  red  blood,  due  doubtless  to  its  finer  pulverization.. 
One  sample  was  presented  to  the  Sugar  Experiment  Station  by 
the  Standard  Guano  and  Chemical  Co.,  of  New  Orleans. 

ANALYSIS  OF  DRIED  BLOOD. 

Station  No.  208.  ' Nitrogen,  13.72 per  cent. 

Equal  to  Ammonia.  16.66  per  cent. 

FISH  SCRAP. 

Along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Maine  to  Florida  are  found’ 
numerous  works  engaged  in  extracting  oil  from  fish.  The  resi- 
due after  extraction  of  oil  is  dried  and  ground  and  sold  in  the' 
markets  either  to  the  manufacturer  as  an  ingredient  of  his  wares, 
or  to  the  farmer  directly  as  a fertilizer.  It  constitutes  the 
source  of  Nitrogen  in  many  of  our  leading  brands  of  commer- 
cial fertilizers.  It  contains  a goodly  per  centage  of  both  Nitro?- 
gen  and  Phosphoric  Acid,  and  like  Tankage  it  must  be  finely 
ground  to  produce  the  best  results.  It  is  one  of  the  cheapest 
sources  of  Nitrogen.  Both  of  our  samples  were  sent  by  the 


411 


Standard  Guano  and  Chemical  Co.,  of  Xew  Orleans,  and  the 
latter  presented  to  the  station. 


ANABIOSES  OF  FISH  SCRAP. 

Station 
No.  182 

Nitrogen.  Ammonia. 

7.42  9 0l 

Phosphoric  Acid. 
«.06 

“ 228 

7.00  8.50 

6.19 

BAT  MANURE. 

The  ordure  of  Bats  often  accumulates  in  large  quantities  in 
caves^  roofs  of  houses,  &c.  When  j^ure  it  is  an  excellent  man- 
ure, but  is  often  mixed  with  sand  and  other  adulterants.  The 
supply  too  is  always  limited.  Our  sample  was  sent  by  Messrs. 
Schmidt  & Zeigler,  Willswood  Plantation,  and  contained  an  un- 
usual quantity  of  Phosphoric  Acid. 

ANALYSES  OF  BAT  MANURE. 

Station  Ao.  Nitrogen.  Phosphoric  Acid. 

181  1.26  11.78 

GARBAGE. 

A sample  of  fertilizer  made  from  the  Garbage  of  a northern 
city,  under  a new  process,  was  sent  to  the  Station  by  Mr.  A.  A. 
Maginnis,  of  New  Orleans,  who  contemplated  trying  the  same 
process  on  the  garbage  of  the  city,  provided  it  proved  of  value 
as  a fertilizer.  Along  with  the  fertilizer  is  extocted  a consider- 
able quantity  of  fat  which  could  be  used  in  soap  making.  The 
quantity  of  oil  obtained  and  the  quality  and  quantity  of  fertili- 
zer will  depend  largely  upon  the  character  of  the  garbage.  The 
following  is  the  analj^sis  : Nitrogen,  1.‘96  per  cent.  Phosphoric 
Acid, '.  55  per  cent.  ; Potash,  .96  per  cent,  and  its  commercial 
value,  reckoning  its  Phosphoric  Acid  as  ‘‘reverted,”  is  $9.42 
per  ton. 

PIGEON  MANURE. 

Sample  sent  by  Trosclair  & Robechaux,  Thibodeaux,  La., 
contained.  Nitrogen,  2.54  per  cent ; Phosphoric  Acid,  2.05  per 
cent. 

POUDRETTE 

Is  prepared  from  night  soils.  A^arious  patents  and  methods  have 


412 


been  used  to  successfully  preserve  tlie  fertilizing  ingredients  of 
human  excrement,  and  the  latter  thus  preserved  is  sold  as  Pou- 
drette.  The  substance  varies  greatly  according  to  method  of 
making  it,  and  of  quality  of  matter  added.  Sometimes  a i)hos- 
phate  is  used  as  a dryer  which  greatly  increases  the  fertilizing 
value.  An  aveiage  Poudrette  should  contain  from  .9  to  2.  per 
cent.  Mtrogen,  and  2 to  3 per  cent.  Phosphoric  Acid.  A large 
amount  of  Poudrette  can  annually  be  saved  in  every  large  city. 
Two  samples  have  been  analyzed  : 

Station  No.  204. — Poudrette  sent  by  C.  W.  Doughty,  for  Pelican 
Saw  Co.,  New  Orleans. 

Station  No.  232. — Poudrette  (?)  sent  by  J.  J.  Martin,  New  Or- 
leans, La. 


Analyses  of  Poudrette, 


6 

s: 

' "el 

00 

Nitrogen. 

1 

I Ammonia. 

^ 1 

2 

*S 

0.0 
! So 

o A 

3 

3 

m 

Reverted  Phos. 
phoric  Acid. 

1 

1 

Intoluble  Phos- 
phoric Acid. 

Total  Phos- 
phoric Acid. 

• 

204 

.38 

.46 

232 

.98 

1.19 

.3*20 

2!24 

i!62 

6.46 

PHOSPHATES. 

TTnder  this  head  are  included  all  of  the  natural  Phosphates 
found  on  the  small  islands  in  the  Caribbean  Sea  and  elsewhere. 
They  are  deposits  made  by  birds  in  a rainy  climate,  therefore 
the  Nitrogen  and  soluble  phosphates  have  been  removed,  leav- 
ing only  the  less  soluble  phosphates.  Upon  soils  rich  in  vegeta- 
ble matter,  these  phosphates  may  economically  supplant  the 
soluble  phosphates,  but  for  annual  crops  upon  most  of  the  soils 
of  the  South,  the  latter  are  to  be  preferred.  The  following  have 
been  analysed  : 

Station  No.  180. — Swan  Island  Guano  ; sent  by  F.  S.  Eoberfcs. 
Mobile,  Ala. 


413 


Station  N'o.  192. — Grand  Cayman  Phosphate  presented  to  the 
Station,  by  the  Grand  Cayman  Phosphate 
Co.,  New  York. 

rStation  No.  200. — Phosphate,  sent  by  Bradish  Johnson,  New 
Orleans,  La. 


Analyses  of  Phosphates. 


Station  No. 

il 

Soluble  Phos.  j 

pboric  Acid.! 

. _ i 

[ 

Reverted  PboR- 
phoric  Acid. 

Insoluble  Phos- 

phate Acid. 

1 

Total  Phosphoric 

A cid 

18<I 

4.30 

17.90 

22.20 

192 

3.59 

22.57 

26.16 

200 

.90 

14.59 

15.49 

LAND  PLASTER 


Is  the  Sulphate  of  Lime.  It  is  a stimulant  manure  and  its 
effects  are  chiefly  indirect.  For  leguminous  crops,  especially 
•clover,  it  is  largely  used  as  a top  dressing.  In  the  South,  how- 
ever, it  is  not  largely  used,  its  benefits  not  being  apparent.  The 
following  sample  is  not  up  to  the  best  Nova  Scotia  plaster  : 
Station  No.  198.— Land  Plaster,  sent  by  Planter’s  Fertilizer  Co., 
New  Orleans,  Gave  on  analysis: 


Water 18.32 

Organic  Matter ^ .72 

Iron  and  Aluminium  Oxides 1.75 

Sulphuric  Anhydride 34.94 

Lime 24.01 

Carbonate  of  Lime 13.91 

Insoluble  Matter 6.35 


100.00 

COTTON  HULL  ASHES 

Are  in  large  demand  in  the  Eastern  States  for  growing 
tobacco,  and  command  high  prices.  In  the  South  they  are  not 
lield  in  high  esteem.  They  are  not  uniform  in  composition  ; 


414 


the  light  colored  being  always  richer  in  Potash  than'  the  dark 
colored.  They  are  chiefly  valuable  for  their  large  content  of 
Potash.  They  contain  also  a goodly  percentage  of  Phosphoric 
Acid.  The  sample  an  a lysed  was  not  up  to  that  usually  found 
in  the  market. 

Station  Ko.  2l0. — Presented  to  the  Station  by  Standard  Guano 
&'Chemical  Manufacturing  Co.  New  Orleans^ 
contained  : 


Phosphoric  Acid _• 6.26 

Potash 11.96 


LIMESTONE. 

The  following  sample  came  from  Alabama  and  was  sent 
with  a view  of  determining  its  adaptability  to  making  a lime 
suitable  for  sugar  making.  The  small  amount  of  insoluble  mat- 
ter and  the  high  lime  content,  will  make  this  a most  excellent 
rock  for  sugar  lime  making. 

Station  No.  215. — Sent  by  J.  B.  Wilkerson,  New  Orleans,  gave 


on  Analysis,; 

Moisture  • .24 

Insoluble  Matter 1.35 

Lime 54.98> 

Carbon  Dioxide 43.20 


Equal  to  Carbonate  of  Lime  98.18  per  cent. 

MARL 

Is  a mixture  of  sand  and  clay  with  carbonate lof  lime;*  Some- 
times it  contains  notable  quantities  of  t phosphoric  acid  and 
potash  w hich  greatly  enhances  its  value  as  a fertilizer.  Unless 
these  substances  are  present  in  goodly  quantities,  it  will  ' rarely 
pay  to  transport  any  distance. . . Marls  containing>  ’Only  - car  ba- 
il ate’of  lime,  must  be  used  in  large  quantities  'to  produce  much 
effect;  therefore  it  is  rarely  economical  to  haul  even  very  short 
distances.  The  sample  analysed  came  from  Iberia  Parish  and 
contained  Carbonate  of  Lime  33.48  per  cent:  and  Potash  .47 
per  cent. 

KAINITE 

Is  a crude  form  of  German  Potash  Salts  taken  from  the 


415 


mines  of  Stassfurth  or  Leopoldshall  and  contains  usually  about 
12.  per  cent.  Potash.  It  has  also  goodly  quantities  of  Magnesic 
and  Sodic  Chlorides.  This  is  the  form  of  Potash  found  in  the 
markets  of  this  State.  Its  use  is  often  attended  with  no  benefits. 
Station  No.  226.  - Kainite,  purchased  by  the  Station,  of  the 
Planter’s  Fertilizer  Co.,  New  Orleans. 


Analyst's  of  Kainite. 


Station  No. 

Potash. 

Commercial  value 
per 'ton. 

206 

12.14 

$12  14 

POTASSIUM  SULPHATE 

Is  a refined  product  of  the  German  Mines  and  is  regarded 
as  the  best  form  of  i^otash  for  many  crops.  It  is  also  the  mo^t 
exiDcnsive  form.  The  sample  analysed  was  obtained  from  Stand- 
ard Guano  and  Chemical  Co.,  of  New  Orleans,  and  contained 
41. per  cent,  of  pure  potash. 

GLUTEN 

Sent  by  Mr.  D.  D.  Colcock,  Secretary  of  Sugar  & Eice  Es;- 
change,  to  test  its  comparative  value  with  Eice  Bran  as  a cattle 
food.  It  has  already  been  reported  in  full  in  the  Eice  Bulletin 
No.  24.  The  following  was  the  analysis  : 

Water 8.45  Per  Cenf. 

Ash 1.15  Per  Cent. 

Albuminoids  30.81  Per  Cent. 

Crude  Fibre .77  Per  Cent. 

Fat 8.79  Per  Cent. 

Nitrogen  Free  Ext.act 50.03  Per  Cent. 

100.00 

GUANO,  TAKEN  FROM  THE  GKOUND, 

Was  sent  by  Mr.  Wm.  Polk,  of  Eapides,  who  wrote  that 
this  guano  was  applied  to  the  stubble  can's  in  the  Spring  of  1888, 
and  the  following  Spring  in  breaking  up  the  soil,  he  found  the 


416 


layer  of  guauo  apparently  as  lie  had  aiiplied  it.  He  took  up 
carefully  enough  for  a sample  and  sent  to  the  Station.  Analysis 
shows  that  it  has  lost  nearly  all  of  its  Mtrogen.  The  soluble 
lihosphoric  acid  has  reverted.  It  is  fair  to  presume  that  at  least 
one-third  of  the  Phosphoric  Acid  had  remained  unutilized. 
This  suggests  the  necessity  of  a more  thorough  incorporation  of 
our  fertilizers  with  the  soil  in  order  to  obtain  the  best  results  the 
first  year.  The  analysis  is  as  follows  : Nitrogen  .09  per  cent. 
Beverted  Phosphoric  Acid  2.88  per  cent.  Insoluble  Phosphoric 
Acid  .70.  per  cent. 

WATER 

Mr.  Leonce  M.  Soniat.  of  Dorcey  ville,  La.^  has  had  bored 
near  his  sugar  house  a large  artesian  well  which  now  furnishes 
all  the  water  for  his  extensive  sugar  house.  He  sent  a sample 
of  this  water  for  analysis  to  determine  its  fitness  for  use  in  his 
hoilers.  It  contained  16.07  grains  of  solid  matter  per  gallon. 
Of  this  13  grains  were  mineral  and  2.07  organic  matter.  The 
mineral  matter  contained  very  small  quantities  of  lime  and 
magnesia,  ingredients  which  usually  scale  boilers.  This  is  a 
most  excellent  water  for  manufacturing  purposes  and  if  the 
quantity  proves  adequate,  Mr.  Soniat’s  example  will  doubtless 
be  soon  followed  by  other  progressive  planters. 

BITUMINOUS  COAL. 

The  Corona  Coal  Co.,  of  Alabama,  sent  the  Sugar  Experiment 
Station  with  their  compliments,  a car  load  each  of  Splint  coal 
and  Coalburg  coal,  with  request  that  a full  examination  be  made 
side  by  side  with  Pittsburg  coal  of  their  merits  for  steam  making. 
They  were  both  used  under  the  boileu^^,  and  analyses  made  in  the 
Laboratory.  Pittsburg  coal  was  also  subjected  to  same  tests. 
No.  196  burnt  freely  and  made  a good  steam  but  gave  a lot  of 
ashes.  No.  197  slaked  so  rapidly  that  only  a small  quantity 
-could  be  used.  This  burnt  well  and  gave  steam  freely.  This 
rapid  slaking  will  ever  prevent  the  transportation  of  this  coal 
to  any  distance.  The  following  are  the  analyses  : 

COAL. 

Station  No.  195. — Pittsburg  Coal;  used  by  Sugar  Station. 


417 

Station  No.  196 — Splint  Coal;  presented  to  the  Station  by  Corona 
Coal  Co., 

Station  No.  197 — Coalburg  Coal ; presented  to  the  Station  by* 
Corona  Coal  Co., 


Analyses  of  Bituminous  Coal. 


Statiou  No. 

1 

Water. 

195 

1.13 

196 

1.88 

197 

1 .05 

Coiubustable 

Matter. 

Coke. 

1 

! 38.80 

56.30 

1 37.32 

52.80 

1 29.75 

1 65.43 

Asli. 

.H 

CC' 

3.77 

.6u 

8. 

1.46 

3.76 

.81 

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BULLETIN 


No. 


■VOI' 


BEPORT 

OF  THK 

STATE  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 

AT 

BATON  ROUGE,  LA. 

FOR  1889. 


Wm.  C.  STUBBS,  Ph.  D.,  Director  and  Official  State  (diemist. 
D.  N.  BARROW,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director. 


IKSTTKO  BY  TITF:  BURKAU  OF  AGRICULTURE, 

T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner. 


PRINTED  AT  THE  TRUTH  JOB  OFFICE, 

BATON  ROUGE,  LA, 


THE  AGRieOLTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 

LA.  STATE  IINITESSITV  AND  A.  S M,  COLLEGE. 


BUREAU  OR  AGRICULTURE. 

OOV.  F.  T.  NICHOLLS,  President. 

WM.  GARIG,  Vice-President  Board  of  Supervisors. 

T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 

STATION  STAFF. 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Ph.  D.,  Director, 

D.  N.  BARROW,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Baton  Rouge. 
J.  G.  LEE,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Calhoun. 

Assistant  Director,  Audubon  Park. 

B.  B.  ROSS,  M.  S.,  Chemist. 

M.  BIRD,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Chemist. 

A.  T.  PRESCOTT,  M.  A.,  Botanist, 

H.  A.  MORGAN,  M.  S.  Entomologist  and  Horticulturist. 
W.  H.  DALRYMPLE,  M.  R.  C.V.  S., Veterinary  Surgeon. 
-A.  M.  GARDNER,  B.  S,,  Farm  Manager  Audubon  Park. 
J.  E.  PRATT,  Farm  Manager,  Baton  Rouge. 

L.  M.  CALHOUN,  Farm  Manager,  Calhoun. 

H.  SKOLFIELD,  Treasurer. 

J.  D.  STUBBS,  Secretary. 


The  bulletins  and  reports  will  be  sent  free  of  charge  to  all  fanners,  by  applying 
lo  Major  T,  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La. 


LOUISIANA  STATE  UNlVERSI  PY  AND  A.  AXD  M.  COLLEGE,  > 

Office  of  Exfeeimext  Stations,  > 
Eaton  Rouge,  La.  ) 

TTo  Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  : 

Dear  Sir  : — I hand  you  Annual  Eeport  of  State  Experi- 
ment Station  for  year  1889,  by  Mr.  D.  N.  Barrow,  Assistant 
Director,  and  ask  that  you  publish  it  as  Bulletin  'No.  26. 

Eespect fully  submitted, 

'WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


La.  State  Unia^ersity  and  A.  & M.  College,  | 
Baton  Eouge,  La.,  January  1890,  j 
To  Dr.  W.  C.  Stubbs,  Director  : 

Dear  Sir  : — Herewith  I hand  you  report  of  Station  jS'o.  2 
for  the  year  just  passed. 

, Very  respectfully, 

DAVID  N.  BAEEOW, 

Assistant  Director. 


lEISH  POTATOES. 

Three  sets  of  experiments  Avith  this  crop  were  undertaken 
<011  this  Station  this  year  i.  e.  physiological,  manurial  require- 
ments and  varieties.  A light  rain^  enongh  to  produce  germina- 
tion, fell  immediately  after  jilanting,  but  from  that  time  until 
just  before  harvest  there  was  not  a drop.  Hence  the  yields  are 
much  kelow  what  they  probably  Avould  have  been.  This  is  quite 
unfortunate,  as  these  exj)eriments  bid  fair  at  the  start  to  give 
some  very  interesting  results. 

VAEIETIES. 

There  were  ordered  for  delivery  by  March  1st,  from  Thorene 
'E.  Platt,  of  Pensylvania,  some  three  hundred  varieties  of  pc  ta- 
toes.  These  did  not  arrive  until  late  in  March,  however,  and  it 
was  the  22nd  of  that  month  before  they  were  planted.  The  soil 
in  which  they  were  jilanted  had  been  thoroughly  prepared  by  a 
lop  dressing  of  well  rotted  stable  manure  plowed  under  in  Janu- 
ary, After  deep  and  thorough  pulverization  of  the  soil  the 
potatoes  cut  to  two  es,  were  planted  under  as  near  like  condi. 
tions  as  possible.  The  cultivation  was  that  ordinarily  given. 
Time  of  ripening  was  noted  and  on  June  21,  and  23,  all  were  dug 
despite  the  fact  that  some  were  still  green,  it  being  argued  that 
-a  potatoe  ripening  later  than  this  date  was  of  no  value  here. 

Below  we  give  a table  showing  yield  i^er  acre  in  bushels  of 
lx)th  merchantable  and  culls.  The  yields  are  calculated  per 
acre  in  order  to  show  the  diftcrences  more  plainly: 


No. 

1 

2 

8 

4 

o 

fi 

S 

9 

10 

II 

12 

10 

14 

15 

Ki 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

20 

24 

25 

2(1 

27 

28 

29 

;io 

01 

02 

00 

04 

0() 

07 

08 

09 

40 

41 

42 

40 

44 

45 

46 

47 

48 

49 

7)0 

51 

52 

50 

54 

55 

56 

57 

58 

59 

60 

61 

62 

60 

64 

6.5 

66 


419 


YIELD  PER  ACRE  IN  BUSHELS. 

VARIETIES  OF  POTATOES. 


Name  of  Variety. 

Mer. 

Culls. 

Lake  Ontario  _ __ 

Snttfin's  190  Folfl 

49.3 

02.1 

54.7 

01. 

47.8 

86.6 

Belle—  __  _ - • — 

55.6 

.56. 

90.5 

48.8 

Sutton’s  Exhibition  Kidney 

10.6 

75.6 

,52.() 

51.5 

Crown  Imperial  _ _ 

0 

86.7 

Ontario  

17.8 

54.9 

Cliiticatica  — 

(’h  Tin  da,  Seed  lino’ 

28.0 

10.6 

0>5.7 

44.0 

(Tranfrer 

0 

07.4 

0 

42.5 

0 

•52.7 

Cl  ane’s  .lune  Eating  

14.1 

44. 

Ha, lid's  40 

0 

28.9 

First  and  Rest 

87.6 

44.1 

Bliss’  Trinniph 

i)8.6 

71.4 

78.0 

10.5 

Cowliorn _ 

• .54.0 
178  6 

46.5 

88.0 

Rankin’s  Raeer  _ 

107.7 

.52.7 

Earlv  Telephone  _ _ __ 

61.2 

88.0 

Seoteli  Blifp 

69.8 

79.9 

Ouehess  

20.0 

40.8 

Banana  — _ _ — _ 

Rose’s  Beauty  of  Beauties 

102.0 

45.8 

05.7 

8:1.0 

New  (Omnipion 

2.5.5 

;19.9 

Moriiiug  Star 

0 

47.6 

Sninniit, 

2,5.5 

68.0 

f ,?ite  Beauty  of  fTehron 

15.0 

.57.8 

* Brownells  55  __  _ 

Pride  <if  tlie  Field 

0 

86.  () 

51.0 

69.5 

Home  Comfort 

161.5  1 

61.2 

Big  Benefit  — - 

04.0 

41.6 

Fee’s  Favairite 

170.1 

76.5 

Om\yn  .Tewell 

90.1 

80.0 

F-arly  Puritan  or  Cov  49 

100.0 

70.0 

T f ‘ >t H ed 

91.8 

91.8 

R{\rst<  >n 

1‘2.5.8 

6.5.4 

pieta  t''i’ 

159.0 

49.0 

Improved  White  Rose 

Brownells  01 

Ston’s  Seedling 

81.6 

2.5.5 

09.0 

(iO.O 

.5.1 

62.8 

Charles  Downing 

Oeneral  I-Ogan 

:30.6 

41.6 

74.0 

77.0 

^Scotch  Champion 

22.9 

70.1 

llai’YHi’d 

104.0 

.51.0 

Nigh’s  Early  Standard 

\Icinsons  SGGd - 

178.6 

109.6 

87.4 

50.1 

Tfpro 

49.2 

49.2 

Astonisher  

110.5 

26.0 

plarly  Sinowflake 

•21.2 

79.9 

*yianit,<iha. 

0 

108.8 

rihaney  Blow 

11,5.6 

67.1 

Wall’s  Seedling  . . 

79.9 

:18.2 

Seofeh  Vietoria. 

0 

.55.1 

Rocky  Mountain  Rose 

TT.iirly 

26.0 

09.9 

61.2 

.50.5 

Newton’s  Seedling 

69.7 

49.0 

Prineess 

20.8 

7;o.i 

Highland  Beauty 

04.8 

Winslow’s  Seedlings 

“’7.5.'6"' 

.57.1 

Prarie  Farmer 

46.6 

.57.8 

slalt  T.ake  Queen 

42.5 

.52.7 

Piirson’s  Prolific.  

ia5.4 

85.0 

Remarks.  • 


Imported. 


aS"o. 

67 

6S 

()i> 

70 

• 7J 

72 

76 

74 

75 

7(5 

78 

79 

m 

SI 

.82 

88 

84 

• 8,5 

86 

.■87 

-88 

.89 

90 

91 

92 

98 

94 

95 

96 

97 

98 

99 

100 

101 

102 

lu8 

104 

105 

106 

107 

108 

109 

no 

111 

112 

118 

114 

115 

116 

117 

118 

119 

120 

121 

122  . 

128 

124 

125 

126 

127 

128 

129 

181) 

181 

J82 


420 


YIELD  PER  ACRE  IN  BUSHELS. -Continued. 

VARIpyPlKS  OF  POTATOES. 


Name  ol  Variety. 


*^Mexiean  _ 

Vewton 

:yruiidel  Iloise  __ 

t’iek’s  I’rize 

ITinee  Edwards  Isle  Champion 

Superior 

Vermont  Champion 

Blarly  Pearl 

fames  O.  Rlaine 

Irownell’s  P>eaiity 

iarly  Beauty  of  Hebron 

^Silvers  C'hili 

Surpee’s  Empire  State 

Potentate 

doore’s  Seedling 

I'oncpiest 

Ihina 

Vhite  Whipple 

tekeepsi  White 

datchlesss 

^lureka 

dountain  Rose 

ied  Asti’ochaji 

hatt’s  No.  508 

dammoth  Pearl 

vose’s  New  Seedling 

ntermediate 

lunlit  Star 

5 word  Potatoe 

lural  Blush 

German  White 

Mahopee 

Heath  Belle 

"leFaden’s  Seedling 

)range  Co.  White 

Stattield’.s  Seedling 

White  Star 

'larly  King 

Carly  Ohio 

Lmerican  Grant 

Ldirondac 

dulaly 

Vhite  Mountain 

date  of  Mai  ne 

Stuben  Chief 

ersey  Blue 

'horburn  

InoK  Seedling, 

Jhicago  Market 

h'ownell’s  Success ^ 

Vhite  Chief- 

eneca  Red  .Jacket 

‘utnam’s  New  Seedling 

tueen  of  Roses 

lharter  Oak 

Red  Cloud. 

Tyrian  Purple 

owa  Beauty 

Red  Peach  Blow 

loston  Market 

larly  Waterford 

’erfcct  Gem 

Calico 

teuben  Beauty 

larly  Sands 


Mer. 

: Culls. 

1 

21.2 

1 

62.9 

117.8 

61.6 

51.4 

,54.4 

29.1 

42.5 

86.5 

.51.9 

22.9 

87.4 

25.5 

,54,4 

0 

49.9 

18.6 

.54.4 

12.7 

.52.7 

40.8 

62.0 

89.1 

.52.7 

15.8 

66.8 

62.9 

71.4 

79.9 

48.0 

79.9 

78.2 

92.6 

28.9 

60.8 

40.8 

12.7 

78.2 

29.7 

42.5 

89.9 

41.8 

0 

.59.5 

29.7 

.58.6 

41.6 

42.5 

299.2 

98.5 

81.4 

29.7 

0 

25.5 

0 

88.1 

.56.1 

.58.5 

88.1 

78.1 

88.2 

81.6 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

20,8 

a5.7 

67.1 

88.4 

24.6 

58.6 

16.1 

.83.1 

0 

60.6 

18.6 

49.8 

69.7 

89.9 

62.9 

51.0 

76.5 

.54.4 

84.2 

.50.7 

13.6 

45.9 

11.9 

22.9 

0 

0 

45.9 

.59.5 

.54.4 

70.5 

22.9 

79.9 

15.8 

66.8 

0 

.59.5 

42.5 

48.8 

87.4 

98.8 

78.1 

79.9 

28.9 

88.8 

0 

68  5 

0 

87.4 

25.5 

46.7 

0 

0 

79.9 

92.6 

76.5 

62.9 

39.1 

65.4 

0 

42.5 

89  1 

69.7 

112.2 

,59.5 

Remarks. 


Injured  by  fire, 
do. 


Injured  by  fire, 
do. 
do. 


Injui’ed  by  fire, 
do. 


No. 

m 

184 

l.lo 

18U 

187 

188 

189 

140 

141 

142 

148 

144 

145 

140 

147 

148 

149 

1.50 

151 

152 

158 

154 

1.55 

150 

157 

158 

159 

100 

101 

102 

io;8 

104 

105 

100 

107 

108 

109 

170 

171 

172 

178 

174 

175 

170 

177 

178 

179 

180 

181 

182 

183 

IW 

185 

180 

187 

188 

189 

190 

191 

192 

198 

194 

195 

190 

197 

198 


421 


YIELD  PER  ACRE  IN  BUSHELS-Continued. 


i OF  POTATOE 

Mer. 

Culls. 

10.1 

52.7 

00.8 

01.2 

22.9 

79.0 

27.2 

.50.1 

49.8 

09.7 

85.7 

98.5 

8o.8 

98.5 

70.5 

81.0 

28.8 

86.7 

10.1 

06.8 

11.9 

.54.4 

09.7 

00.8 

08.8 

84.1 

98.0 

.89.1 

8.5 

61.2 

0 

9.8 

1.5.8 

408 

142.8 

61.2 

48.4 

99.4 

40.8 

77.8 

80.7 

58.5 

14.4 

39.9 

89.1 

40.8 

42.5 

74.8 

05.4 

68.8 

51.0 

108.7 

50.1 

81.6 

0 

71.4 

70.5 

78.2 

109.1 

87.4 

172.5 

85.8 

124.9 

72.2 

45.9 

105.4 

i4.6 

42.5 

85.7 

41.6 

00.8 

70.7 

70.0 

.54.4 

181.7 

79.0 

88.8 

92.6 

81.4 

59.5 

.56.9 

68.9 

182.6 

73.1 

178.4 

24.6 

117.1 

86.7 

21. 

57.4 

65.4 

76.2 

0 

73.1 

1,54.7 

87.5 

145.8 

45.9 

168.2 

63.7 

104.5 

51.0 

85.7 

26.3 

8.5 

85.0 

80.7 

7,8.1 

102.2 

85.0 

1,51.8 

109.6 

84.1 

78.1 

86.5 

88.4 

.52.7 

78.9 

98.6 

81.6 

108.2 

.56.1 

169.7 

45.0 

45.0 

100.3 

02.0 

84.0 

48.2 

41.0 

02.0 

101.1 

N aine  of  V ariety . 


liion 

Burbank’s  Steel 

weld’s  .Jumbo 

*Indian  Beauty 

Callum's  Superb 

Andross’  Seedling 

Alexander’s  Prolitie 

Baker’s  Imperial 

W hepple’s  Seedling 

Chicago  Beauty 

Connecticut 2. 

Early  Dawn 

Thunderbolt 

N evada  'White 

Lady  Truscott 

^■■Scotch  Highlander 

Peek 1 15.8 

Kampden  Beauty 

Pride  of  Palestine 

Compton’s  Surprise 

Pride  of  Lisbon 

‘■*=EarlyNew  Zealand 

Maiden’s  Blush 

Advance 

Paragon 

Leopard  

White  Beauty  of  Hebron 

^Peerless 

White  Flower 

Early  Vermont 

Churchill’s  Seedling 

Tunix 

English  Kidney 

Old  Orange  Pink  Eye 

Late  Ohio 

Early  Mayflower , 

Irish  Cup 


Idaho 

Garfield 

Early  Essex 

Strawben-y 

Capt.  Sheaf 

Cayuga 

Rochester’s  Favorite 

Acme 

V anguard 

Irish  Champion 

Late  Rose 

Knapp’s  Snowbank- 

Buffalo  Beauty 

Dakota  Red 

CT’andall’s  Beauty 


Early  Electic 

Ruby 

Silver  Skin 

Tollers 

Everitt 

Crimson  Beauty 

Platt’s  511 

Crane  s T\  f-cner 

Burpee’ s Sup  rior 

Ash  L(  af  Ki  Iney 

Weld’s  zz 

Champion  of  America-^ 

Vermont’s  Snow  Flake ' 02.0 


Remarks. 


No. 

199 

200 

2()1 

202 

2m 

204 

205 

209 

207  . 

208 

209 

210 

211 

212 

218 

214 

215 

216 

217 

218 

219 

220 

221 

222 

2218 

224 

22.5 

226 

227 

228 

229 

2:10 

221 

232 

233 

2:84 

235 

2:86 

237 

2:88 

2:89 

240 

241 

242 

243 

244 

245 

246 

247 

248 

249 

250 

251 

252 

25:8 

2.54 

255 

256 

257 

258 

259 

260 

261 

262 

263 

264 


422 


YIELD  PER  ACRE  IN  BUSHELS-ContInued. 

VARIETIE.S  OF  POTATOES. 


c'e  Cream 

led  Elephant 

Ihinebeck  

lermuda  White 

Call’s  Orange 

barter  

lural 

datfsNo.  40 

lose’s  Invincible 

IcClue’s  Early 

Ihamplain 

lichigan  white 

led  Star 

Garrison’s  Seedling 

lorway  Mountain  Rose 

larmony 

IcVeer’s  Peach  Blow 

larly  Blue 

Lmerican  Magnum  Bonurn. 

ames  Vick 

»hio  Queen 

cotch  Butfura 

Tarvel  of  Beau  tv 

Ian’s  42 

Tide  of  Erin 

lercules  

:entenial 

rish  Beauty 

datt’s  No-  84 

]arly  Maine 

lunmoore 

dr  Garnet  Wolsey 

^arinos 

liscuit 

kick’s  Extra  Early 

irook’s  Seed 

jady  Finger 

^arly  Perfection 

Ipaulding  

ilarly  Albino 

•^ew  Conqueror 

ilose’s  New  Giant 

bill’s  No.  1 

5arly  Favorite 

Iheesman’s  Seed 

Andrew’s  White  Rose 

i’latt’s  No.  80 

Slew  Queen 

Victor  

Defiance  

\.lpha 

Rose  of  Hebron 

8t.  Patrick 

Pride  of  America 

Drawford’s  Seedlings 

8now  Queen 

Jordon  Russet 

Hale’s  Early  Peach  Blow  — 

Mitchell’s  Seedlings 

Platt’s  512 

Pearl  of  Savoy 

El  Passo 

* Late  Blue 

Late  Snowflake 

*P1  aft’s  No.  .5 

Bun’s  Seed 


Mer.  ( 

1 

Culls. 

i 

6J.6  ] 

77.3 

91.8 

.59.5 

65.2 

.59.5 

.50.1 

52,7 

28.9 

62.0 

100.3 

81.6 

140.2 

52.7 

.52.7 

.52.7 

:87.7 

.59.5 

35.7 

65  4 

.53.5 

4.5.9 

79.0 

40  8 

i:89.8 

.57.8 

78.2 

67.1 

4.5.9 

91.8 

14.1 

85.0 

67.1 

45.9 

46.7 

75.6 

147.6 

66.3 

99.4 

65.4 

49.3 

66.3 

83.3 

:88.2 

48.0 

:88.2 

70.5 

73.1 

8:8.3 

108.8 

83.3 

60.3 

.52  7 

:88.2 

51.0 

82.4 

29.7 

79.9 

7:8.1 

77.3 

154.7 

86.7 

22.1 

:86.5 

66.3 

66.3 

‘22.1 

56.1 

25.5 

60.3 

143.5 

78.2 

28.9 

113.0 

187.8 

78.2 

18.7 

103.7 

93.5 

68.2 

79.9 

42.5 

142.5 

80.0 

.510 

69.7 

87.5 

100.3 

149.6 

73.1 

30.6 

42.5 

0 

130.0 

78.2 

79.9 

1*22.4 

53.5 

68.8 

51.8 

14.4 

‘23.8 

18.7 

96.0 

72.2 

61.2 

68.0 

79.0 

99.4 

‘28.0 

95.2 

72.2 

78.2 

42.7 

40.8 

2:3.8 

91.8 

34.0 

0 

72.2 

107.1 

72.2 

0 

:33.3 

0 

‘21.2 

11.9 

68.0 

0 

21.2 

129.2 

1 66.3 

Remarks. 


423 


YIELD  PER  ACRE  IN  BUSH ELS-Continued, 

VARIETIES  OF  POTATOES. 


Xo. 

Name  of  Variety. 

Mer. 

Culls. 

2f)o 

Carpenters  Seed 

! 139.4 

51.0 

'im 

Stanton  Seed 

13.5.0 

105.4 

'Hil 

Durham 

49.1 

90  1 

■m 

Earlv  Household — 

43.3 

100.3 

-A)9 

J.opume  Triumph  — 

(>5.4 

38.2 

‘..VO 

American  Monarch 

81.(1 

75.6 

'111 

Black  Mach anic-  - — - 

49.3 

76.0 

272 

I'on  hocks  - — 

98.(5 

64.6 

278 

|(4old  Band  _ - 

106.4 

76.5 

274 

IPrideofthe  West  _ — 

36.5 

63.7 

275 

King  of  the  Earlies 

45.9 

45.0 

270 

1 

Sylvian  - - 

111  3 

83.3 

‘*77 

1 

1 

Peerless  Peachblow 

56.9 

535.7 

1V8 

1 

White  Elephant 

108.8 

87.5 

279 

I Bermuda  _ _ _ _ _ 

28.0 

537.4 

2S0 

■Junkis  — 

41.0 

55  2 

2SJ 

1 

Natt’s  Victor 

72.2 

97.53 

282 

iLate  Favorite  _ - _ 

118.1 

72  2 

288 

Trernent  - - — 

72.2 

81.6 

284 

1 Weston’s  Seedling 

72.2 

75.3 

285 

(Davenport _ _ 

9.3 

88.6 

‘280 

1 

Earlv  Gem  — ----- 

46.7 

59.5 

287 

AVehh’s  Early  _ _ . 

76.5 

86.0 

288 

IBrownell’s  Best-  _ __ 

86.7 

78.2 

289 

Oreat  Eastern _ _ 

153.8 

41.8 

290 

Jumbo  _ _ _ 

122.4 

56.1 

2<»1 

Carles.^  Matchless-  — 

37.4 

80  7 

‘2‘i2 

Yosemite  

44.2 

59.5 

2<»3 

Rosy  Morn  

113.9 

71.4 

2<>4 

Little  Grant-  

100.3 

64.6 

‘29.5 

Chiet  - — 

1.5;3.0 

120.7 

2iHi 

■^Peterson’s  White-  - - - _ 

0 

0 

297 

Burrough’s  Garfield 

39.9 

79.9 

298 

Clark’s  No  I ----- 

22.1 

103.7 

2ft9 

Black  McVeer  

15.1 

76.5 

*iO0 

Green  Mountain-  - _ _ - _ 

122.6 

83  53 

-iOl 

Swedish  Rose  - - - -i 

49.1 

8.5.0 

Iroci  noise  - - 

9.3 

56.1 

;803  (Ore  ?=  m of  the  Field 

22.1  1 

70.5 

Remarks . 


ripe  when  dug. 


424 


By  examining  these  tables  it  will  be  seen  that  only  tifty-hve 
mut  of  the  three  hundred  and  three  varietievS,  or  18  per  cent.,  gave 
a yield  of  100  bushels  or  over,  per  aci'e.  But  even  of  these  a 
number  are  valueless  as  the  amount  of  culls  is  equal  to,  or  very 
iif^r  equal  to,  the  yield  of  the  merchantable.  Each  variety  was 
accurately  described  both  before  i)lanting  and  after  digging. 
Below  is  a descrii)tion  of  the  varieties  of  most  promise  : 

Eakly  Sands — Katlier  disk  shaped,  white  and  smooth.  Eyes 
few  but  deep.  Eipe  June  3. 

Great  Eastern — Eound  and  white  skin,  slightly  russette<l. 
Eyes  very  numerous  and  well  marked.  Eipe  June  12. 

Cayuga — Long  and  round,  white,  smooth  skin,  deep  eyes. 
Very  tine.  Eipe  June  12. 

Banana — Broad  and  thick,  white  skin,  smooth.  Eyes 
numerous  and  poorly  marked.  Eipe  June  7. 

American  Magnum  Bonum — Large,  round,  white,  smooth, 
few  eyes,  very  good.  Eipe  May  25. 

Platt’s  1^0.  503 — Eound  white,  smooth.  E3"es  few  but  well 
marked.  Eipe  June  12. 

White  Elephant — Large,  white  and  round,  quite  smooth, 
^yes,  few  and  well  marked,  scabby.  Eipe  May  25. 

Eural — Large,  wdiite,  smooth,  oval^  with  few  eyes,  fine. 
Eipe  June  7 

Sylvan — Irregular  shape,  w^hite,  russetteil.  Eyes  numerous. 
Eipe  June  12. 

Gold  Band — White,  with  numerous  well  marked  pink 
'pye^.  Skin  smooth,  scabby.  Eipe  June  3. 

Brooks’  Seed — Large,  irregular  potato,  with  a smooth, 
white  skin,  quite  scabby.  Eipe  June  7. 

Dictator — Eound,  smooth  and  white,  large  and  good. 
Eipe  June  3. 

Astonisher — Pink,  heart  shaped  russetted.  Eyes,  few  and 
;sh allow,  of  good  size.  Eipe  June  7. 

Lee’s  Favorite — Oval  and  white,  smooth  skin.  Eyas  deep. 
Large  and  good.  Eipe  June  3. 

Latf  Favorite — Large  andsmooth,  white  round,  good. 
Eipe  June  7. 


425 


Early  Vermont— Oval,  dark  pink,  russetted.  Eyes  immer- 
oiis.  V ery  fine.  Eipe  May  25. 

Crane’s  Keeper — irregularly,  round,  smooth,  white.. 
Eipe  May  29. 

Early  Perfection — Large,  round,  pink,  smooth.  Eyes' 
deep.  Fine.  Eipe  May  29, 

Dakotah  Eed — Large,  irregular,  red,  russetted.  Eyes  deep 
and  numerous.  Eipe  June  3. 

Carpenter’s  Seed — Long,  oval  and  white,  eyes  few- 
slightly  russetted,  good  and  very  pretty.  Eipe  June  29. 

Harvard — Large,  cylindrical.  Deep  eyes  and  numerous^. 
White  and  smooth.  Eipe  June  15. 

Cheesman’s  Seed — Irregular,  round,  russetted,  white., 
good.  Eipe  May  29. 

Churchill’s  Seedling — Large  and  fiat,  smooth,  white., 
somewhat  scabby,  Eipe  May  25. 

Victor  Purple — Eound,  russetted.  Few  deep  eyes.  Ugly- 
Eipe  June  3. 

Knapp’s  Snowbank --Large,  white,  smooth,  egg-shaped.. 
Eyes  few.  Eipe  June  12. 

Buffalo  Beauty — White,  round,  smooth,  Few  eyes,  good.. 
Eipe  June  7. 

Home  Comfort — Long  and  pink,  smooth.  Eyes  few  and  well 
marked.  Eipe  June  7. 

Knight’s  Early  Standard— Long,  white,  slightly  rus- 
setted. Eyes  deep  and  numerous.  Very  good.  Eipe  June  10. 

Murfree’s  Superior— White,  irregular  and  russetted- 
Large  and  fine.  Eipe  June  7. 

Eed  Star — Broad  and  flat,  pink,  smooth.  Numerous  well 
marked  eyes.  Eipe  June  7. 

Hampden  Beauty — Egg-shaped,  white,  russetted.  Poorly- 
marked  eyes.  Eipe  June  12. 

Eankin’s  Eacer — Oblong,  pink,  slightly  russetted.  Well 
marked  eyes.  Eipe  June  7. 

This  table  only  goes  to  show  how  much  the  potato  is  influ- 
enced by  a change  of  soil  and  climate.  Some  of  the  most  cel  e~ 


426 


brated  i)otatoes  in  the  East  and  West  have  been  a total  failure 
here,  while  others  ^^to  fame  unknown’’  have  done  excellently* 
In  order  to  repeat  this  experiment  (it  is  to  be  hoped)  under 
more  favoi-able  conditions  of  weather,  all  the  varieties  have 
been  replanted  this  fall.  The  products  of  this  crop  will  be 
saved  until  next  spring. 


EXPERIMENTS  IN  FERTILIZING. 


In  order  to  ascertain  the  manurial  requirements  of  the 
potato  in  this  soil  seven  experiments  with  fertlilizers  were  made. 
At  the  same  time  it  was  endeavored  to  ascertain  whether  difter- 
ent  varieties,  varied  in  these  requirements.  Below  is  a table 
giving  results.  • 

The  low  yield  of  cotton  seed  meal  is  due  largely  to  the  fact 
that  that  portion  of  the  plant  was  from  its  position  badly 
drained. 


EXPERIMENTS  IN  FERTILIZING  POTATOES. 


•a^Bqdsoqd  pxoy  | 

sqi  002  1 

s^uiiujisqtoO?  1 

‘[B9m  podS  uo;ijo3  I 

sqi  0001  1 

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•o«''^(i4-4^o-4coTf 

CTji^coc^o-r-^c^ji^ 

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lOiOOOOOOOO 
oi  00  'o'  CO  'O'  00  O •ct'  — < 
-O'  J-  lO  -O'  00  O'.  — 1—1 
0}'^COCO'>3'L'5TfiOiO 

‘a^erplgoqd  pioy  | 

®qi  002  1 

‘[leaui  paas  no;jo3 

®q[  0001 

1 IC  O O O O lO  o o o 
•srrtif)  ! o o r-i  -r;  ct;  co 

“ 1 O lO  ^ o cr^  — , rr  <?; 

; o o 

• -I  T.T  o 00  o o cc  o Tt<  oi 

•xai^  1 — iO^'5r;40ooocJoo 

•aiiai^j^  sq[  ppg 

[Ham  ; paa3U()4)03 

sqi  0001 

1 1 o o o 9 "'1 

1 • Q T r n r\  O CO  CO  O O O 

1 22  2 

•.Tan 

1 lO  lO  lO  O O O O lO  UO 
in  'xJ  CO  CO  t2  c-j  CO  i>I  00 
00  -r'  CC  O O — 1 O CO 

1 (0»C'X'^''''T''^CO'^CO''IT' 

1 

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’®1U^0  lO  cc  cr;  — (■  00  CO  o o 

^I^GOiOOOCi^l-Orf 

s 

G7 

144.5 

200  5 

184.5 

154.5 

160.5 

336.0 

264  5 

143.0 

•a;iuiG;^j 

'002 

•S]in3 

O lO  O O O O O LQ 

CO  oo  co’  00  - CO  t2  co'  oi 
oocc  mi.ox^>— ccooco 

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liooo'omoooo 
d CO  CO  t2  od  1—'  c4 12 

OO^X-nt'^^  — -.O  — 

•a:jBqdsoqd  piay 

sqi  002 

•sui'O 

»n  o o o o lO  m o o 
00  cd  d d co"  d d ox  d 
o -nr  CO  00  00  O',  o-'  o 

MaK 

' lO  o o o o o o o o 

1 d 00  oJ  d ox  d — ' i'-'  o 

1 

•[uam  paas  no;;o3 

sqi  000 [ 

O O lO  O O lO  o o 
Cl  — i oc"  '3' d d d co'  — ‘ 

OOOOXir^OiOCOCiO 

••19  W 

Ci  O O O O O lO  o 

d d d d ox  d d oo' 

tOOXOX  — i-i-TOXOX— 1 

— 1 — 1 — ' ox  ox  ox  — 1 ox 

428 


After  a cursory  ^i^lance  at  this  table  it  would  appear  that 
neither  cotton  sf^ed  meal,  acid  i)hosphate  nor  kaiiiite  alone  hava 
done  any  good,  as  in  nearly  every  instan(*e  the  yield  of  the 
^•nothing”  plat  is  e(pial  to  or  in  some  instances  exc^ds  the  yield 
of  these  respective  fertilizers.  This  is  exx>lained,  however,  by 
the  fact  that  that  portion  of  the  plat  was  not'iii  as  hne  a condi- 
tion as  the  rest.  In  the  ciivse  of  kainite,  a x)oor  stand  may  also 
in  part  account  for  this.  This  only  servos  to  emx^^hasize  what 
has  heretofore  been  said  i.  e. : That  unless  x)otash  fertilizers  are 
thoroughlj^  mixcMi  with  the  soil  tluw  will  d(\stroy  the  staiub 
Desi)ite  the  pains  that  was  taken  to  thoroughly  mix  the  kainite 
with  the  soil  some  of  it  evidently  came  in  contact  with  the 
X)obato  and  destroyed  it.  Now  by  a closer  study  of  this  ijlat,  it 
will  l>e  seen  that  the  yield  is  largely  increased  from  ^biothing'* 
out,  and  this  when  the  soil  was  of  about  equal  quality.  With 
five  out  of  the  nine  varieties,  the  combination  of  1000  pounds  of 
c )tton  seed  meal,  500  pounds  of  acid  phosphate  and  500  pounds 
of  kainite  gave  the  best  yidd.  The  meal  and  a6id  phosphate 
predominates  in  two  instances,  as  does  also  meal  and  kainite. 

In  five  cases  the  meal  and  kainite  gives  a larger  yield  than 
meal  and  acid  phosphate,  desx)ite  the  fact  that  the  stand  of  the 
former  was  inferior.  This  would  seem  Co  indicate  that  x)otash 
is  of  some  benefit.  It  is  well  to  say  just  here  that  this  is  the 
first  time  in  this  station’s  exx)erience  that  this  has  been  the  case. 

There  seems  to  be  nothing  to  indicate  that  varieties  are 
intlueiuel  by  different  fertilizers. 


PH  YSIOLOGICAL  EXPERIMENTS. 

In  order  to  test  the  question  as  to  which  is  the  best  form  in 
which  to  i^lant  the  potato — whole  or  cut, — and  what  influence 
the  size  of  seed  has  upon  the  yield,  the  following  experiments 
were  made  : 

The  largest  potatoes  of  the  seven  different  varieties  were 
carefully  selected.  These  in  their  turn  were  assorted  into  three 
lotsi.  e. : Those  weighing  over  7 ounces,  those  between  5 and 
7,  and  those  between  3 and  5.  Other  potatoes  of  each  lot  were 


429 


divided  in  halves,  others  into  four  pieces,  others  were  cut  to 
pieces  containing  two  eyes,  and,  lastly,  one  eye. 

Each  lot  was  carefully  planted  under  as  near  like  conditions 
as  possible,  on  well  prepared  land.  The  whole  potatoes  were 
placed  one  foot  a part,  while  the  cuts  were  ten  inches.  All  were 
carefully  covered  with  a hoe  and  received  the  same  after  cultiva- 
tion. The  largest  whole  potato  was  the  first  to  germinate,  the 
next  in  size  next,  and  so  on  down,  until  it  reached  the  one  eye 
cut,  the  last  to  germinate.  This  difierence  was  maintained 
during  the  period  of  growth.  The  vigorous  growth  of  the  whole 
potato  was  in  marked  contrast  to  the  sickly  struggle  for  exist- 
ance  of  the  one  and  two  eye  cuts.  In  the  case  of  the  whole  potato 
and  also  the  halves  and  quarters  when  they  were  dug  tubers  in 
a more  or  less  state  of  development  were  found  on  each  vine. 
It  is  very  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  severe  drought  came  on 
just  when  these  experiments  needed  rain  most,  and  hence  the 
difference  in  the  yields  is  not  as  great  as  it  would  otherwise  have 
been.  A seasonable  rain  would  very  materially  have  reduced 
the  number  of  culls  and  increased  the  merchantable  in  the  large 
potatoes.  It  is  true  that  the  chances  were  equal,  but  in  case  of 
the  large  potato  there  were  so  many  small  ones,  evidently  stunted 
by  the  drought.  While  the  increase  of  the  large  over  the  cut 
potatoes  in  this  instance  is  not  sufficient  to  make  their  planting 
economical,  yet  had  the  season  been  more  favorable  the  results 
would  have  been  different.  It  must  also  be  remembered  that  in 
planting  the  potato  whole,  they  should  be  placed  at  least  12 
inches  apart,  thus  not  requiring  as  many  hills  as  in  the  case  of 
cuts.  Below  is  a table  of  results  : 

PHYSIOLOGICAL  EXPERIMENTS  IN  POTATOES. 

BUSHELS  PER  ACRE. 


V ariety . 

1 

Potato  over  1 
7 ozs 

1 

Potato  over  5 
& under  7 ozs 

1 

a: 

SI 

^ 0 
<1^10 

c s 
o% 

2 

Half  potato 

quarter 

potato 

Two  eyes 

One  eye  j 

Ripe 

a! 

S 

6 

S 

CO  r 

6 

1 S 

1 g 

73 

6 

o 

X 

9 

tj 

S 

72 

5 

U 

o; 

X 

6 

S 

§ 

X 

6 

Thorbuni  — 
Kural  ;Blush 
Beauty  of 

Hebron 

Peerless 

Jj:arly  Rose 
j^xta  Early 
VermonL_ 
Bur  b a n k ’s 
Seedling.-- 

136.6 

195.7 

102,7 

78.2 

i2;i,5 

190,1 

- • 

108.8[ 

56,8 

* 77.6 
79.4 

81.1 

61.1 

11.7 

116.9 

67.1 

57.9 

27.0 

105.2 

57,9 

12.7 

17.7 

126.5 

51.8 

a5.o 

115.2 

17.2 

508 

7.6 

May  20 
June  10 
June  10 
May  20 
May  20 
May  15 

160.7 

111.8 
108.7 

111.5 

145.1 

106.0 

116.5 

111.8 

70.0 

61.8 

87,1 

128.9 

110.1 

97.1 

86.2 

57.8 

87.1 

86.2 

71.6 
116.5 

71.6 

80.8 

51.9 

i:i5.7 

91.5 

99.1 

76.2 

61.0 

32.0 

56.1 

8oA 

76.2 

29.9 

42.7 

82.0 

82.0 

17.2 

61.0 

82.0 

89.6 
18.8 

12.7 

66.6 

151,9 

100.5 

116.5 

72.1 

91.8 

42.7 

111.8 

96.0 

76.2 

108.7 

18.8 

35.0 

27.1 

May  20 

184.1 

109,8 

118.7 

168,1 

.51.1 

183.8 

86.9 

80.1 

81.6 

79.3 

62.5 

79.3 

59.1 

289. 

June  10 

430 


As  a deduction  from  this  year’s  result  with  potatoes,  the 
following  conclusions  we  think  are  correct  ; 

1st.  That  of  the  vast  number  of  varieties  now  on  the  market, 
:fhe  only  way  to  determine  the  best  for  a certain  soil  and  climate 
is  by  actual  test.  The  potatoes  described  under  varieties  seem 
.to  be  the  best  here. 

2nd.  That  a combination  of  two  parts  cotton  seed  meal,  one 
^f  acid  phosphate  and  one  of  kainite  seems  to  be  a good  commer- 
cial fertilizer  for  potatoes.  v 

3rd.  While  these  results  of  themselves  do  not  guarantee  it, 
jet,  when  taken  in  connection  with  results  of  other  stations,  it 
;:seems  that  large  potatoes  planted  whole  give  the  best  results. 


STRAWBEREIES. 

Last  fall  the  strawberries  w^ere  all  transferred  to  a new  bed. 
In  the  hopes  of  getting  rid  of  cocoa.  This  was  only  partially 
successful,  but  this  spring  a very  fair  test  crop  of  fruit  was 

obtained. 

The  following  table  gives  names  of  varieties,  with  approxi- 
mate time  of  ripening  and  length  of  fruiting. 


NAME. 

W'lieu  Ripe 

Ceased  bearing 

Per  cent,  living 

Sept.  1. 

Gold-  _ _ - 

April  2 

April  15 

80 

Pioneer 

March  25 

May  15 

75 

Mammoth 

April  6 

April  20 

80 

Chas.  Downing 

April  2 

May  15 

85 

HamiDden  _ 

April  20 

May  10 

80 

Mt.  Vernon-  _ _ _- 

April  20 

May  10 

75 

.Summit  _ _ 

April  25 

May  10 

20 

Bubach  _ _ 

April  10 

May  12 

lOO 

Jas.  Vick  -_  

April  14 

May  5 

75 

Sharpless  _ __  __ 

April  2 

May  20 

70 

Crescent  Seedling 

March  25 

May  5 

100 

Ttasca  - _- 

April  15 

May  1 

75 

Manchester 

April  10 

May  15 

80 

Jucunda-  _ . _ 

April  15 

May  10 

65 

Parry  _ _ _ 

April  10 

May  20 

35 

Cohazuic  - - _ _ 

April  5 

May  5 

20 

Caiidia  __  

April  20 

May  11 

70 

431 


NAME. 

When  Ripe, 

. Creased  bearing. 

Per  cent  living. 
Sept.  1 

Indiana 

April  5 

May  20 

1 100 

Triumph  De  Gaud  _ 

April  1 

May  10 

35 

Cumberland 

Ajiril  10 

May  20 

I SO 

Crimson  Cluster 

April  .5 

May  30 

1 45 

Norman 

April  5 

May  30 

i 85 

Cornelia  . 

April  10 

May  15 

80 

Ontario 

April  1 

May  15 

50 

Coville 

April  10 

May  15 

85 

Henderson  ..  .. 

Aj)ril  10 

Maj^  20 

35 

Kentucky  - . 

Axu'il  11 

May  30 

100 

Ohio 

Ax)ril  11 

May  30 

100 

Lida  --  -- 

April  2 

May  1 

40 

Mammoth 

April  1 

May  5 

55 

Jessie  - . _ 

Axull  11 

May  5 

100 

Haverland 

April  11 

May  20  • 

85 

Photo 

April  11 

May  5 

75 

Monmouth 

April  1 

May  5 

85 

Gandy  _ ...  . _ 

April  111 

May  20 

85 

Farnsworth 

April  1 I 

May  10 

05 

Enhance  .. 

April  10 

May  10 

100 

Excelsior 

Ax>ril  15! 

May  25 

100 

May  King 

April  1 

May  20 

95. 

Eelmont 

Axuil  15 

May  30 

100 

Haverland’ s Seedling. 

April  10 

May  25 

75 

Great  American 

April  10 

May  30 

65 

\^h^field’s  No.  2 ‘ 

April  5 

May  5 

75 

Wilson 

April  11 

May  5 

85 

Hi  dwell  - 

Axull  15 

May  15 

85 

Capt.  Jack. 

Aoril  11 

May  5 

65 

Jewell 

April  12 

May  10 

20 

KEMAKKS. 

Since  the  Iruitiiig  season  these  plants  have  been  put  to?' 
ciuite  a severe  test  as  to  their  ability  to  stand  this  climate^ 
From  the  latter  x^art  of  April  until  about  same  date  in  June  they 
were  subjected  to  a severe  drought.  From  that  time  up  to  this, 
Sept.  1,  there  has  been  a very  heavy  rainfall,  accompanied  by- 
warm  weather. 

The  following  is  a description  of  the  best  varieties  : 

Pioneer— This  we  consider  one  of  the  best.  It  is  a large  leafed! 
berry,  growing  very  large.  Leaves  dark  green.  Its  fruiting  seasom 
is  as  long  as  any  other  and  it  is  constantly  loaded  with  large  conical 


Iberries  of  fine  flavor.  The  Truit  stems  being  long  and  growing 
•erect,  the  fruit  is  thus  kept  well  off  the  ground. 

Chas.  Downing — An  excellent  berry.  Foliage  resembling 
preceding,  but  not  so  heavy  or  so  dark.  Fruit  somewhat  smaller 
and  not  as  abundant  as  Pioneer,  but  of  excellent  flavor. 

Shaepless — This  gave  promise  in  the  early  season  of  the 
largest  bearer,  being  crowded  with  green  fruit.  Just  before 
reaching  maturity,  however,  large  quantities  of  fruit  dropped 
off.  What  did  mature]was  rather  small.  Neither  has  it  stood 
the  summer  as  well  as  some  others. 

4 

Crescent  Seedling — The  earliest  berry  of  the  lot.  It  is 
of  only  moderate  size,  and  a rather  poor  bearer,  but  its  earliness 
iserves  to  make  up  for  this.  It  is  of  excellent  flavor. 

Parry — A splendid  berry.  Fruit  very  large  and  excellent 
flavor,  long,  conical,  bright,  red  berry.  A very  good  bearer, 
but  has  not  stood  summer  well. 

Triumph  De  Gand — A very  fine,  large  berry,  but  open  to 
the  same  objections  as  above. 

Ontario — Good  bearer,  of  large  but  very  irregular  fruit. 

OHio----Vigorous  grower.  Bears  a good  crop  late  into  the 
^season.  Fruit  large,  roundish,  bright  and  red,  of  uniform  size 
and  shape,  but  most  too  sour  to  be  called  good. 

LiDA---Eather  week  vines,  but  an  abundant  bearer  of  long, 
cconical,  cherry-red  berries.  Stands  summer  poorly. 

PHOTO----Vines  vigorous.  Bears  a good  crop  of  round 
berriei^. 

Gonda^----A  good  grower  and  healthy.  Fruit  of  good  size, 
bright  color  and  fine  form.  Only  moderately  productive. 

May  KiNG---Only  a little  later  than  Crescent.  A moderate 
bearer.  Fruit  a beautiful  shape  and  of  a light,  red  color.  A 
fine  berry. 

While  these  are  the  best,  yet  all  are  good,  and  space  alone 
prevents  our  giving  a full  description  of  all. 

BASPBERKIES. 

The  following  varieties  of  this  fruit  were  grown  on  the  station 
ifehis  year: 


433 


Thompson’s  Early  Prolific,  Thompson’s  Early  Pride,  Shaffer„. 
Soiihegen,  Gregg. 

Of  these  Thompson’s  Early  Pride,  Soiihegen  and  Gregg, 
fruited  this  spring.  The  two  former  were  very  inferior,  both  in 
quantity  and  quality  of  fruit,  while  the  latter  was  pronounced  to^ 
be  excellent.  The  fruit  was  not  only  large  but  very  abundant- 
One  variety  of  blackberries,  Wilson’s  Early,  also  did  exeeP 
len^ly. 


OECHAKD. 


The  following,  although  only  one  year  in  the  orchard,  fruited 
this  year: 


PEACHES. 


Alexander — Matured  two  large,  juicy  peaches  of  fine 
fiavor  and  bright,  red  color.  Fruit  ripe  June  15. 

BEATRICE----Matured  three  peaches  about  the  same  as  above. 
Fruit  similar  to  Alexander,  but  not  quite  so  large. 

General  Lee:- -A  very  nice  peach.  Quite  large  and  juicy^ 
but  w^ormy.  Pipe  July  18. 

Chinese  Cling---- Very  large,  white  juicy  peach.  Pipe 
July  18. 


PLUMS. 


Prunes  PissARDi----Thi3  beautilul  tree  has  grown  wonder- 
fully and  matured  some  little  fruit  by  June  5.  While  of  nob 
much  value  for  eating,  the  fruit  is  said  to  be  excellent  for  cooking.  . 

Wild  Goose---- A moderate  crop  of  large,  oval,  bright,  red 
plums  of  excellent  flavor.  Matured  June  12. 

Botan’s^  JAPAN----This  tree  bore  a tremendous  crop  of  it& 
excellent  fruit.  The  fruit  is  about  the  size  of  a guinea  egg  of  a 
dark,  red  color,  small  seeded  and  fleshj^,  of  flavor  somewhat  a 
cross  between  apricot  and  peach. 

Kelsey’s  Japan-— The  tree  could  hardly  support  this  crop. 
The  fruit,  however^  about  the  size  ana  shape  of  a large  hen  egg, 
was  rendered  worthless  by  the  curculio.  It  is  a little  later  than 
Botan. 

PoBiNSON----This  is  an  excellent  little  plum.  While  the  ‘ 


434 


fruit  was  not  large,  it  w^is  quite  abundant,  and  commenced 
ripening  latter  part  of  May  and  continued  until  July. 

Newman’s- ---A  good  plum,  and  larger  than  Eobinson,  bn':}, 
not  so  prolific. 


SMALL  GEAIN. 

Below  we  give  a table  showing  treatment  of  soil  for  and 
yield  of  oats  planted  in  Nov.  1888  ; each  experiment  covered 


one  acre. 


No.  ol 
plat 

Previous  treatment  of  soil 

flow  fertilized 

[yield  sheat 
oats  lbs 

per  cent 
grain 

Bushel 

grain 

1 

In  encilage  corn,  snimner 

300  lbs  cotton  seed 

2 

of  1888,  fertilized  with 
150  lbs  cotton  seed  meal. 
150  lbs  ncid  phosphate, 
Ensilnge  coru  1888,  unfer- 

meal, 150  lbs  acid 
phosphate.  ^ 

1 4306 

j 

1 

4 

tilized. 

Peas  ill  1888,  peas  turned 

Nothing.  1 

300  lbs  cotton  seed 

8050 

i20.6 

73.9 

under, 

iPeas  in  1888,  peas  turned 

meal,  150  lbs  acid 
phosphate. 

7060 

26.8 

59.1 

5 

1 under. 

iPeas  in  1888,  peas  saved 

Nothing 

7315 

29.2 

66.7 

i for  hay. 

'^Samijle  lost  in  burning  of  1 

Nothing 

3a  rn. 

8468 

28.6 

78.3 

The  effects  of  drainage  were  never  more  plainlj^  illustrated 


than  in  the  above  results.  No.  1 was  lost  in  barn,  but  judging 
from  the  light  tonnage  obtained,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  its  yield  of 
grain  would  have  fallen  far  below  the  others.  No.  1 was  treated 
exactly  similar  to  No.  2,  and  in  addition  had  a heavy  fertilizer. 
No.  2 was  on  a gentle  incline,  however,  and  hence, , was  much 
better  drained  than  its  neighbor  on  top  of  the  hill. 

This  was  again  the  case  with  plats  3 a ad  4,  while  plat  No.  5, 
although  robbed  of  its  peas,  gave  the  largest  yield  of  any,  and 
from  its  position  was  the  best  drained. 

Two  other  varieties  of  oats.  White  Eussian  and  Centennial, 
were  also  planted.  Of  these,  the  Centennial  rusted  so  badly 
that  it  was  not  worth  harvesting.  The  White  Eussian  gave  i^er 
acre  in  straw  926.1,  pounds,  grain  18.3  bushels.  It  also  was  badly 
rusted. 

Two  varieties  of  barley  i.  e. : Hulless  and  Champion  two 
rowed,  had  been  harvested  and  stored  in  barn  for  future  trash- 


435 


ing,  but  met  with  the  same  fate  as  that  building.  They  both 
promised  well,  particularly  the  latter-  The  former  was  not  so 
good,  having  suffered  from  rust. 

The  wheats  all  suffered  more  orless  from  the  pest,  some 
almost  to  the  extent  of  total  failure.  The  following  are  th  0 
results  w ith  time  of  harvest : 


Wheats  I 
Yield  per  acre  I 


NAME 

! 1 
Straw  lbs  i 

1 

1 ! 

j Grain  bushel  1 

1 i 

Harvested 

1 

g 

Michigan  Bronze 

8820 

19.9 

May  15 

Rusted 

Saskatchawan 

33f4 

12.6 

May  11 

Badly  rusted 

Martin’s  Amber 

W^hite  Clawson 

3528 

3740 

3.4 

May  10 

Badly  rusted 
Failed  utterly 
Rusted  badly 

Saskatch  awan 

4410 

2.2 

May  28 

It  is  quite  plain  from  the  last  two  years  result  that  only  rust 
proof  varieties  of  small  grain  will  succeed  in  this  climate. 


GRASSES. 

On  November  2,  1888,  the  following  grasses  and  clovers  w^ere 
sow  n on  w^ell  prepared  land  : 

Crimson  clover.  White  clover.  Red  clover,  Bakhara  clover, 
Alsike  clover.  Alfalfa^  Timothy,  Red  Top,  Kentucky  blue 
grass,  Randal,  Soft  Bronie,  Rescue,  Perenuiak  Ry e,  Italian  Rye, 
Tall  Fescue,  Tall  Oat . 

Of  these  the  Bakara  clover.  Alfalfa  and  Kentucky  Blue 
were  a failure.  A later  planting  of  the  later,  however,  after  a 
long  struggle,  is  now^  doing  as  well  as  could  be  desired. 
Although  w e made  several  sowings  of  Rescue,  not  a seed  could 
be  induced  to  germinate.  The  Crimson,  Reed  and  Alsyke 
clovers  did  splendidly,  the  two  latter  giving  two  good  cuttings 
before  succumbing  to  the  combined  enemies,  sun  and  native 
grasses.  While  the  grasses,  with  the  few  exceptions  above,  all 
did  w^ell  5 the  two  ryes  Italian  and  English  surpassed  them  all. 
They  were  sown  in  November,  and  by  Januaiy  15  the  former 
was  tw  o feet  high,  and  would  have  given  a fine  cutting.  The 
latter,  wdiile  from  its  nature,  not  growing  so  high,  yet  at  that 


436 


time  would  have  afforded  as  fine  a p^isture  as  the  dairyman  or 
stock-raiser  could  wish. 

VEGETABLES. 

Early  in  February  the  half  acre  garden  of  this  station  was 
thorou  hly  prepared  for  vegetables.  A heavy  dressing  of  a 
compost  composed  of  equal  parts  of  cotton  seed  and  stable 
manure  was  spread  G:]UaL;/  over  the  whole  garden.  This  was 
then  tiiincd  ir.alcr  "'ith  a two-horse  plow.  SubseqTioiit  crOvSS 
jilowings  and  harrowings  incorporated  the  fertilizer  Ihorouglily 
with  the  soil.  Seeds  used  were  obtaineil  from  Eichard  Frotscher, 
of  Xew  Orleans.  Owing  to  the  severe  spring  drought,  lasting 
for  eight  weeks,  the  whole  planting,  consisting  of  five  varieties 
of  lettuce,  five  of  radish,  eight  of  beets,  fourteen  of  onions,  six  of 
peas,  ten  of  beans,  three  of  okra  and  three  of  sugar  corn,  was 
almost  a total  failure.  So  much  was  this  the  case  that  we  do  not 
feel  warranted  in  passing  an  opinion  upon  the  merits  of  any. 
The  only  exception  to  this  rule  is  the  okra.  Of  the  three 
varieties  planted,  i.  e. : Tall  Growing,  Dwarf  White  and  INTew 
Velvet,  the  latter  did  much  the  best.  I^ot  only  is  it  more  tender 
than  the  others,  but  is  also  much  more  prolific.  It  is  a dwarf 
variety,  round,  smooth  pods,  free  from  ridges  and  seams,  and 
not  prickly  to  the  touch. 

LIVE  STOCK. 

This  consists  of  a trio  of  Jersey  and  of  Holstein  cattle, 
together  with  twelve  breeds  of  poultry.  There  is  scarcely  any- 
thing to  add  concerning  the  Holstein  to  what  has  already  been 
published. 

Since  writing  the  above,_  the  Holstein  cow  dropped  a bull 
calf.  Unfortunately  the  calf  was  dead.  After  some  little 
trouble,  during  which  invaluable  services  were  rendered  by  Dr. 
W.  H.  Dalrymple,  veterinary  surgeon  of  the  station  the  cow'  is 
now'  doing  excellently.  She  now  gives  from  five  and  a half  to 
six  gallons  of  milk  per  day.  This  milk  is  of  far  better  quality 
tlian  with  her  former  calf.  Butter  tests  are  now  in  progress  and 
will  be  given  to  the  public  as  soon  as  possible. 

On  Feb -nary  27,  the  Jersey  cow  dropped  a beauti- 


437 


ful  heifer  calf.  As  soon  as  the  milk  become  fit  for  use  it  was 
carefully  weighed  after  each  milking  and  every  drop  devoted  to 
butter-making.  A small  Blanchard  churn  is  used.  From  then 
up  to  the  present  date^  Oct.  21,  this  cow  has  given  in  all  3368 
pounds  of  milk.  From  this  there  has  been  obtained  179  pounds 
butter,  or  an  average  of  one  pound  of  butter  to  18.8  pounds  of 
milk.  This  at  an  average  cost  of  twelve  cents  a day. 


POULTRY. 

On  February  27,  eight  poultry  yards  were  stocked. 

The  following  table  gives  the  number  of  eggs  laid  by  each 
hen  from  April  15  up  to  July  15  : 


KAME  OF  Breed. 


White  Crested  Black  Polish*. 

Brown  Leghorn 

Light  Brahma 

Bnfl‘  C ochin 

W h ite  W yandott 

Laced  Wyandott 

Barred  Ply  moth  Rock 

Vv^hite  Plymoth  Rock 


Langshan  * 

Black  Minorca- - 
White  Minorca 

^^Oiie  ben  was  sick  and  scarcely  laid  during  whole  time 
second  month. 


bc=t 

bJ)V 

a, 


37 

38 
45 
41 
31 

9 

20 
2 
7 
24 
51 

Hen  died 


,4 

A 

.5 

.4 

'.54 

.1 

.22 

.02 

t07 

.26 

,56 

after 


COTTON. 

O^dng  to  the  destruction  of  this  crop  by  storm  last  year  and 
the  consequent  loss  of  results  all  experiments,  in  fertiltzing  were 
duplicated  this  season. 

Dame  Nature,  in  a mood  of  pity  for  the  poor  cotton  farmer, 
curbed  the  rainy  god  early  in  February,  and  for  most  of  the 


438 


^^•ear  resisted  not  only  his  prayers  but  also  the  supplications  of 
many  an  unhappy  sugar  ]3lanter,  and  only  for  a biief  period  in 
.July  was  there  too  much  rain.  Then,  confining  Boreas  with 
'double  bars  within  his  ocean  cave,  stationed  herself  at  the  differ- 
ent gins  of  this  community  and  welcomed  the  happy  farmer. 
'The  season  in  this  locality  has  been  exceptionally  fine,  as  one 
could  readily  see  by  comparing  the  following  tables  of  yields 
with  like  ones  published  last  year. 

These  .experiments  occupied  the  same  plats  as  their  dujili- 
oates  of  last  year,  and  the  seed,  Brannon,”  was  also  the  same* 


Plat  12 — Cotton — ^^'itrogeneous  Fertilizers. 
Question  asked  : Does  this  soil  need  nitrogen  ? How  much 
:and  in  what  form  ? 


FERTILIZATION  AND  YIELD  PER  ACRE, 


JSo.  of 
Exp. 

How  Fertilized 

Cotton 

Seed 

Lint. 

1 

Mixed  Minerals,'*^  79.8  lbs  Nitrate  Soda 

2912 

970.6 

2 

Mixed  Minerals,  159  6 lbs  Nitrate  Soda 

3276 

1092.0 

3 

Mixcii  Minerals,  53.2  lbs  Sulphate  Aiunionia 

3234 

1078.0 

4 

Mixed  Minerals,  106.4  lbs  Sulphate  Auiinouia 

3066 

1022.0 

5 

Mixe<i  AUnerals 

3168 

1056.0 

6 

Nothinji 

2296 

798.6 

7 

.■■8 

Mixed  Minerals.  112  lbs  Dried  Hlood 

3168 

1056.0 

Mixed  Minerals,  224  lbs  Dried  Blood 

2758 

919.3 

IMixed  Minerals,  140  lbs  Fish  Scrap 

2982 

3024 

994.0 

10 

Mixed  Minerals,  280  lbs  Fisli  Seriips 

1008.0 

1] 

Mixed  Miiiei'als 

3010 

1003.3 

12 

13 

Notbinp' 

2436 

812.0 

Mixed  Minerals,  168  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

2884 

961.3 

14 

Mixed  Minerals,  336  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

2800 

933.3 

15 

Mixed  Minei’als,  504  Cotton  Seed 

2688 

896.0 

16 

]\lixe(l  Minerals,  1008  lbs  Cotton  Seed 

2884 

894.6 

17 

Nixed  Miuerals 

2912 

970  6 

18 

Nothin  or 

1744 

581.3 

■^Mixed  Miuerals:  280  lbs  Acid  Phosphoric,  347,2  Kaiuite. 


Flat  13 — Cotton.  Phospiiatic  Fertilizer. 
Questions  asked  : “Does  this  soil  need  Phosphoric  Acid  ? If 
'SO  how  much  and  in  what  form  f ’ 


439 


FERTILIZATION  AND  YIELD  PER  ACRE. 


No.of 

Exp. 

How  Fertilized. 

Cotton 

Seed 

Lint 

Remarks- 

1 

Basal  yixture,*^  280  lbs  Dissolved  Bono 

lbs. 

2684 

11)8. 

894.6 

2 

Basal  .Mixture,  560  lbs  Dissolved  Bone 

2828 

942.6 

3 

Basal  Mixture,  280  lbs  Acid  Pliosjihate 

3010 

1003.3 

4 

Basal  Mixture,  560  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

2338 

779.3 

5 

Basal  Mixture 

2660 

886.6 

(i 

Nothin" 

2072 

690.6 

7 

Basal  Mixture,  280  lbs  Revolted  Dissolved  Bone 

2712 

904.0 

8 

Basal  Mixture,  560  lbs  “ “ “ 

2296 

765.3 

Dis.  Bone- 

9 

Basal  Mixture,  280  lbs  “ Acid  Phosphate 

2520 

840.0 

. received  too- 

10 

Basal  IMixturc*,,  560  lbs  “ ‘ “ 

2464 

821  .3 

late  to  apply" 

1 

11 

Basal  Mixture 

2212 

770.6 

12 

Nothin" 

1890 

630.0 

13 

Basal  Mixture,  280  lbs  Bone  Meal 

2352 

784.0 

14 

Basal  Mi.xture.  560  lbs  Bone  Meal 

2268 

756.0 

1.5 

Basal  Mixture.  140  lbs  Gvpsuni 

2702 

900.6 

IG 

Basal  Mixture,  280  lbs  G^’iisuni 

2.578 

892.6 

17 

Basal  jMixture 

2254 

751.3 

18 

Nothing 

1696 

565.0 

^Jlasal  Mixture  : :230  lbs  Cuttou  Seed  Meal,  347  Kamite. 


Plat  14 — Cotton.  Potassic  Fertilizers. 

Question  : ^‘Does  this  soil  need  Potasli?  How  nmcli  and  in:, 
what  formf  ’ 

FERTILIZATION  AND  YIELD  PER  ACRE. 


No.  of 
Exp. 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 


How  Fertilized 

Cotton 

Seed 

Lint 

Remarks 

Meal  Phosphate,*'  168  Ihs  Ivn.inite 

lbs 

2702 

lbs. 

900.6 

Meal  Phosphate,  336  lbs  Ka.iiiite 

2226 

742.0 

Meal  Phos]iha,te,  42  lbs  Mniaate  Pt>tash 

2870 

990.0 

M<‘a,l  Phosphate,  S-l  lbs  Miiria.te  Pota.sli 

2660 

886.6 

Meal  Phosphate 

2072 

690.6 

Nothing 

2072 

690.6 

Meal  Phospha.te,  42  lbs  .Sulphate  Potash 

2296 

798.6 

Meal  Phosph  , 84  Ihs  .Siilpha.te  Potsi.sh 

2548 

849.3 

t 196  lbs  C.  S.  Meal,  280  lbs  Acid  Phosphate,  / 

f 49  lbs  Nitrate  Potash ^ 

^ 84  lbs  C.  S.  Meal,  280  lbs  of  Acid  Phosphate,  / 

f 98  lbs  of  Nitrate  Potash S 

jMeal  Phosphate 

2632 

2870 

2170 

877.3 

956.6 

723.3 

1 Nothin" 

1562 

.520.3 

*Meal  Phosphate  : 280  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  280  lbs  Acid  Phosphate. 


The  questions  asked  were  : 

First.  What  element  or  elements  of  plant  food  does  this, 
soil  need  f’ 


440 


Second.  ^^In  what  forms  and  quantities  is  this  deficiency 
best  supplied  f’ 

Nature  is  niggardly  with  her  secrets,  and  in  this  instance, 
despite  our  efforts  to  rend  them  from  her,  has  only  j^artially 
yielded.  Indeed,  in  most  of  these  experiments,  so  small  is  the 
increase  of  the  fertilized  over  the  ^hiothing’’  jdats,  that  it  be- 
comes exceedingly  difficult  to  draw  any  reliable  conclnsions. 

Nitrogen  seems  to  yield  the  best  return,  for  in  plat  12- 
experiment  No.  2,  we  have  the  large  yield  of  3276  xionnds,  an  in- 
crease of  246  pounds  over  the  average  of  5,  11  and  17,  where  no 
nitrogen  Avas  sujAplied,  and  OA^er  a thousand  x^ounds  increase 
over  the  average  of  the  three  ^biothing’’  exx^eriments. 
In  exx^eriments.  No.  3,  the  increase  is  scarcely  less 
marked,  while  in  No.  4,  where  double  the  quantity  of  sulxAliate 
of  ammonia  is  used,  there  is  actually  a smaller  yield  than  Avhere 
no  nitrogen  is  supplied.  This  also  must  be  due  to  foreign  causes. 
Now  turning  to  x^lat  13  we  find  here  an  increase,  seemingly  due 
to  the  use  of  phosphoric  acid.  Experiment  No.  3 giA^es  the 
largest  yield,  but  all  the  yields,  are  so  close  that  positive  con- 
clusions are  almost  impossible.  It  will  be  noticed  that  experi- 
ments 1 to  6 and  9 to  12  are  dux^licates,  the  only  difference  being 
that  in  the  latter  the  x^hosphoric  acid  is  in  the  “reverted,’’  while 
in  the  former  it^is  in  the  soluble  form,  These  results  would  seem 
to  contradict  those  of  last  year  i.  e,,  that  reverted  phosphoric 
acid  is  of  very  little  benefit; ; but  when  we  bear  in  mind  that  it 
was  on  this  same  land  that  these  experiments  were  conducted, 
we  readily  account  for  this  seeming  contradiction.  The  acids  of 
the  earth  have  evidently  acted  upon  the  reverted  of  last  year, 
rendering  it  soluble,  and  hence  the  x^lants  were  benefitted  by  the 
ax^x^lication  made  last  year,  and  which  was  a total  loss  to  last 
year’s  crop.  In  x^lat  14  there  seems  to  be  almost  an  unmistakable 
indication  of  benefit  from  potash.  As  this  is  the  first  time  in 
this  station’s  exx^erience  that  this  has  appeared,  A/e  hesitate, 
hoAA'ever,  to  admit  this  without  more  extended  researeh. 

In  the  aboA^e  conclusions  it  is  well  to  remember  that  the  differ- 
ences from  Avhich  they  are  drawn  are  very  slight  such  as  might 


441 


be  due  to  entirely  foreign  causes,  some  of  which  are  slight  differ- 
ences in  stand,  small  differences  in  the  fertility  of  the  soil  itself? 
«tc.  With  such  small  differences  it  will  require  years  of  patien^ 
doil  before  any  positive  conclusions  can  be  drawn. 


COEN. 

The  following  is  a tabulated  statement  of  yield  of  varieties 
of  this  crop. 

Yield  of  varieties  of  corn  per  acre.  Object  of  experiment. 
‘To  determine  variety  best  suited  to  this  soil  and  climate. 


Name  of  Variety. 

Total 

lbs 

per  cent, 
cob 

per  cent, 
shuck 

per  cent, 
grain 

bushe 

grain 

fprunn 

1419 

12.4 

11.29 

76.31 

19.3 

Mosby 

2277 

5.18 

13.79 

81.03 

32.7 

Blount 

2475 

12.5 

9.44 

78.6 

34.0 

Alabam  a 

2178 

11.11 

7.52 

81.37 

31.6 

McQuade 

1287 

15.03 

8.62 

76.35 

20.9 

‘WViitf'  

1782 

2838 

'White  Mexican 

6.12 

7.22 

86.66 

43.8 

Prolific 

3300 

15.62 

9.37 

75.01 

44.2 

New  Madrid 

2194 

14.92 

8.95 

76.13 

29.5 

Rp,(l  Cob  CronrH  Sppfl 

31 18 

13.75 

6.02 

80  23 

44.6 

C h fi.m  pi  on 

1072 

12.24 

8.12 

79.64 

15  3 

New  Hic'kory  King 

2046 

9.43 

13.2 

77.37 

28.2 

Mexican  Flint 

2706 

16.07 

12.5 

72.43 

29.8 

Wpstpro  VpIIow 

2310 

1765 

14.0 

10.0 

76.00 

23.7 

Mexican  and  Creole,  mixed 

12.12 

12.12 

75.76 

23.8 

Yellow  Flint 

2607 

15,28 

20.00 

10.76 

73.96 

34.4 

Yellow  Grolden 

2013 

16.36 

63.64 

22.9 

Mixture  of  Red  Cob  and  Mosbv 

2953 

12.5 

14  6 

73.91 

38.9 

The  severe  drought  beginning  in  the  early,  part  of  April 
und  not  ending  until  well  into  July,  injured  this  crop  very 
.severely.  The  Prolific  goes  far  ahead,  thus  showing  its  ability 
to  stand  drought  better  than  the  others.  Next  to  it  come-s  Eed 
Cob  Gourd  Seed.  While  Blount  the  best  of  last  year,  falls  to 
;siKth  in  yield. 


FERTILIZEE  EXPERIMENT. 

The  same  questioh  with  corn  as  with  cotton  were  put. 

Below  are  the  results  : 

PLAT  IX— POTASH, 

VARIETIES  USED — BLUONT. 

Object  of  experiment  to  determine  Ist.  If  this  soil  needs 
potash.  2iid.  If  so.  in  what  form  and  quantity. 


442 


How  Fertilized 


Meal  Phosphate*,  168  lbs.  Kainite 

Meal  Pho8i)hnte,  3ll6  lbs  Kainite 

Meal  Phosphate 

Meal  Phosphate,  42  lbs.  Muriate  Potash 

Meal  Phosphate,  84  lbs.  Muriate  Potash 

Meal  Phosphate 

Nothing: 

Meal  Phosphate,  42  lbs.  Sulphate  Potash 

Meal  Phosphate,  84  lbs.  Sulphate  Potash 

Meal  Phosphate 

( 280  Acid  Phosphate  196  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  49  lbs. 

( Nitrate  Potash 

( 280  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate,  84  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  98 

( lbs.  Nitrate  Potash 

Meal  Phosphate — 280  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

::.801bs.  Acid  Phosphate. 


Yield  Per 

Acre 

Shuck 

Grain 

corn  11)8 

Bushel 

2828 

41.5 

3696 

51.8 

3472 

48.7 

37.52 

52  5 

3.584 

50.3 

3142 

38.4 

3198 

44.1 

3198 

44.1 

3396 

51.9 

3752 

52.5 

3696 

51.8 

341(5 

48.0 

PHOSPHOKIC  ACID— PLAT  NO.  X. 


VARIETY — RED  COB  GOURD  SEED. 

Object  to  determine  1st,  If  this  soil  need  phosphoric  acid, 
Sind  in  what  form  and  quantity. 


^ ~ 

How  Fortilized 

Yield  per  acre. 

o, 

. CL 
O X 

Shuck 
corn  lbs 

1 Grain 

1 Bushel 

1 

1 

Basal  Mixture*,  280  lbs.  Dissolved  Bone 

2968 

42.5 

12 

Basal  Mixture,  560  lbs.  Dissolved  Rone 

Basal  Mixture 

3248 

1 46.5 

:3 

3528 

50.5 

4 

Basal  Mixture,  280  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate 

Besal  Mixture,  5f0  Ibe.  Acid  Phosphate 

2996 

42.9 

5 

3472 

49.8 

4) 

Basal  Mixture 

3472 

49.8 

7 

Nothing 

3528 

50 . 5 

'8 

Basal  Mixture,  280  lbs.  Bonn  Meal 

4032 

57.7 

3 

Basal  Mixture,  560  lbs.  Bone  Meal 

3732 

53.4 

AO 

Basal  Mixttirp, ... 

3584 

51.1 

Bi  Basal  Mixture,  140  Iba.  Gypsum 

3752 

53.7 

Basal  Mixture,  280  lbs.  Gvpsuru 

*Baeal  Mixture — 230  lb*.  Cotton  Seed  .Vieal. 

347.2  lb*.  Kainite. 

PLAT  XI— XITKOGEX. 

VARIETY — RED  COB  GOURD  SEED. 

.3248 

46.5 

Object  to  determine  Ist.  If  this  soil  needs  nitrogen.  2nd. 
ff  so,  in  what  form  and  quantity. 


443 


Xo.  of 
Exp’t 

1 

Fertilizer  Used 

Yield  Pei 

Sbnck 
corn  lbs 

[*  Acse 

Grain 

BnsbeE 

1 

Mixed  Minerals*,  79.8  lbs.  Xitrate  Soda 

2520 

36.1 

2 

Mixed  Minerals,  158.6  lbs.  Xitrate  Soda 

3640 

52.1 

3 

Mixed  Minerals,  53.2  lbs.  Sulphate  Ammonia 

3248 

46.5- 

4 

I Mixed  Minerals,  106.4  lbs.  Snlpliale  Ammnnia, 

i 3192 

45.5 

5 

[Mixed  Minerals.  112  11)8.  Dried  Blood 

3304 

47. 3^ 

6 

[Mixed  Minerals,  224  lbs.  Dried  Blood 

3360 

48.1 

7 

2800 

50.1 

8 

1 4136 

59.2 

9 

Mixed  Mii'orals,  168  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

i 2632 

37.5 

10 

Mixed  Minerals,  336  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

1 2968 

42.5 

Jl 

Mixed  Minerals,  504  lbs.  Cotton  Seed 

2632 

37.6 

12 

[Mixed  Minerals,  1008  lbs.  Cotton  Seed 

! 2856 

40.9 

*.Wixed  Minerals — 280  Ib^.  Acid  Pbospliate. 

347.2  lbs.  Kaiuite. 

All  of  this  com  was  planted  March  14th  and  15th  three  ker- 
nels being  dropped  at  distances  of  exactly  two  feet.  A light* 
shower  immediately  after  i3lantingj  caused  it  to  greminate  im- 
mediately^  and  when  thinned  a perfect  stand,  consisting  of  one 
stalk  to  every  two  feet,  was  left.  From  this  time  until  late  im 
July  not  one  drop  of  rain  fell.  Notwithstanding  this  the  whole 
crop  grew  beautifnlly,  and  did  not  show  the  least  sign  of  suf- 
fering, until  the  time  of  tasseling — thanks  to  the  thorough  cul- 
tivation which  it  had  received.  But  even  cultivation  could  not* 
supply  the  increased  demand  for  moisture  ineident  upon  this> 
process,  and  for  about  ten  days  the  whole  crop,  and  particularly 
the  fertilized  experiments  suffered  severely. 

During  growth  ^he  effect  of  the  fertilizers  were  very  appa- 
rent, particularly  where  phosphatic  fertilizers  were  used.  Im 
Plats  10,  Experiment  1,  2,  4 and  5 immediately  took  the  lead,, 
and  were  twice  as  large  as  either  3 or  6,  the  Basal  Mixture,  andJ. 
fully  two-thirds  as  tall,  and  of  a much  better  color  than  7.  But. 
it  is  the  same  old  story  of  the  Turtle  and  the  Hare,  Pushed  for- 
ward by  the  abundance  of  plant  food,  the  fertilized  corn  reached 
the  tasseling  stage  much  earlier,  and  hence  suffered  much  longer. 
The  unfertilized  corn  grew  much  slower,  and  hence  suffered  only 
a short  while.  When  rain  did  come,  the  fertilized  corn  was  in- 
jured too  much  to  recover  what  it  had  lost,  and  hence  the 
^‘Nothing”  experiments  actually,  in  several  instances,  exceed, 
its  neighbors  in  yield. 


444 


From  sucli  an  array  of  figures  so  similar,  it  is  impossible  to 
<draw  any  conclusions.  Judging  from  the  appearance,  during 
.growth  of  crops,  we  would  say  that  Phosphoric  Acid  is  highly 
;t)eneficiaL 


SUGAR  CANE. 

From  stubble  of  la^t  year’s  plant  an  excellent  crop  of  this 
plant  was  raised.  The  following  is  the  report  of  analysis  pub- 
lished some’ time  since  in  the  Louisiana  Plant ir,  marie  by  Prof, 
B.  B.  Ross,  Chemist  of  the  Station  and  Professor  of  Chemistry 
in  the  La,  State  University  and  A.  and  M.  College.  The  first 
-analyses  were  made  Nov.  25th,  the  others  about  the  First  of  the 
;asme  month.  Samples  of  cane  were  taken  from  each  exj)eri- 
mental  idat,  and  were  analyzed  in  the  laboratory  of  the  University 
^by  the  members  of  the  senior  class  in  chemistry,  consisting  of 
•Cadets  Batchelor,  Bynum,  Furman,  Guilbeau,  McVea,  Overton, 
-Roy,  Stubbs  and  Young.  The  following  are  the  results  : 


o 

CL. 

-W  s 
2 

6 


1 

2 

4 

-5 

'7 

T 

■o 

3 

4 

.7 


It  will  be  seen  that  there  has  been  quite  a marked  increase 
in  the  purity  co-efficient,  while  the  great  falling  off  in  the  glo- 
^cuse  ratio  is  even  more  apparent. 

As  far  as  the  analyses  indicate,  conclusions  are  difficult,  if 
mot  impossible  to  draw.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the 


How  Fertilized,  per  Acre 


500  lbs  Cottou  Seed  Meal. 

500  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

500  lbs  Kainite 

Nothin  O’ 

500  lbs  Cottou  S(,ed  Meal,  500  lbs  KHinite.. 
500  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  500  lbs  Acid  Phos. 
( 500  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal,  500  lbs  ? 

I Acid  Pliospbate,  500  lbs  Kainite  ^ 


'OC 

o j 

n © 
2 
2 

"o  1 

© 

X 

p 

© 

CO 

O 

© 

o 

3 

2 

bJD 

a 

© 

’© 

© 

1 r 

XI  © 

Q 

1 i 
^ 1 

o 

3 

02 

s 

'o 

02 

i 

I ^ 
6 

O 

2 <s 

s ^ 

9.5 

17.2 

14.6 

1.54 

1. 

ool 

84.88 

10.55 

9.6 

<7.3 

14.4 

;i.42 

1. 

78, 

83.23 

9.86 

10.0 

18.1 

16.4 

1.00 

0. 

70l 

190.61 

6.09 

10. 1 

18.2 

15.2 

il.l2 

1 . 

88' 

83.51 

7.37 

9.4 

17.0 

14.2 

1.86 

0. 

94 

83.. 53 

13.10 

10.3 

18.6 

16.8 

jl  .28 

0. 

52 

90.32 

7.62 

10.0 

18.0 

15.6 

|l.08 

1. 

32 

86.67 

6.92 

9.4 

17.0 

13.82.16 

\ 

181.18 

115.65 

9.0 

16.3 

13.1 

2.45 

\ 

80.37 

18.70 

9.5 

17.1 

1 3.62. 26 

79.53 

16.6‘> 

9.5 

17.2 

13.7 

2.57 

79.65 

18.76 

9.3 

16.8 

13.22.45 

78.57 

18.56 

8.9 

16.0 

,12.0 

12.98 

75.00 

i24.84 

10.0 

d8.0 

14. 03.17 

77.77 

122.63 

^Samples  of  cane  from  the  same  plats 
were  analyzed  from  three  to  four  weeks  r 
previously  with  results  as  follows:  | 

) 


445 


yields  of  these  resi)ective  experiments  are  not  at  present  avail- 
able. It  was  intended  to  take  this  cane  to  the  Sugar  Station  ta 
be  worked  up  by  diffusion^  but  that  being  delayed  longer  than 
was  expected,  it  was  necessary  to  windrow  the  whole  to  keep 
from  loosing  it.  The  high  sugar  content,  a characteristic  of  all 
ui3land  cane  that  we  have  examined,  is  remarkable.  Can  there 
be  any  doubt  that  cane,  when  it  can  be  raised  at  so  much  less 
cost  and  contains  such  a large  per  cent,  of  sugar,  will  pay  hand- 
somely on  these  uplands.  The  Ibllowing,  one  of  the  best  anal- 
yses of  lowland  cane,  of  a plantation  not  far  distant,  is  inserted^ 


for  comparison. 

Beaume 8_3^ 

Total  solids 15- 

Sucrose 13-1 

Glucose 1-52J 

Solids  not  sugar -38^ 

Glucose  ratio ll-6{^ 

Coefficient  purity 1 — 87-38 


There  is  one  point  in  the  comparison  of  these  two  sets  oC 
analyses  which  is  well  to  notice,  and  which  may  account,  in  a 
measure,  for  the  very  general  report  that  it  is  more  difficult  to> 
make  sugar  from  upland  than  from  lowland  cane.  While  the 
sucrose  of  the  highland  cane  is  much  in  excess  of  the  lowland^ 
yet  the  quantity  of  solids  not  sugar  is  larger  in  the  former  tham 
in  the  latter. 


SOEGHUM. 

Besides  the  cane  above  mentioned,  there  was  planted  one- 
half  acre  each  of  Lynks’  Hybrid  and  of  Early  Orange  Sorghum-. 
This  was  cut  and  sent  to  the  Sugar  Experiment  Station,,  where 
it  was  worked  up  by  the  diffusion  process,  giving  120  pounds  oC 
brown  sugar  to  the  ton  of  sorghum. 

The  following  are  the  analyses  of  thirty-five  varieties  of  this; 
plant  grown  on  this  station  from  seed  received  fi*om  the  EL  S>- 
Department  of  Agriculture  : 


446 


] 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 
21 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 


Name 


Swain’s  Early  Golden, 

New  Orange 

jNo.  14  Unknown 

Planters’  Friend,  fron 

Early  Ainker 

No.  39,  from  South  Af: 
Late  Orange 


tc  o 


X o 

O to 

c 


White  African. 


Red  Liberian 

No.  53.  from  South  Africa 

Folger’s  Early 

No.  61,  Now  variety  from  East  India 

New  Sugar  Cane 

Waubansee 

Whiting’s  Eaidy 

loose  Neck 

Early  Tennessee 

New,  from  Georgia 

Sorghum,  Sacharatum,  from  Cape  Town  Africa. 

Dutchers  Hybrid 

New  Indian  variety 

No.  57 

No.  26,  from  East  India 

Chinese 

Prices  New  Hybrid 

No.  36,  from  South  Africa 

No.  46 

Link’s  Hybrid 

No.  51 . . .■ 


10. 5i 

18.9' 

15. 

2 2.27 

10.3 

18.7, 

14. 

4;2.33- 

16. 2! 

10. 

5 5.00 

16.7! 

12. 

0,3.12 

17.7 

14. 

sil.Sb- 

10.9  ' 

19. 7 1 

15. 

611.28 

10.5 

18.9, 

13. 

0 4.54 

6.4 

ill.6[ 

4. 

1;6.25 

10.5 

,18.9i 

13. 

5:4.12 

11.3 

:20.5 

14. 

,6A.16 

12.2 

|2G.2 

15. 

1 3.33 

17.2 

15. 

U1  .66 

1 9.6 

[17.4 

13. 

,0  2.33 

110.2 

|18.5 

12. 

,3'5.00 

I1O.2 

118.5 

12, 

.35.00 

10.3 

118.7 

10. 

. 5 5 . 55 

10. 1 

118  2 

13, 

,ll2.94 

9.2 

116.7 

10. 

,6,4.55 

6.2 

[11.2 

5, 

.2  3.32 

7.0 

12.7 

8. 

.213.16 

6.7 

112.1 

8, 

.4^2. .50 

7.6 

113.7 

8 

.24. 16 

6.4 

11.6 

5 

.7  3.06 

7.7 

13.9 

9 

.7|2.77 

5.9 

10.7 

4 

.9  5.01 

5.9 

10.7 

6 

.0  4.38 

8.5 

15.4 

8 

.1  6.25 

8.1 

14.7 

7 

.8,3.37 

6.9 

12.5 

6 

.3,3.84 

7.2 

12.9 

7 

.6^4. 16 

6.8 

12.2 

4 

.0,3.33 

8.5 

15.4 

4 

.4  5.03 

9.0 

16.3 

11 

.4!2.68- 

8.7 

15.7 

11 

.1  3.43 

7.6 

13.7 

7 

bo 

Attention  is  called  to  the  high  sugar  content  of  some  of 
these  varieties,  four  of  which,  i.  e..  White  India,  New  Orange^ 
No.  39,  and  Swain’s  Early  Golden,  exceed  15  per  cent. 


VAEIETIES  OF  COTTON. 

Ever  since  the  establishment  of  the  Experiments  Station  in 
this  State,  it  has  been  one  of  their  departments  -of  work  to  test 
different  varieties  of  cotton.  In  selecting  cotton  seed  there  are 
three  things  that  we  should  ever  keep  in  mind  : 


447 


First — The  variety  chosen  should  give  a good  gross  yield  of 
seed  cotton. 

Second — This  cotton,  when  taken  to  the  gin,  should  yield 
the  largest  per  cent,  of  lint  possible. 

Third — That  lint,  when  put  upon  the  market,  should  be  of 
sufficient  length  of  staple  to  command  the  highest  market  price. 
These  are  the  three  great  requisites  of  a perfect  cotton — three 
requirements  seldom  found  hand  in  hand. 

From  results  of  varieties  grown  on  this  Station  last  year 
we  have  compiled  the  following  table  : showing,  first,  yield  of 
seed  cotton  per  acre  ; second,  per  cent,  of  lint ; third,  per  cent, 
of  seed  ; fourth,  yield  of  lint  per  acre.  These  exj)eriments  were 
carefully  made  on  a small  Gullet  gin. 


I 


YIELDS  OF  VARIETIES  OF  COTTON, 


Name 


Mikado 

Jeff  WelbouA  Pet. 

Ea-t 

Deariiigs  Siuall  ) 
feoed  S 


Jower’s  Improved 


Herlong. 


Bancrofts  Px  Hevl  g 
Martin’s  Prolific.. 
Little  Brannon... 

Pcterkin 

Jower’s  Improved 
ClierryLongStaple 
Peeler 


Peerless 

Wclborn’s  Pet.  . . . 
C lie  try  LongStap  I e 
Taylor’s  Improved 


S.  B.  Maxey. 


Cherry’s  Cluster. 
Tetiuessee  Silk.  . . 


Shine’s  Kiirly 
'rcnncRsce  .''i 


Soiithein  Hope. 

Bovd’s  Prolific.  . 

Petit  Onlf 

Zellners 


Lbs  Seed  Cotton 

Per  Acre 

Per  Cent.  Seed 

Per  Cent.  Lint 

V 

X 

- O 

< 

1 

p 

Class 

! 

S 

Hh 

£ 

>■ 

Value  of  Lint  i 

Per  Acre  ! 

Remarks 

2014 

68.8 

29.2 

588 

flood  Middling 

n 

$.59.06 

f Classed  with 

2.544 

67.7 

31.2 

793 

Middling 

76.. 32 

1 “Allen  ” staple 

1539 

70.3 

28.6 

440 

Middling 

lOf 

46.75 

■[  I ct.  over  same 

1 grade  common 

1 cotton. 

1 2 yrs.  seed, 

1 “Benders  ” sta- 

2831 

64.4 

30.4 

860 

Strict  Middling 

9| 

1 

83.85 

1 

3078 

70.0 

28.8 

886 

1 

10  1 

88.60 

! 

■\  pic.  ^ ct.  over 

1 H a m e g r a d o 

1 comnion  c..ttou 

12964 

61.5 

26.9 

797 

Strict  Middling 

1 9| 

77.70 

2 ^ ear's  seed. 

2603 

67.0 

30.6 

796 

77.79 

'2432 

67.9 

28.8 

700 

Good  Middling. 

69.12 

2375 

69.6129.4 

698 

Middling 

9| 

67.18 

‘ • 

2812 

60.9i.37.7 

1060 

“ 

9| 

102.02 

2451 

64.1 

.33.3 

817 

78.63 

“• 

2223 

66.6  31.6 

702 

Strict  Middling 

9| 

68.44 

2094  ! 

'69.0i29.0! 

607 

9f 

59.17 

*- 

1520  i 

68.7|.30.0 

4.56 

Middling 

9f 

43.89 

3 year’s  seed. 

1976 

67.2  29.8 

588 

9| 

56.59 

2 year’s  seed. 

2033 

71 .0  27.1 

.550 

91 

.52.94 

1767 

67.71 

30.1 

531 

Strict  Middling 

9£ 

51.76 

1938 

66.6131.3 

606 

9| 

59.08 

1 .577 

67.4131.0 

48S 

Good  Mitldling. 

9«^ 

48.19 

2223 

70.0  29.0 

644 

Middling 

9| 

61.98 

“ 

2211 

68.6  30.2 

667 

Sfiict  Middling 

9f 

65.02 

3 year’s  years. 

2204 

69.8 

29.3 

645 

" 1 

Middling '. 

9f 

62.08 

|2  Year's  seed 
• Bencer  ” stit- 

1900 

1596 

11083 

67.0 

66.6' 
69.  Ot 

32. 0| 

31.1 

29.9 

' 598  Strict  Middlitig 

496  “ 

.323 

10 

59.80 

pie  i cent  over 

1 s a ill  c g 1 a <i  c, 

1 eoniniou  cotton 

3 year’s  scc<l. 

68.5(28.51 

379  Strict  Middling 

9| 

36.95 

2 year’s  seed. 

1178  - 
1463  1 

70. 4 [ 

27.4 

322 

Good  Middling. 

9| 

9® 

31 .34 

1482 

70.9128.6' 

i ! 

423  Strict  Middling. 

9| 

41.24 

( 3 year’s  seed 

1 ••  lieiider’s”  sta - 

1472i  67.5 

28.51 

419 

j 

10 

41.90 

-[  pie  i cent  o*  er 

1 s a III  e g r a • | e 

1 eoiiinioii  cotton 

,11.54  !67.2 

31.1 

3.58  (1o(m1  Middling. 

% 

35.34 

3 year's  seed. 

11007  1 

67.1 

26.4 

265! Strict  Middlin<r 

9 4 

25.83 

1216 

68.7 

28.1, 

341 

1 

Middling 

9| 

32.82 

f 2 years 

1 Extra  staple. 

1430 

^ t 

71.4 

28.0 

i 

400 ' 

Strict  Middling 

101 

.50.00 

' I 1 cents  over 
' 1 same  graile  (d' 
j 1 coninion  cotton 

1449  ■ 

70.4 

27.71 

401 

Strict  Middling 

9| 

39.0!) 

3 year’s  seed. 

1108^1  ' 

6<).  6 125.  O' 

272 

Good  M idoling. 

91 

1 26.86 

2 year’s  seed. 

1008  1 
1 686  1 

69.6  26.1 

1 

2(!3 

Strict  Middling 
Middling  

9| 

9| 

25.63 

447 


Tn  order  to  ascertain  how  each  variety  answered  the  third! 
requirement,  a sample  of  each  was  sent  to  New  Orleans  and  there^ 
classed  according  to  the  length  of  staple  alone.  While  the* 
majority  of  them  were  very  similar,  yet  the  difference  in  some 
few  is  very  great.  One  comparison  is  sufficient.  The  variety 
yielding  the  largest  amount  of  seed  cotton  is  Jower’s  Inq^roved,. 
8078  pounds.  This  is  the  first  time  that  Jower’s  has  done  so  well 
with  us,  and  hence  these  figures  are  not  conclusive.  They  serve- 
our  purpose,  however.  Next  to  it  comes  Herlong,  with  2964,.. 
and  next  Bearing’s  Small  Seed,  2840.  From  these  there  is  quite 
a variation,  some  running  as  low"  as  1000  pounds.  The  Jow'er’s 
Improved  gave  28.8  per  cent,  of  lint  worth  ten  cents  a jiound, 
and  hence  the  product  of  one  acre  was  worth  $88.60.  Herlong,. 
26.9  per  cent,  lint  at  nine  and  three-quarter  cents,  giving  a gross- 
income  of  $77.70.  While  the  Bearing’s  Small  Seed,  though 
third  in  gross  yield,  yet  gave  80.4  per  cent,  lint,  which  at  nine 
and  three-quarter  cents  per  pound  brought  an  income  of  $88.85 
per  acre.  If  now  the  excellent  points  of  these  tw^o  varieties,, 
the  large  seed  cotton  yield  of  dowser’s  Improved,  with  iis 
extra  price  of  ten  cents  per  pound,  and  the  larger  per  cent,  of 
lint  of  the  small  seed,  could  be  combined,  we  w"ould  have  an 
excellent  cotton.  There  are  four  distinct  varieties  of  gossypiuir?’ 
know  n to  the  botanist,  1st  G.  Indicum  or  Herbacenm.  2nd  G, 
Arboreum  : 3d  G.  Barbadense ; and  4th  G.  Peruvianum.  This 
is  Bowden’s  classification.  Later  authorities  give  only  tw"o,  i.  e., 
G.  Herbace/im  and  G.  Barbadense.’’  and  claim  that  the  “Indi" 
cum”  and  “Arboreum”  are  species  of  “Herbacenm”  the  othei-s 
of  “Barbadense.”  The  principal  ones  of  these  w"ith  w"hicli  w"e 
have  to  deal  are  “G.  Herbacenm,”  the  common  uplaMod  cotton, 
and  “G.  Barbadense,”  or  “Sea  Island.”  These  are  the  most 
common  varieties, the  ones  with  which  we  are  all  familiar,  and 
from  w"hich  are  mostly  derived  th^  multitude  of  sub-varieties- 
now  claiming  your  attention.  But  from  such  a small  number  to 
begin  with,  how  is  it  that  there  have  been  so  many  varieties- 
lormed  ? Princiirally  by  one  oj-  both  of  two  ways.  First,  by 
careful  selection,  combined  with  high  cultivation,  and  second; 


450 


4)y  hybridization. 

As  in  the  breeding'  of  stock,  in  order  to  succeed,  it  is  necessary 
to  have  » certain  standard  in  view  ; so  it  is  in  the  formation  of 
varieties  of  plants.  First  determine  what  you  want — have  a 
.fixed  standard  in  view.  Then  go  to  your  plants,  whatever  they 
.may  be,  and  select  carefully  that  one  which  comes  the  nearest  to 
filing  these  requirements.  Then  carefully  gather  the  seed  of 
that  plant  and  in  the  proper  season  plant  them.  Again  exercise 
the  same  care  in  selecting  your  seed  and  repeat  the  operation 
until  you  finally  reach  the  object  required.  It  takes  time  for 
this,  and  there  are  IVequent  disappointments.  The  improve- 
ment of  plants  by  this  method  is  no  new  thing — from  time  im- 
memorial it  has  been  practiced.  Some  of  the  results,  not  only  in 
fiowers,  but  also  in  many  of  our  vegetables,  are  wonderful 
Who,  to  look  at  the  magnificent  roses  of  to-day,  would,  for  an  in- 
•stant,  imagine  their  original  form.  When  it  was  first  thought 
of  making  sugar  from  the  beet,  the  tropical  cane  growei*  laughed 
.at  the  idea  of  its  ever  being  able  to  compete  with  him,  but  to-day^ 
the  infant  that  he  might  have  strangled  with  one  hand  has 
■ grown  into  a monster  that  threatens  to  d(‘vour  him.  and  this  lias 
been  largely  accomplished  by  care  in  the  selection  of  seed. 

Hybridization  is  a more  difficult  method.  Having  two 
varieties  of  a iilant,  each  possessing  some  good  jjoint,  it  is  de- 
rsired  to  combine  these  two  points  in  one  individual.  For  this 
purpose  the  flower  of  one  is  carefully  fertilized  with  pollen  of  the 
•other,  and  the  resulting  seed  planted.  But  here  again  selection 
must  be  exercised.  There  is  a tendency^  in  all  life,  be  it  aiiima} 
•or  vegetable,  to  return  to  the  original  form  of  its  ancestors. 
Hence  the  fii-st  seed  by  this  process  will  produce  three  different 
kinds  of  plants.  There  will  be  represented  in  the  new  crop  each 
• of  the  plants  from  which  the  cross  was  made,  together  with  the 
true  hj^brid.  These,  the  hybrid,  should  be  carefully  selected  and 
this  process  repeated  until  finally  the  plants  shall  have  attained 
the  power  of  transmitting  their  proi^erties  to  their  offsi^ring. 

But  do  not  misunderstand  us  as  recommending  every^  farmer 
do  go  into  the  business  of  originating  varieties.  At  the  most, 


451 


whether  it  be  by  selection  or  by  hybridizing,  it  requii  es  more 
time  and  patience  than  many  of  us  possess.  Some  idea  of  the 
magnitude  of  such  an  undertaking  can  be  gained  by  a brief 
sketch  of  the  history  of  the  Early  Rose  potato.  The  parent  of 
this  i^otato  was  the  Black  Chili,  raised  from  seed  imported  from 
Chili.  Its  originator  selected  it  as  being  the  best  of  some  IdOO 
varieties  that,  in  the  course  of  some  ten  years,  he  had  tried.  He 
gave  a few  seed  ol  this  variety  to  a friend,  who  planted  them? 
and  the  product  of  which  was  the  Early  Rose.  Thus  it  took 
over  ten  years  to  get  this  one  variety. 

But  while  it  is  of  intarest  to  know  how  varieties  are  obtained 
it  is  of  vital  importance  that  the  farmer,  having  once  obtained 
this  variety,  should  know  how  to  keep  it  up  to  the  standards 
and  to  do  this  it  is  necessary  to  understand  the  agencies  which 
affect  plants. 

While  there  are  few  of  us  who  will  admit  his  theory,  yet  all 
of  us  must  acknowlege  that  Darwin  was  a great  naturalist,  and 
as  he  attempts  to  prove  his  theory  by  observed  facts,  you  will 
pardon  me  if  I i)resent  a few  of  them  to  you. 

Both  in  animals  and  plants  there  is  power,  we  might  call  it, 
known  as  ahavism  or  the  property  of  reverting  to  the  original 
ancestors,  and  as  we  have  seen  how  this  multitude  of  varieties 
are  formed,  constant  care  in  the  selection  of  seexi  is  necessary  to 
overcome  it.  Again  plants  are  greatly  affected  by  any  change  in 
their  surror  vlings.  such  as  climate,  soil,  etc.  We  see  this  very 
plainly  if  for  any  i^urpose  we  plant,  for  instance,  corn  from 
a more  northern  climate.  There  the  season  is  short  and  the 
plant  mvst  mature  rapidly.  Th.e  first  season  here  it  does  this 
maturing  much  earlier  than  nitive  vavieties  planted  at  the  same 
time.  The  next  seasonit  is  a little  later,  and  tinallj  takes  aboutas 
long  to  mature  as  the  native.  It  has  then,  as  it  were,  become 
acclimated.  We  hear  of  spring  and  winter  grain,  but  the  botanist 
will  tell  you  that  there  is  no  difference  and  that  one  can  be  con- 
verted into  the  other  by  a few  years  of  patience.  Lowland  rice 
when  sown  on  the  uidand  does  as  well  as  when  flooded  and  vice 
v€rsa.  You  all  know  how  readily  the  Irish  potato  is  atfected  by 


452 


■the  kind  of  soil  upon  which  it  is  grown.  An  excellent  variety 
ana  sandy  soil  may  be  a total  failure  in  clay.  The  one  that  fails 
in  loam  may  produce  wonders  in  sond.  Never  Avas  this  more 
plainly  illustrated  than  on  this  station  this  spring.  Of  300 
varieties  planted,  here,  some  of  the  most  noted  Eastern  and 
Western  potatoes  Avere  a total  failure  while  others  ‘To  fame  un- 
known” were  wonders  of  success,  the  result  of  changed  soil  and 
■climate 

In  comparing  the  table  to  which  we  have  referred  Avdth  a 
similar  one  from  the  station  at  Calhoun,  there  is  a very  striking 
difference  in  the  per  cent,  of  lint  of  the  same  varieties  raised  on 
the  different  stations.  In  nearly  every  instance  this  yield  is 
g^reater  at  Calhoun  than  here.  So  uniA' ersally  is  this  the  case  that 
we  cannot  but  suspect  that  the  difference  in  soil  and  climate  has 
■CA-en  affected  the  growth  of  lint  of  ^he  A^arieties. 

There  is  yet  another  in  fluence  upon  plant  life,  Avhich  Avemust 
not  omit-  It  is  knoAvii  as  the  theory  of  the  “surviAml  of  the 
fittest.”  By  this  Avetake  it  is  not  meant  that  A\diich  is  the  fittes- 
for  man,  but  that  Avhich  is  best  fitted  for  the  conditions  surt 
rounding  the  plant.  Imiaort  a plant  from  a foreign  clime,  a 
grass  for  instance ; plant  it  here  and  perhaps  as  long  as  you  at' 
■tend  to  it,  it  Avill  do  aa^cII,  But  the  moment  we  turn  it  loose,  as 
it  Avere,  the  moment  it  is  left  to  struggle  for  its  oavu  existance 
tlie  more  hardy  natives  begin  to  encroach  uxaon  it,  and  in,  at 
most,  a few^  years  it  will  have  disappeared  entirely,  comj)letely 
succumbed  to  perhaias  a close  relation,  but  one  better  fitted  to 
withstand  the  hot  suns,  excess  of  moisture,  or  whatever  it  may 
be.  In  their  process  of  adaptation  to  these  changed  conditions 
plants  are  frequentlj^  so  changed  in  some  of  their  most  promi- 
nent attributes  that  it  becomes  difficult  to  believe  that  they  bear 
•nny  relation  to  their  former  brethren.  The  know  ledge  of  these 
agencies  only  emphasises  the  imiaortance  of  selecting  our  seed 
not  only  of  cotton,  but  of  all  crops.  Let  us  now  see  how  thes^ 
laws  would  Avork  in  the  case  of  cotton.  Suppose  we  start  wTth  a 
good  variety  of  long  staple.  This  is  probably  the  result  of  a 
<;ross  between  Sea  Island  and  Upland.  The  first  year  Ave  plant 


453 


tlie  seed  the  deterioration  commences,  atavism  asserts  itself 
and  tliere  is  a slight  separation  in  some  of  the  individual  i>lants 
to  one  or  the  other  parent,  and  the  prepotency  is  always  down, 
hill.  Then,  too,  perhaps  some  stray  insect,  in  search  of  the 
sweets  of  its  flowers,  has  unwittingly  conveyed  to  its  ready  pistil 
the  pollen  of  some  short  staple  native  cotton,  the  result  being 
another  cross.  As  its  name  indicates,  the  Upland  cotton  is  the 
best  fitted  for  the  surrounding  conditions,  and  this  being  the 
case,  our  hybrid,  in  the  effort  to  adapt  itself  to  the  changed  con. 
dition,  begins  to  shorten  its  staple.  As  the  result  of  this,  unless 
careful  selection  is  constantly  practiced,  instead  of  a fine  variety 
we  have  in  a few  years  nothing  but  the  ordinary  cotton  of  our 
neighbor. 

We  have  not  thought  it  worth  while  in  this  paper  to  lay  any 
stress  upon  the  importance  of  thorough  cultivation,  as  we  pre. 
sume  that  any  one  who  is  sufiiciently  awake  to  select  his  seed 
will  appreciate  its  necessity.  But  from  what  we  have  seen  of 
the  survival  of  the  fittest,  it  is  easy  to  infer  that  the  man  wdio 
does  not  practice  thorough  cultivation  is  doing  worse  than 
nothing  by  paying  extra  for  choice  seed,  for  he  thereby  not  only 
wastes  his  moneys,  but  perliaps  brings  disdi’edit  upon  a good 
variety. 

All  that  luis  been  said  above  has  been  in  reference  to  the 
stalk  from  w hicli  to  select  the  seed.  To  discuss  here  from  what 
]iart  of  the  stalk  to  take  those  seed,  whether  from  the  bottom, 
middle  or  top,  w hether  to  select  those  that  first  mature,  or  those 
from  near  the  stalk,  oi*  at  the  extremity  of  the  limb,  w^ould  be 
rather  an  anticipation,  jis  these  are  questions  that  have  not  yet 
been  solved. 

Aow^  in  concluding,  we  do  not  recommend  each  farmer  to 
go  into  the  business  of  orignating  varieties.  That  is  left  to  indi- 
viduals and  perhaps  your  Experiment  Stations. 

But  we  do  urge  upon  each  and  all  the  importance  of  exercising 
the  greatest  care  in  the  selection  of  their  seed.  The  day  is  not 
far  distant,  in  fact  is  even  here  when  the  kind  of  seed  used  is 
quite  an  item  in  the  profit  and  loss  account  of  each  farmer,  and 


454 


he  who  neglects  it  is  bound  sooner  or  later  to  go  to  the  wall,  tn- 
make  way  tor  a more  careful  successor. 

We  cannot  close  this  report  without  thanking  the  following 
periodicals,  who  have  been  so  kind  as  to  furnish  the  reading- 
room  of  this  station  with  their  regular  publications  free  : 

Canadian  Horticulturist,  Grimsby,  Out,;  Kevne  Agricole,  Port 
Louis,  Maurice;  Sugar  Eeview,  London,  England;  Farmers  Ad_. 
vocate,  Ontario,  Canada;  Canadian  Live  Stock  and  Farm  Jonrmd, 
Hamilton,  Canada ; Journal  des  Fabricants  de  Sucre,  Paris, 
France;  Sugar  Cane,  Manchester,  England;  Agricultural  Ga- 
zette, London,  England  ; Journal  of  Chemical  Society,  London, 
England  ; Agricultural  Students’  Gazette,  Cirencester.  England  ; 
Gardeners’  Chronicle,  London,  England  ; Chemical  News,  London, 
England  ; Live  Stock  Journal,  Starkville,  Miss.;  Coleman’s  Rural 
World,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Southern  Cultivator,  Atlanta,  Ga. ; Elmira 
Husbandman,  Elmira,  N.  Y. ; Industrial  South,  Richmond,  Ahi. ; 
Home  and  Farm,  Louisville,  Ky.;  Times- Democrat,  New  Orleans, 
La.;  Picayune,  New  Orleans,  La.;  Sugar  Beet,  Philadelphia, 
Penn.;  Country  Gentlemen,  Albany,  N.  Y. ; Rural  New  Yorker, 
New  York,  N.  Y.;  American  Agriculturist,  New  York,  N.  Y. ; 
Agricultural  Science,  Knoxville,  Tenn,;  Lake  Charles  American, 
Lake  Chailes,  La.;  South  Illustrated,  New  Orleans,  La.;  City 
Item,  New  Orleans,  La.;  States,  New  Orleans,' La, ; Bee,  New 
Orleans,  La. ; StadtsZeitiung,  New  Orleans,  La.;  Manufacturers’ 
Record,  New  Orleans,  La.;  Industrial  Review,  New  Orleans,  La.; 
(’hristian  Advocate,  New  Orleans,  La.;  Caligraph,  Ruston^La. ; 
Farmeis’  Union^  Chandrant,  La. ; Farmeis’  Club  Journal.  Han- 

selville,  N.  Y.;  The  Poultry  World,  Hartford,  Conn.;  Journal  of 
Analytical  ^diemistry,  Easton,  Penn.;  American  t'hemical 
Journal,  Baltimore,  Mn.;  Popular  Science  News,  Boston,  Ylass. ; 
The  xYmerican  Garden,  NYw  York,  N.  Y.;  Orange  Judd  Farmers 
Chicago^  111.;  The  Microcosm,  I hiladelphia,  Penn.;  4 he  Weekly 
Truth,  Baton  Rouge,  La. 

Tne  thanks  of  the  station  are  also  din^  to  those  entei  prising 
agricultural  impieinent  makers  Messis.  B.  F.  xVvery  & (’o,,  for 
implements  ; also  to  Mr.  W.  S.  Roberts,  the  courteous  agent  of 
Clarke’s  Cutaway  Harrow,  tor  one  of  those  tine  imi)lements,  amt 
to  many  others  for  varioiLs  lavois. 


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BULLETIN  No.  27/ ' 


REPORT 

OF  TIIK 

NORTH  LA.  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 

OF  THE 


CALHOUN,  LA. 

FOR  1889. 

\Vm.  O.  stubby,  Pn.  T>.,  Director. 
JuRDAN  G.  LEE,  Assistant  Director. 


ISSUED  BY  THE  BUREAU  OP  AGRICUUTURE, 

T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner. 


PRINTED  AT  THE  TRUTH  .1015  OFFICE, 

BATON  ROUGE,  LA, 


THE  AGRICULTURAL  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 

U.  S?4TE  nSlVERSITY  4NB  4.  S M.  EOElEtE. 


BUREAU  OF  AGRICULTURE. 

GOV.  F.  T.  NICHOLLS,  President. 

W.M.  GARIG,  Viee-Presideut  Board  of  Supervisors. 

T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 

STATION  STAFF. 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Ph.  D.,  Director, 

D.  N.  BARROW,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Baton  Rouge. 
J.  G.  LEE,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Calhoun. 

Assistant  Director,  Audubon  Park. 

B.  B.  ROSS,  M.  S.,  Chemist. 

M.  BIRD,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Chemist. 

A.  T.  PRESCOTT,  M.  A.,  Botanist, 

H.  A.  MORGAN,  M.  S.  Entomologist  and  Horticulturist. 
W.  H.  DALRYMPLE,  M.  R.  C.V.  S., Veterinary  Surgeon. 
A.  M.  GARDNER,  B.  S,,  Farm  Manager  Audubon  Park. 
J.  E.  PRATT,  Farm  Manager,  Baton  Rouge. 

L.  M.  CALHOUN,  Farm  Manager,  Calhoun. 

H.  SKOLFIELD,  Treasurer. 

J.  D.  STUBBS,  Secretary. 


The  bulletins  and  reports  will  be  sent  free  of  charge  to  all  farmers,  by  applying 
to  Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agricultnre,  Baton  Rouge,  La. 


LOUISIANA  STATE  UNIVERSITY  AXO  A.  AND  V.  COLLEGE, 
Office  of  Expeuiment  Stations,  > 
Baton  Rouge,  La.  ) 

'To  Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture  : 

Dear  Sir  : — I hand  you  herewith  the  Annual  Report  of 
]N'orth  Louisiana  Experiment  Station  by  Major  J.  G.  LEE, 
..Assistant  Director  and  Chemist,  and  ask  that  you  publish  it  as 
Bulletin  No.  27. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Director. 


North  Louisiana  Experiment  Station,  \ 
Calhoun  La.,  December  1889,  j 
'To  Dr.  W.  C.  Stubbs,  Ph.  D.,  Director  : 

Dear  ttir  : — In  accordance  with  your  request,  I herewith 
hand  you  annual  report  of  crop  results  on  this  Station  for  the 
jear  ending  December  1889. 

In  the  main  the  results  are  gratifying. 

Permit  me  to  say,  the  station  is  doing  good  work  for  North 
Louisiana  and  great  enthusiasm  is  exercised  as  is  testified,  by 
the  outpourings  of  farmers  at  the  regular  monthly  meetings  of 
the  North  Louisiana  Agricultural  Society  and  the  daily  visits 
of  farmers  during  growing  seasons. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  Bulletin  I am  specially  indebted 
zo  Mr.  L.  M.  Calhoun,  farm  manager,  for  his  assistance  in 
•calculating  and  compiling  results. 

Respectfully  submitted. 

JORDAN.  G.  LEE, 

Assistant  Director  and  Chemist 


REPORT. 


The  present  year  has  been  very  successful  and  gratifying 
at  this  Station.  Thirty  acres  of  the  pooiest  land  were  plattep 
and  have  been  devoted  permanently  to  field  experiments  in 
manures  with  various  crops.  Another  field,  of  20  acres,  is  to 
.grasses,  grains  and  clovers,  10  to  Auneyard,  orchard,  garden  and 
truck  patches,  fifty  to  general  field  crops  and  the  rest  divided 
into  pastures  for  different  breeds  of  stock. 


456 


To  the  live  stock  already  on  hand  and  previously  reported^, 
the  station  has  added  the  following  breeds  of  Hogs  : Ited  Dnroc 
or  Jersey;  White  Chester;  Essex,  Bershire  and  Yorkshire,  and  the- 
following  breeds  of  Sheep  : Cotswold,  Merino,  SonthdoAvn  and 
Shropshire.  With  each  fine  breed  have  been  placed  two  common 
ewes  for  grading  pni'x^oses. 

All  stock  are  doing  well  and  are  in  good  healthy  growing; 
condition.  In  the  introduction  of  iinx^roved  breeds  of  Stock,  the- 
station  aims  to  benefit  this  portion  of  Louisiana  by  determining 
Avhich  kinds  are  best  adapted  to  this  section,  and  farther  to  give 
j)ractical  lessons  in  the  princii^les  which  underlie  stock  feeding 
and  stock  breeding.  At  no  time  does  the  station  contemplate 
keeping  moie  live  stock  than  will  answer  the  purposes  of 
exx)e]‘i  mentation. 

Prices  have  therefore  been  fixed  by  a Committee  appointed 
by  the  Aorth  Louisiana  Agricultural  Society  for  that  x^urpose,, 
for  all  sales  and  service  fees  of  males.  Live  Stock  will  also  be  sold 
at  x)ublic  auctions,  at  meetings  of  this  Society,  thus  given 
farmers  the  opportunity  to  buy. 

The  XHiceslixed  for  chickens  are  $l  50  for  single  cock,  $2  Otf 
I)er  x)air,  or  *ti^3  00  x^er  trio.  For  x^igs  $2  50  x^er  head.  For  ser-' 
vice  fees  of  bull  $3  00  ; for  hogs,  $1  00.  Other  x^rices  have  not 
been  rex^orted.  Arrangements  are  made  for  taking  care  of  all 
stock  sent,  and  under  no  circumstances  Avill  males  be  x^ermitted 
to  go  off  the  farm  to  do  service. 

Bubina,  the  Holstein  cow,  bought  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Howard, 
Aberdeen,  Miss.,  and  of  the  celebrated  Aggie  family,  has  made 
a record  this  year  of  seven  gallons  milk  x^er  day, and  two  Ibs.butteix 
Beautiful  Princess,  bought  of  Dr.  Wm.  E.  Oates,  Yicksburg, 
Miss.,  and  of  the  famous  Stoke  Pogis  and  St.  Lambert  strain,, 
has  made  a record  with  her  first  calf,  of  four  gallons  milk  per 
day  and  two  x^ounds  of  buiter. 

The  following  record  of  eggs  laid  by  each  breed  of  chickens., 
was  carefully  kept  from  January  until  April:  Langshans,  2 hens, 
96  eggs ; Avanted  to  brood  twice.  Minorca,  2 hens,  86  eggs  x 
Brown  Leghorn,  2 hens,  81  eggs  ; Partridge  Cochins,  2 hens,  79^ 


457 


■«gg’S,  wanted  to  brood,  four  times  ; Liglit  Bramalis,  2 liens,  7() 
eggs,  wanted  to  brood  once  ; Buff  Cochins,  2 hens,  59  eggs, 
wanted  to  brood  three  times  ; White  Plymouth  Bock,  one  hen, 
..50  eggs  5 Barred  Plymouth  Pock,  one  hen,  31  eggs  ; Wyandotte, 
Iheii,  11  eggs  ; Silver  Spangled  Hamburg,  was  not  pnt  on  record 
until  March  1st,  and  one  hen  laid  16  eggs  in  that  time  ; a Pekin 
Duck  laid  23  eggs  during  this  period.  Pemarks  are  withheld 
for  the  present  on  the  dllferent  breeds.  A careful  record  will 
^again  be  kept,  for  entire  year,  together  with  such  characteristics 
• of  good  and  bad  points  as  may  appear  and  will  be  published 
when  fair  tidal  has  been  given. 

The  station  has  recently  erected  a large  and  commodious  hall 
40x60  feet,  built  for  the  purposes  of  the  North  Louisiana  Agri- 
cultural Society,  which  holds  its  meetings  here  the  last  Thursday 
in  each  month.  The  organization  of  this  society  dates  from  the 
establishment  of  this  Station.  Its  officers  are  J.  M,  White,  of 
Lincoln,  President,  and  L.  G.  Drew,  of  Ouachita,  Secretary. 
The  society  is  composed  of  farmers  and  planters  of  North  Louis- 
isiana,  and  its  good  work  in  promoting  agriculture  and  agricul- 
tural methods  and  implements,  is  already  felt  throughout  this 
portion  of  the  State. 

Farmers  of  this  section  are  enthusiastic  over  the  Station  and 
attend  in  large  numbers  the  monthly  meetings  of  the  Society  in 
Agricultural  Hall.  The  V.  S.  and  P.  P.  P.  has  liberally  con- 
tributed to  this  movement  by  running  excursion  trains  on  the 
•day  of  meeting  from  Vicksburg  and  Shreveport,  thus  giving  the 
farmers,  at  a reduced  cost,  an  opportunity  of  insi^ecting  the 
work  of  the  Station  and  of  enjoying  the  benefits  of  the  discussions 
of  the  North  Louisiana  Agricultural  Society. 

A Silo  8x8  feet  was  erected  in  the  barn  during  summer  and 
filled  with  Indian  corn.  Large  African  millet  and  Millo  maize. 
‘The  silo  has  just  been  opened  and  the  ensilage  found  to  be  very 
.good,  so  x)ronounced  by  Dr.  W.  C.  Stubbs,  Dr.  S.  A.  Knapp  and 
Prof.  B,  B.  Boss.  Its  palatability  has  been  tested  by  stock,  and 
.^though  tasting  it  at  first  timidly,  they  now  eat  it  well. 

The  orchard  is  in  good  condition.  But  few  trees  were  lost 


458 


and  these  have  been  replaced  by  others.  A fall  list  andnumber- 
of  varieties  were  given  in  Bulletin  22.  Special  care  and  atten- 
tion will  be  given  to  orchard  and  garden  for  the  Station  has  great 
hope  of  the  fruit  and  vegetable  industries  in  this  section  of  State. 

Six  acres  in  small  grains^  barley  and  oats,  were  planted  in 
November.  One  acre  of  each  was  fertilized  with  200  lbs.  cotton 
seed  meal  and  100  lbs.  acid  phosphate.  One  acre  of  each  will  be- 
top  dressed  in  spring,  and  one  acre  of  each  will  remain  unfertil- 
ized. 

Six  acres,  besides  the  small  plats  have  been  planted  in  grasses 
and  clovers,  viz  : one  half  acre  each  of  Red,  White,  Burr  and 
Alsike  clover  and  Lucerne,  and  one  half  acre  each  of  Kentucky, 
English  Rye,  Red  Top,  Rescue,  Tall  Meadow  Oat  and  Orchard 

grasses.  Only  fair  stands  have  been  obtained  of  some,  others^, 
quite  good.  Report  will  be  made  of  results,  next  year. 

The  following  is  a report  of  all  crops  harvested  on  Station 
during  the  year  ending  December,  1889  : 

GRAINS  AND  GRASSES. 

Small  grains  and  grasses  were  planted  on  very  poor  soil,, 
from  whicli  a heavy  crop  of  pines  and  persimmon  bushes  had 
just  been  removed.  Land  was  broken  in  July,  1888,  with  2 horse* 
Avery  plow,  cross  broken  with  straight  scooten  Oct.  2 and  3. 
Sowed  grain  and  manures  Oct.  16  and  17,  and  iDlowed  in  broad- 
cast with  scooter  plow  and  harrowed  off.  The  grains  were  har- 
vested from  May  10  to  18th. 


VARIETIES  OF  GRAINS. 


Name  of  Variety. 

Bushels  of  grain 
per  acre. 

Pounds  of  straw 
per  acre. 

Centennial  Oat 

24.50 

2805 

Hulh  ss  Barley 

13.75 

3080 

Champion  Barley. 

13.75 

1567 

Martin’s  Amber  Wheat 

3.43 

1443 

White  Russian 

do.  

17.41 

3587 

Saskatchewan 

do.  

13.40 

3861 

Michigan 

do.  

5 50 

1760 

White  Clawson 

do.  

4.58 

2310 

Armstrong 

do.  

3.66 

1815 

Scotch  Fife 

do.  

17.86 

4318 

459 


Below  are  experiments  of  grain  with  fertilizers  : 


NAME  OF  VARIETY 

Kind  and  quantity 
manure  used 
per  acre.  | 

Bushels 
of  grain; 
per  acre. ' 

Pounds  ? 
of  straw* 
per  acre. 

Eed  East  Proof  Oat 

100  bush,  cotton  seed 

59.28 

3190 

do. 

75  “ “ “ 

65.31 

2485 

do.  

50  “ 

33.50 

1678 

do.  

500  lbs.  c.  seed  meal 

51.56 

2612 

do.  _ - 

300  “ “ “ 

36.09 

1485 

do. 

no  manure. 

i 15  47 

715 

do.  - 

u u 

2.5.78 

! 035 

Winter  Barley  _ 

100  bush,  cottonseed 

34.37 

27.50 

do.  _ - _ 

300  lbs  c.  seed  meal 

11.45 

935 

do.  _ 

no  manure. 

nothing. 

— 

On  April  llth,  the  following  remarks  w^ere  made  : 

•‘Saskatchewan  Wheat  begins  to  head,  slight  rust.  White 
Clawson  Wheat,  heavy  rust.  Martin’s  Amber  Wheat,  heavy 
rust.  Scotch  Fife  Wheat^  slight  rust,  doing  well.  White  Eus- 
sian  Wheat,  slight  rust,  doing  well.  Michigan  Wheat,  heavy 
rust,  not  doing  well.’’  Scotch  Fife  and  White  Eussian  Wheats 
Avere  a fair  success,  both  yielding  a good  harvest,  but  little  rust,, 
and  grain  kept  well.  These  two  haA^e  been  i^lanted  again.  The 
others  “rusted”  badly  and  the  weevils  destroyed  the  grain* 
They  were  not  planted  again . 

Hulless  Barley  grows  off  rapidly^  tillers  but  little,  and 
yields  a fair  crop  of  hulled  grain  ; affords  poor  grazing. 

Champion  Two-Eowed  Barley  groAA^s  rapidl}^,  yielding  good 
grain. 

Winter  Grazing  Barley  should  be  planted  on  rich  soil  in 
September  at  rate  of  one  and  one-half  to  two  and  one-half  bushels 
per  acre  5 grows  fast  and  tillers  extensively,  soon  covering  the 
ground  and  affording  an  excellent  AAunter  pasture  for  grazing  or 
soiling  ; also  yields  heavy  grain.  A small  plat  has  been  planted 
for  soiling  pur^AOSes  and  now  furnishes  stock  Avith  gi^een  food. 

CLOVERS. 

Lucerne  (Medicago  Sativa)  has  not  been  a success  thus  far. 
A few  years  are  required  to  test  it.  Blooms  in  May. 


460 


Alsike  {Trifolium  ITylrldum).  llnsatisfactory  test,  having 
poor  stand. 

Bokalira  {Melilotus  Alba).  Poor  stand.  Eesembles  the  Ln- 
eerne  in  growth.  Blooms  in  May. 

Red  Clover  {Trifolium  Pratense).  Stand  not  good,  but  fiir- 
adshes  fine  samples  of  this  variety. 

A melilotus,  or  sweet  clover,  so  extensively  cultivated  in  the 
canebrake  regions  of  Alabama,  was  planted  in  March,  was  a 
fsuccess  in  growth  suliticient  to  furnish  a light  mowing. 

Crimson  Clover  {Trifolium  Incarnation)  is  an  annual  ; should 
be  planted  early  in  September  on  rich  soil  ; grows  luxuriantly, 
and  allows  mowing  in  the  spring. 

White  Clover  {Trifolinm  llepens).  Aot  a full  stand,  and  an 
unsatisfactory  experiment. 

GRASSES. 

Kentucky  Blue  Grass  {Poa  Pratemsis).  Very  satisfactory, 
covering  the  plat  entirely  in  spite  of  being  somewhat  affected  by 
prolonged  drouth  last  summer. 

Velvet  Grass  {Holcus  Lanatus).  In  beginning  of  season  this 
plat  promised  good  results,  but  died  during  the  drouth. 

English  Rye  Grass  {Lalium  Perenne)  Planted  in  October 
will  give  excellent  pasturage  in  early  spring.  Grows  five  to  ten 
inches  in  height. 

Italian  Rye  Grass  {Lalium  Italicum)  has  given  good  results 
and  matures  early.  Is  an  annual,  and  grows  from  eight  to 
twenty  inches  in  height.  Somewhat  injured  by  drought. 

Texas  Blue  Grass  {Poa  Arachnifera)  has  given  best  results  of 
winter  grasses  planted.  Should  be  set  out  in  September  or  Oc- 
tober, with  stalks  eight  or  ten  inches  apart,  as  it  tillers  rapidly 
and  soon  mats]  the  plat.  Goes  to  seed  in  May.  Grows  two  feet 
high. 

Randall  Grass  {Festuca  Pratensis)  was  not  a successful  exper- 
iment. 

Festuca  Elatior  gave  poor  results. 

Rescue  {Bromus  Uniolides)  did  not  come  to  a good  stand. 

Timothy  {Phleum  Prateiisc)  suffered  from  drought,  and  was 
not  a successful  experiment. 


461 


Red  Top  Grass  {Agrostis  Yulgayis)  ^ave  favorable  results, 
‘growirg  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  inelies  high,  and  yielding  good 
Hjiiality  of  hay. 

Orchard  Grass  (Dactglis  Glomerata)  and  Tall  Meadow  Oat 
'‘Grass  (Arrhemitlieniyn  Elatior)  gave  promise  of  good  results,  but 
were  affected  severdy  with  drought. 

Giant  Spuri-y  was  a partial  success,  gi  owing  ten  to  twelve 
inches  in  height.  Seeds  in  May.  Live  stock  are  very  fond  of  it. 

FIELD  EXPERIMENTS. 

Plats  A,  B and  C Avere  devoted  to  rotation  of  crops.  The 
rotating  crops  are  oats  iieas,  cotton  and  corn.  On  iilat  A oats 
were  sown  in  February,  harvested  in  May  and  plat  sown  in  iieas 
in  June,  On  jilat  B was  planted  cotton,  and  on  plat  C corn.  In 
'October  plat  B was  sown  in  oats,  to  be  followed  by  peas  next 
•spring,  and  plat  C to  be  planted  in  cotton,  following  the  corn, 
aind  plat  A to  be  planted  in  corn,  following  oats  and  peas.  This 
rotation  Avill  be  kept  up  for  a series  of  years.  During  that  time 
the  east  half  of  each  plat  will  be  manured  with  an  apjiro- 
priate  fertilizer  ; the  west  half  unmanured. 

The  object  of  these  experiments  is  to  determine  how  much 
our  lands  may  be  ^^built  up’’  simply  by  rotating  crops,  fertilized 
and  unfertilized,  the  rotating  crojis  being  oats,  peas,  corn  and 
cotton.  A careful  record  will  be  kept  each  year  of  each  half 
plat,  and  results  published. 

Below  is  a statement  of  results  : 

Plat  A.  The  fertilized  half  yielded  twelve  bushels  of  oats 
per  acre.  The  unfertilized  half  7.25  bushels.  The  same  plat, 
pi  inted  in  peas  in  June,  yielded  : fertilized  j)lat  8.45  tons  iiea 
vines  per  acre  5 unfertilized  plat  4.22  tons. 

Tlie  peas  grew  very  rank,  and  were  left  standing  to  be  plow- 
ed under  in  January  with  two-horse  turn  plow,  the  plat  to  be 
planted  then  in  corn. 

Plat  B,  Avas  planted  in  cotton.  Land  ay  ell  prepared,  and 
first  half  of  plat  was  fertilized  Avith  cotton  seed  compost  at  rate 
»of  44  bushels  jier  acre,  drilled.  The  formula  being. 

One  ton  of  acid  phosphate. 


462 


100  bushels  stable  manure, 

100  bushels  cotton  seed  meal. 

The  fertilized  plat  yielded  829,22  lbs.  seed  cotton  per  acre^. 
and  the  unfertilized  plat  528  lbs. 

This  has  already  been  sown  in  oats  that  are  now  up  ancl 
growing  nicely. 

Plat  C.  Land  was  well  prepared  and  planted  in  corn  March 
12.  The  tirst  half  plat  was  fertilized  with  corn  compost,  con- 
sisting of 

One  ton  acid  x:)hosphate, 

200  bushels  stable  manure, 

200  bushels  cotton  seed 

applied  in  the  drill,  one  handful  to  hill  at  time  of  planting,  and 
same  quantity  applied  June  3d,  covering  with  two  furrows  of 
turn  plow. 

The  second  half  plat  was  left  unfertilized.  The  manured 
plat  yielded  17.73  bushels  shelled  corn  per  acre,  and  second  half 
plat,  13.09  bushels.  This  x^lat  will  be  planted  in  cotton  the  en- 
suing year.  The  very  line,  marking  where  the  fertilizers  stopped 
in  this  plat,  was  strikingly  indicated  in  the  growth  of  crop,  and 
was  so  marked  as  to  elicit  comment  from  visitors. 


COTTON. 

Exi)eriments  in  cotton  were  of  three  kinds.  Ist^  Maimrial 
tests,  embracing  nitrogenous,  phosphatic  and  potassic  manurt^y 
and  depths  and  application  of  manures  j 2d,  varieties  3d,  dis- 
tance. 

Plat  No  1 Avas  devoted  to  nitrogenous  manures.  The  qnes- 
ti:>ns  propoundod  to  this  plat  are  : 1st,  Does  this  soil  need  nitro- 
gen to  grow  cotton  successfully  2d,  If  so,  in  what  form  can  it 
be  best  presented 3d,  In  what  quantities  per  acre? 

In  this  plat  nitrate  of  soda  and  sulphate  of  ammonia  (mineraJ 
forms)  have  been  tested  with  cotton  seed  meal  and  cotton  s<3ed, 
raw,  rotted  and  composted  (vegetable  forms),  and  such  quantities 
of  each  as  to  contain  24  and  48  x^ounds  of  nitrogen  per  acre. 
Where  24  pounds  per  acre  were  used,  it  is  denominated  as  one 


463 


ration,  and  two  rations  where  48  pounds.  There  are  six  groups- 
of  four  experi  ments  each,  viz:  1,  The  nitrogenous  fertilizer 
alone.  2.  Mixed  minerals,  i.  e.  a mixture  of  acid  phosphate  and 
kainite.  3,  One  ration  of  the  nitrogenous  fertilizer  sombined  with 
mixed  minerals,  and  4,  Two  rations  of  the  nitrogenous  fertilizer 
combined  with  mixed  minerals.  In  addition  to  above,  two 
experiments  have  been  left  un manured  to  secure  the  natural  capaci- 
ty of  the  soil — a starting  point  for  calculating  the  benefits  of  the 
fertilizer  used.  By  comparing  the  experiments  where  nitrogen 
is  used  alone  with  those  unmanured,  we  get  the  benefit  of  nitrogen 
uncombined.  By  comparing  those,  Avhere  nitrogen  combined 
with  mixed  minerals,  has  been  used,  with  those  where  mixed 
minerals  alone  have  been  used,  we  get  the  benefit  due  to  nitrogen 
combined.  By  comparing  results  of  each  form  combined  and 
uncombined  with  its  own  mixed  minerals  and  expressing  the  re- 
sults in  percentages  of  the  last,  the  relative  merits  of  each  form 
of  nitrogen  may  be  determined.  By  comx)aring  the  results  of 
the  one  and  two  rations,  definite  ideas  as  to  quantity  of  nitrogen 
to  be  used  per  acre  may  be  acquired.  Were  the  capacity  of  the 
soil  ot  this  plat  uniform,,  results  could  be  expressed  in  pounds 
instead  of  percentages.  But  it  was  very  irregular,  as  the  experi- 
ments show. 


CULTWATION  OF  PLAT. 

Planted  April  9th.  Fertilizers  distributed  in  drill,  covered 
and  seed  bed  opened  and  seed  planted  and  covered  with  harrow.. 
Cultivated  with  side  harrow  May  with  scooter  and  scrape 
May  17  and  21 — with  shovel  and  large  scrape  June  18  and  25.. 
Hoed  June  5 and  24th. 


464 


Plat  No.  !, --Cotton  Nitrogen  Experiment. 


No. 

cxpt. 


Kind  and  Quality  of  Manure  used  per  Acre. 


Ifl01t)s.  Nitrate  Soda 

240  11')s.  iNIix.-d  Minerals 

f 210  tbs.  Mixed  Minerals) 

I 100  tbs.  Nitrate  Soda  | 

i 240  tbs.  iVIixed  ^Minerals  ( 

\ ‘)i  » tbs.  Nia-ate  Soda  f 

120  ibs.  Sulphate  Ammonia 

240  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 

f 210  tbs.  M ixed  ^Minerals  ) 
j 120  lbs.  Sulphate  Ammonia  / " 
/ 24  I tbs.  Mixed  Minerals  ) 
t 240  tbs.  Sulphate  Ammonia  / “ 

No  Manure 

.%0  lbs.  Cotton  .^eed  Vleal 

24  i lbs.  Mixed  ^Minerals 

{ 240  11)8,  Mixed  Minerals  ) 
f 3f)0  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  ^ 

^ 24 ) lbs.  Mixed  Minerals  / 
j 720  tbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  \ ~~~ 
loin  lbs.  Crushed  Cotton  Seed... 

2:0  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 

i 210  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 
( 1040  lbs.  Crushed  Cotton  Seed 


i 210  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 
/ 2080  lbs.  Crushed  Cotton 


Seed 


1040  lbs.  Rotten  Cotton  Seed.... 

241  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 

t 240  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 
I 1040  lbs.  Rotten  Cotton  Seed 
S 210  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 
} 2080  lbs.  Rotten  Cotton  Seed 

4200  lbs.  Compost 

210  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 

{ 4200  lbs.  Compost  > 

} 80  lbs.  Kainite  / 

^ 8400  lbs.  (.''ompost  I 
/ 80  lbs.  Kainite  s 


^ ield  of 
cotton  in 
seed  per 
acix . 

pounds 

1760 

1180 

1900 

2140 

1530 

1300 

1630 

1790 

840 

131U 

76) 

1470 

1520 

1130 

666 

1000 


1260 

490 

860 

520 

820 


950 

910 

600 

1060 


14-50 


*Mixed  Minerals  consist,  at  rate  per  acre, of  160  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate  MuthSO  lbs. 
■German  Kainite. 


CONCLUSIONS. 

The  answer  to  the  first  question,  ^^Does  this  soil  need  nitro- 
gen is  very  positive.  Both  the  “nitrogen  alone”  experiments 
and  the  “nitrogen  combined  with  mixed  minerals”  give  conclu- 
sive results.  The  average  of  tlie  experiments  5vhere  no  manure 
Avas  used  is  665  lbs.  per  acre.  The  average  of  the  nitrogen  alone 
experiments  is  1310  lbs.,  showing  a gain  due  to  nitrogen  of  645 
lbs.  per  acre.  The  average  of  the  experiments  with  mixed 
manures  is  835  lbs.  The  average  of  one  ration  of  nitrogen  com- 
bined with  mixed  minerals  is  1216  lbs.,  while  that  of  tAVO  rations 


465 


combined  with  mixed  minerals  is  1518  lbs.,  showing  an  excess 
due  to  one  ration  of  nitrogen  of  411  lbs,  and  to  tw'O  rations  of 
683  lbs.  Tiiese  experiments  are  very  positive  in  favor  of  the 
wants  of  this  soil  for  nitrogen. 

The  second  question,  “In  what  form  is  nitrogen  best  presen- 
ted,’’ is  not  detinitely  answered.  T1h‘ excesses  of  nitrate  of  soda 
nncombined  and  combined  over  its  ‘-mixed  minerals”  ai*e  res- 
pectively 540,  720  and  050  lbs  or  46  per  cent,,  61  per  cent,,  and 
81  per  cent.,  over  yield  of  mixed  minerals.  The  excesses  of  sul- 
phate of  ammonia,  uncomluned  and  combined,  over  its  mixed 
minerals  are  respectfully  230,  330  and  400  lbs.,  or  18  per  cent, 
25  per  cent  and  38  ])er  cent  over  yield  of  mixed  minerals. 

The  excesses  of  cotton  seed  meal,  uncombined  and  combined, 
over  its  mixed  minerals,  are  respectively  550,  710  and  760  lbs., 
or  72  per  cent.,  04  per  cent.,  and  100  per  cent.,  over  yield  of 
mixed  minerals.  The  excess  of  crushed  cotton  seed  are  470,  540 
and  600  lbs.  respectively,  or  71  per  cent,  51  per  cent,  and  01  i)er 
cent,  over  the  yield  of  its  mixed  minerals. 

Eotten  cotton  seed  gives  likewise  increased  yields  of  340, 
300  and  430  lbs.,  or  65  per  cent.,  58  per  cent.,  and  83  per  cent., 
over  mixed  minerals. 

By  thus  comparing  each  form  of  nitrogen  with  its  own  mixed 
minerals  and  reckoning  the  excess  in  percentages  of  the  latter 
a true  estimate  of  the  value  of  nitrogen  can  only  be  obtained. 
By  this  we  find  that  cotton  seed  meal  has  given  slightly  be  it  re- 
sults, with  the  crashed  cotton  seed  and  rotten  cotton  seed  follow- 
ing. These  resndts  are,  however,  not  to  be  interpreted  as  con- 
deming  the  other  forms  af  nitrogen — for  they  are  known  to  be 
valuable.  Tliey  rather  tend  to  establish  the  fact  that  nitrogen 
from  cotton  seed  or  meal  is  a most  excellent  form. 

The  third  question,  “In  what  quantity  to  be  used  f ’ is  per- 
hai^s  answered  definitely  from  a pecuniary  standpoint.  Two 
rations  have  given  excesses  over  one  ration  of  respectively  20 
per  cent.,  13  per  cent.,  6 per  cent.,  40  per  cent.,  and  25  x)ercent. 
— or,  240.  160,  50,  260  and  134  lbs.  of  seed  cotton  per  acre. 
Each  ration  contains  24  lbs.  nitrogen  costing  19il  cents  per  lb.  or 


466 


••$4  68-100  per  acre.  If  seed  cotton  be  estimated  at  three  cents 
per  pound,  only  two  of  the  above  show  a profit,  while  three 
show  a loss.  It  is  therefore  of  doubtful  propriety  to  use  a quan- 
tity of  nitrogen  per  acre,  greater  than  24  lbs.  especially  on  very 
poor  soils. 

PLAT  NO.  2 — COTTON  PHOSPHATE  EXPEHIMENTS. 

Here  the  various  forms  of  phosphoric  acid  are  used  alone 
and  combined,  and  in  quantities  of  one  and  two  rations. 

Since  every  good  acid  phosphate  or  dissolved  bone  must  con- 
tain a large  quantity  of  gypsum,  (land  plaster,)  there  has  been 
used  in  small  experiments  only  gypsum,  to  see  how  far  the  re- 
sults from  experiments  with  acid  phosphate  or  dissolved  bones 
ar«  due  to  the  presence  of  this  substance. 

In  this  plat  the  same  questions  are  propounded  wdth  Phos- 
phoric Acid  Manures  as  are  propounded  with  nitrogen  in 
Plat  1,  viz  : 1,  Does  this  soil  need  phosphoric  acid  to  grow 
cotton  successfully  f’  2,  “If  so,  in  what  form  can  it  best 
be  presented  f ’ 3,  3 In  what  quantities  per  acre  Cultivation 

same  as  plat  1.  The  following  are  results  : 


Plat  No.  2. ---Cotton  Phosphate  Experiments, 


No. 

Experim’t 

Kind  and  Quantity  cf  Manure  used  per  Acre. 

Yield  cotton 
seed  per 
acre. 

1 

2 

80  lbs.  Gypsum 

IfiOlhft  T RiniA  

1520  lbs. 
1630  “ 

* 3 ' 

480  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. 

^ Basal  Mixture 

1970  “ 

4 

120  lbs.  Kanit 

, 600  lbs.  Basal  Mixture, 

' . 1 

1920  “ 

5 

' IbO  lbs.  Dissolved  Bone  lilack.  ^ 

1 600  lbs.  Basal  Mixture,  ^ 

2060  “ 

6 

s 

' 320  lbs.  Dissolved  Bone  Black.  ^ 

n 1 Uci  fiTTnfl  n 111  ^ - 

1390  “ 

J fin  ) Iqa  ^ CilT  RllOPplmtC  ■ - -rii  r ir  - - --riiT 

13.50  “ 

8 

9 

con  Miy'tnrp  

1720  “ 

IVInTinfA  

1010  “ 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

< 

i 600  lbs.  Basal  Mixture,  J 

1 

1480  “ 

( 

> 160  Jbs.  Acid  Phosphate,  ] 

> 600  lbs.  Basal  Mixture,  ( 

1 

1 

1420  “ 

1 

6 

> 320  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate,  ' 
60  lbs.  Bone  Meal 

HO  llifl  Roa^.l  AIiYfnvA  . . 

770  “ 

1170  “ 

{ 600  lbs.  Basal  Mixture,  ( 

127tf  “ 

^ 160  lbs.  Bone  Meal,  * 

k 600  lbs.  Basal  Mixture,  < 

1340  “ 

1 

^ 320  lbs.  Bone  Meal,  J 

no  IKa  TOlnoTfl  . _ . 

480  “ 

finO  1 V\ci  Rfi  ca  1 Ml  vf  n . 

920  “ 

{ 600  lbs.  Basal  Mixture,  ( 

830  “ 

^160  lbs.  Floats,  ; 

1 600  lbs.  Basal  Mixture,  , 

J 

840  “ 

^ 320  lbs.  Floats,  ' 

No  Manure 

s : 

330  “ 

*467 


INFERENCES  FROM  THIS  PLAT. 

No  decided  conclusions  can  be  drawn  from  these  exj^eriments, 
due  largely,  doubtless  to  the  variation  in  soil.  That  phosphoric 
arcid  is  needed  by  these  soils  is  perhaps  established,  though  the 
<ivMence  in  favor  ot  it  is  by  means  so  overwhelming  as  with  nit- 
rogen. It  is  also  probable  that  only  the  soluble  forms  of  phos- 
phoric acid  are  immediately  available  in  profitable  returns.  It 
is  beyond  cavil,  that  excessive  quantities  are  not  remunerative. 


In  this  plat  the  same  questions  are  propounded  with  potash 
manures  as  are  propounded  with  nitrogen  in  Plat  1,  viz  : 1st, 
^T)oes  this  soil  need  potash  to  grow  cotton  successfully  f’  2, 
so,  in  what  form  can  it  be  best  presented  f’  3,  ^Tn  what 
cpiaatities  per  acre  f’  Cultivation  same  as  Plat  1.  The  follow- 
ing are  results. 


468 


Plot  No.  3,  Cotton  Potash  Manures. 


No.  ! 
Expt.  I 

Kind  and  Quantity  of  Manures  nsedper  acre* 

Yield  of  seed 
cotton  j)er 
acre. 

1 

1 

‘) 

1 

( 360  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  | j 

j 240  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Hull  Ashes  ) j 

j 360  tbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  ) 1 

790  lbs. 

800  “ 

o 

f ) 

4 

1 

6 

1 4 80  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Hull  Ashes  j i 

120  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Hull  Ashes  ..  i 

{ 240  Add  tSlulte  Phosphate. 

\ 720  tbs.  Meal  Phosphate  | 

( 120  tbs.  Cotton  Seed  Hull  Ashes  J 

Xo  Manure  _ 

410  '' 

1020 

910 

490  '' 

160  tbs.  Kainite 

450  “ 

S 

720  ll)s.  Meal  Phosphate 

1080 

9 

( 720  lbs.  Meal  Phosphate  } 

1030 

10 

( 160  tbs.  Kainite  j 

1 720  tbs.  Meal  Phosphate  ^ 

1100  '‘- 

11 

12 

1 320  tbs.  Kainite  ) 

40  tlis  Muriate  Potash 

530  '' 

720  ttjs.  Me^l  Phosi)hate- 
f 720  tbs.  Meal  Phosphate  ) 

1270 

980 

18 

( 40  tbs.  Muriate  Potash  j 
\ 720  tbs.  Meal  Phosphate  [ 

940 

14 

( 80  lbs.  Muriate  Potash  j 

Xo  Manure  - - _ 

400  '' 

If) 

60  lbs  Sulphate  Potasli 

410  '' 

16 

7^0  tbs  M 3al  Phoq^hate  - - 

1120 

17 

^ 720itts.  Meal  Phosphate  ] 

1020 

18 

19 

1 1 60  tbs.  Sulphate  Potash  ) 

, ^ 720  tbs.  Meal  Phosj)hate  ] 

1130 

1 ( 120  lbs.  S ali^bate  Potash  j 

'■'Meal  Phosphate  consists  of  480  lbs.  of  Cotton  Seed  Meal  with* 
240  pounds  of  Acid  Phosphate  to  the  acre. 


In  this  plat  potash  has  been  used  in  the  following  forms :: 
kalnite,  Cotton  hull  ashes  and  the  muriate  and  sulphate  of  potash. 
Such  quantities  of  each  have  been  taken  as  to  represent  one  and 
two  rations  of  i)otash. 


469 


CONCLUSIONS. 

That  Potash  has  not  been  beneficial  to  cotton  on  this  soil  in 
-any  form  or  quantity. 

PLAT  NO.  4 — COTTON. — DEPTH  OF  MANURE. 

The  questions  propounded  to  this  plat  are,  1st.  “What 
■depth  shall  we  apply  fertilizers  for  best  results  f’  2,  “Shall  they 
be  combined  or  separate  f ’ and  incidently  the  question  is  asked, 
“Do  fertilizers  affect  germination  in  shallow  application 
.Following  are  results  ; 


/st.  Plat  No.  4.  Cotton,  Depth  of  Manure. 


No. 

Exper’t. 

Kind  and  quantity  manure 
used  per  acre. 

How  deep 
applied. 

Yield  of 
cotton  in 
seed  per 
acre. 

1 

f i60  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate,  __ 
^ 40  “ Muriate  Potash, 

6 to  8 inches 

920  lbs. 

:2 

1,360  “ Oottou  Seetl  MeaP- 

f 160  “ Acid  Phosplinte, 

< 40  “ Muriate  Potasii . 

1 

i 

4 to  5 inches 

920  “ 

3 

, (360  “ Cotton  Seed  Meal 

( 160  “ Cotton  Seed  Meal._-- 
< 40  “ Muriate  Potasli  _ 

2 to  3 inches 

1030  “ 

4 

(360  “ Cotton  Seed  MeaP-- 

1160  “ Acid  Phosphate, 

< 40  “ Muriate  Potasli  . 

1 

! 

Top  Dressed 

! 

870  “ 

(360  “ Cotton  Seed  meal 

From  6 to  8 inches  and  4 to  6 inches  give  equal  results,  2 to 
4 inches  give  best  and  “top  dressed’  poorest  yields. 


PLAT  NO.  4— COTTON.  DEPTH  OF  MANURE  USED  SEPARATELY. 

In  this  plat  Cotton  Seed  Meal  is  left  off  in  Experiments  1 
and  2,  combined  in  double  quantity  in  3,  and  in  same  quantlity 
applied  shallow  in  4. 


470 


PIdt  No.  4.  Cotton — Depths  of  Manure  used  Separately. 


Yield  in 

Xo. 

Kind  and  quantity  Manure 

Hoav  deep 

seed  cottoii' 

Expeft. 

used  per  acre. 

applied. 

per  acre. 

1 

( 320  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate 

1 80  “ Muriate  Potash 

6 to  8 inches 

740  lbs. 

2 

( 320  “ Acid  Phosphate 
( 80  “ Muriate  Potash 

Top  Dressed 

680  “ 

( 320  “ Acid  Phosphate 

- 80  Muriate  Potash 

(720  “ Cotton  Seed  Meal 

( 320  “ Acid  Phosphate 

2 to  3 inches 

1400  “ 

4 

- 80  “ Muriate  Potash 

( 720  “ Cotton  Seed  Meal — 

4 to  5 inches 
Top  Dressed 

1140  “ 

It  is  claimed  that  the  three  chief  ingredients  of  commerciar 
fertilizers  have  different  capacities  of  diffusion  through  a soil.. 
Potash  becomes  fixed  as  soon  as  it  comes  in  contact  with  a soil: 
Phosphoric  acid  rarely  descends  deeper  than  a few  inches,  even 
when  applied  in  its  most  soluble  form  ; while  nitrogen  is  very 
diffusible,  rising  or  falling  in  a soil,  according  to  the  amount  of 
moisture  present.  It  descends  with  the  di’ainage  water,  when  an 
excess  of  the  latter  prevails,  and  rises  in  dry  weather  with  the 
capillary  moisture  and  is  left  at  or  near  the  surface^  when  the 
latter  is  evaporated.  The  questions  then  are,  1st.  ‘^At  what  depth 
shall  we  apply  our  manures  to  accomplish  the  greatest  availa- 
bility,” and  2d,  “Shall  we  apply  each  ingredient  separately  and 
at  different  depths  !” 

These  experiments  are  made  merely  to  obtain  suggestions  on 
this  subject,  hoping,  some  day  to  undertake  a thorough 
investigation  of  the  subject.  It  is  suggested  by  these  experi- 
ments, that  Avith  a complete  fertilizer  on  these  soils,  the  best  re- 
sults are  to  be  obtained  by  applying  at  a dei^th  of  about  2 to  ^ 
inches.  Where  cotton  seed  meal  Avas  used  as  a top  dressing  at 
time  of  planting,  germination  was  effected. 


471 


PLAT  4 — COTTON  VAEIETIES. 

There  are  many  varieties  ot*  cotton  offered  yearly  on  our 
market  with  flaming  certificates  of  great  excellence  and  eulogis- 
tic testimonials  of  high  merit.  The  station  has  tested  this  year 
as  many  of  these  varieties  as  could  be  obtained,  at  a great  cost  of 
labor,  time  and  money.  They  were  placed  under  exactly  the 
same  conditions  and  treated,  as  nearly  as  possible,  alike.  Excel- 
lent stands  were  obtained  and  with  great  care  they  w'ere  chopped 
out,  leaving  one  stalk  in  hill  at  equal  intervals.  They  were 
picked  and  weighed  and  each  variety  separately  ginned  on  an 
improved  20  saw  Gullet!  gin  with  feeder  and  condenser,  and 
lint  and  seed  each  carefully  weighed.  Samples  were  reserved: 
and  have  been  sent  to  New  Orleans  for  classification  as  to  quality 
of  lint.  The  following  are  results  : 


riantecl  Mika<lQ  C tton  April  28ra. 


1^ 

2 ^ 


csc;i>(-.o;to>—0':ooc.<io:cnrf^coboi-‘  | ^• 


JT-  aEs;4  2 5g5=g  S:-g 

5 0,3  2 oo  g o'i.'<^g  ® g « 7r9-,3  2 I ^'3  Qa--- 

^33; 


^ ^ ^ yi  G r^ 


•H2 

o|'a 

2'^  uC 

o'^S 


3 f”  aa 


i_i  3 m"  3 ^ '— ' 
‘'^oQw'cck^S 


o,-; 


»cc2  r 


as 
0)  ^ 


a>  p. 


o ro 
0 3 
ft)  3 

*3 


3 3 

a 2? 

o 3: 

<!  pr 


p;  CD  ft) 

3^3. 

» w cc 


'^uim 


K)C50C0^1tO~4C;iCCCS!>l<.»fc-tOK-(— COCDOtO«5  00<IOC?DQH-h;^OOOtOtOtOi>J^rf-OiOOOO  3 >: 

StSS^wcaSS&^Siio^^S&oSooSo^XSci^^^SSto^SiSiSoasS^  j a, 


_ , c K ft 
cr  o o 3“ 
»5  Pj  ^ P- 


'^SS‘^S©fe8^2S^^Sfe8a^Sa8SS85Si2SSS^SSglkggSSS  1 ® 5 

Cu  C 


® o 


o ai  02  pi 


ii8'^88Sko8SS8kJ2§8¥sa‘i^8baag: 


OtOtOCCOi'XiOJtOOiOiOi^^ClL-OOlOC^'OOOOOii— 00i0r-';D5005Oh-CXI-“;DOCD»—  bO 


— I ’:•  "Ti  P- 


30OO 

B 3 3 3 

W ^ N- 

3-2  • • 
•""FpB 
3§ 
Fo 


t-'t^ 
3 55 


i so  o o 

BB3 

QWW 

S sgOP 

s®  § 

• p ^d 
*0 


tOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 

33B33BBB33BB3B 

b^QOQtJ^^C^zopb^w 

re'-srererere2®rere2o2P' 

2a2a^B2^aa^o 

:;  I ^»S.  ^ O -•'2. 0 ’=^  5 O ^ 


B « ?=  >?  B :!-?  F 2-03 

2 y Cf«!  2 re  - . re  so  2 re  o 


b b b td H 1/2 

i-S  >-s  )-!  o o O'® 

, o o o 2 ® ►-•  Q 

■gggi^al 

■S&lt£=)i 

'5-?§.ag 


2 2‘t-H^- 

^®o| 


gS  Fi? 


-o 


00  > 
re  ^ 

p,p 

• w 

a 

3' 

aq 

o 

b 

c 


t>* 

(jq 


p p 
■ BCrs! 
M re 


W 

tp  B 

gw 

p 

s^tio 

O 2 

3 W4 
crq  b 
re  o 

*■  oq 


Q’  3“ 


P-  B* 
s® 
re 


§3 

§0 


p re  Ms 

:^S 

• 50  ^ 

.0 

►rj 


‘saiiaiiaii'a  ^^iojeiOLOO  ’Ojsl  oL^Tca: 


473 


A close  inspection  of  above  table  shows  that  they i eld  of 
seed  cotton  per  acre,  (excluding  Sea  Island,)  varied  from  796  Ibs. 
to  1898  lbs,  while  the  yield  of  lint  per  acre  runs  from  255  lbs.  to 
626  lbs.  Deering’s  Small  Seed  gives  the  largest  per  cent  of  lint, 
followed  closely  by  Peterkin.  Attention  is  directed  too,  to  per 
cent  of  lint  of  Little  Brannon,  Cherry’s  Cluster,  Okra,  Peerless, 
Oats,  Bar  croft’s  Herlong,  Jower’s  Improved,  Shines’  Early, 
Hawkin’ s and  Dickson.  Some  of  the  varieties  have  not  had 
equal  showing  with  others,  and  judgment  must  be  withheld  until 
they  are  further  tried.  A very  poor  strip  of  land  passes  through 
near  the  center  of  plat,  embracing  several  experiments,  while 
the  first  three  or  four  experiments  occupy  stronger  land.  Still 
a close  inspection  of  varieties  show  many  of  them  to  be  without 
any  apparent  merit  on  this  soil.  Caution  is  therefore  necessary' 
on  the  part  of  farmers  before  they  procure  new  seed  in  large 
quantities,  or  abandon  an  old  and  tried  variety  for  a new,  untried 
one.  It  is  best  to  await  trials  and  approval  by  Experiment 
Station  of  all  new  crops  before  any  considerable  investment  in 
seed.  On  application  the  Station  can  furnish  small  quantities 
of  seed  of  any  of  above  varieties. 

PL  IT  V. — COTTOK — DISTANCE. 

The  question  propounded  to  this  plat  is  ‘‘What  distance 
shall  cotton  be  planted  in  drill  for  best  result  in  this  soil,  and 
incidentally  what  is  the  effect  of  topping  cotton  f ’ Three  rows 
were  devoted  to  each  experiment  and  two  of  these  rows  were 
topped  and  one  left  untopped.  Cotton  was  fertilized  with  cotton 
seed  meal  and  acid  phosphate.  Following  are  results  : 


No. 

Experim’t 

Distance  apart  and  No. 
of  Stalks  In  Dril. 

Yield  per  acre 
of  Seed  Cotton 
irom  topped 
stalks. 

Yield  per  acre 
of  Seed  Cotton 
from  un  top- 
ped stalks. 

Excess  of  un- 
topped over 
topped  Cotton 
per  acre. 

1 

1 Stalks  inches  in  drllL__ 

3 1928  lbs. 

1942.  lbs. 

+ 

14  lbs. 

2 

2 stalks  8 inches  in  drill— 

1601.25 

1601.25  “ 



8 

Istalk  12  inches  in  drill 

1719.25 

1942.  .50  “ 

22;8.25  “ 

4 

2 stalks  12  inches  in  drill— 

( 1929.2.5  “ 

2283.7.5  •• 

+ 

a54..50  “ 

5 

1 stalk  10  inches  in  drill  ___ 

1771.76  “ 

1811 

89.25  “ 

0 

2 stalks  16  incnes  In  drill.— 

1. 1969  “ 

1942..50  “ 

— 

26.50  “ 

7 

Istalk  20  inches  in  drill 

1509.25 

16.58.75  “ 

+ 

144..50  “ 

8 

‘2  stalks  2 > inehf's  in  drill... 

1745.5 

1680  “ 

— 

tn..50  “ 

9 

2 stalks  21  in.  h s in  drill 

1509.25 

1470  “ 

89.. 5 “ 

474 


. ^ Experiment  Xo.  4,  two  stalks,  twelve  inches  in  diill,  gives^ 
largest  average  yield  of  topped  and  untopped  cotton,  yielding 
:210(>.50  lbs  seed  cott^  per  acre.  The  next  largest  average  is 
from  Experiment  6,  2 stalks  16  inches  in  dr41,  yielding  1955.75 
lbs.,  and  the  next  is  1935  lbs.  from  Expert.  1,  1 stalk  8 inches. 

A great  deal  has  been  said  about  the  value  of  to]jping  cotton. 
The  above  experiments  and  results  seem  to  suggest  the  wisdom 
and  economy  of  leaving  cotton  untopped. 

The  minus  sign  indicates  the  largest  yield  from  topped 
cotton. 


PLAT  VI  — COTTON.  APPLICATION  OF  MANURES. 

Nitrogen  is  very  soluble.  In  the  soil  it  is  readily  converted 
into  ammonia,  nitrates  and  nitrites,  in  which  forms  it  is  a\^aila- 
ble  as  plant  food,  but  the  loose  sandy  character  of  this  soil  and 
the  soluble  character  of  nitrogen  forces  the  belief  that  an  un- 
known quantity  of  nitrogen  is  leached  from  the  soil  by  rain  and 
is  therefore  lost  to  the  plant.  The  object  of  this  plat  is  to 
determine  if  there  is  any  loss  occurring,  and  if  there  is  any  value 
in  two  or  more  applications  of  nitrogen  manure  during  the 
stages  of  growth.  The  ai)plications  are  made  only  of  nitrogen 
fertilizers,  ibr  potash  is  stationary  in  the  soil  ; jjhosphoric  acid 
nearly  so,  not  leaching  from  it.  The  mineral  mixture  is  con- 
stant throughout,  while  the  nitrogen  fertilizer  and  application 
of  it  varies,  but  only  in  form,  as  the  same  quantity  is  aiiplied  in 
the  first,  second  and  third  applications. 

The  following  are  results  : 


Plat  No.  4 — Cotton.  Application  of  Manures. 


No. 

Experim’t 


Kii  d and  Quantity  of  Manure 
used*  per  acre. 


1 

:2 


3 


4 

•5 

6 

7 

8 

'9 


10 


11 


C240  1bs-  Mixed  Minerals? 

? lf)U  “ Nitrate  Soda  5 

(240  “ Mixed  Minerals,* 

< 80  “ Nitrate  Soda,  ) 

( 80  “ Nitrate  Soda.  

[240  “ Mixed  Vlinerals,  ? 

J Nitrate  Soda,  i 

I '>%  “ Nitrate  Soda,, 

[ 53%  “ Nitrate  Soda, 

C 240  “ Mixed  Minerals,  ( 
^ 121  “ Sulphate  Ammonia,  > 
( 240  “ Mixed  Minerals,  i 

< 60  “ Sulphate  Ammonia,  S 
( 6i»  “ Sulphate  Ammonia,  __ 

!24  » “ Mixed  Minerals,  i 
40  “ Sulphate  Ammenia,  5 
40  “ Sulphate  Ammonia,. __ 
40  “ Sulphate  Ammonia,... 

c 240  “ Mixed  Minerals,  i 

? 360  “ Cotton  Seed  Meal  > 

(240  “ Mixed  Minerals,  ? 

} 180  “ Cotton  seed  meal  5 

( 18i)  “ Cotton  seed  meal 

{210  “ Mixed  Minerals  / 

120  “ Cotton  seed  meal  > 

120  “ Cotton  seed  meal 

120  “ Cotton  seed  meal 

f 24  ■ “ Mixed  Minerals 
) 60  “ Nitrate  Soda, 
c 40  “ Sulphate  ammonia, 

\ 120  “ Cotton  seed  meal.  | 
(240  Mixed  Minerals,  y 

/ Plus  one  half  expt  10  ( 

( Plus  one  half  expt  10 


12 


13 

:14 


['240  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 

J Plus  one  third  expt  10 

i Plus  one  third  expt  10. 

I Plus  one  third  expt  10  . 

( 160  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate,  ... 

< 160  “ Cotton  seed  meal,.. 

( 30  “ Sulphate  Potash 

( 160  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate,  . 

< 30  “ Sulphate  Potash,  . 
( 160  “ Cotton  seed  meal,  . 


When  Applied. 


at  planting,  April  11 

at  planting,  April  11 

at  laying  by,  June  28 

at  planting,  April  11 

second  working,  June  3. 
at  laying  by,  June  28... 

at  planting 

at  planting 

laying  by,  June  28 

at  planting 

second  working,  June  3. 
laying  by,  Jnne  28 

at  planting 

at  planting 

at  laying  by,  June  28 

at  planting 

at  second  working 

at  laying  by 

at  planting 

at  planting 

at  laying  by 

at  planting 

at  second  working 

at  laying  by 

at  planting 

second  working,  June  3. 


Yield  of  Cot^ 
ton  in  seed 
per  acre. 

1150  lbs. 
1190  “ 

1190  '• 
ia50  “ 

1130  “ 

10:10  “ 

1030  “ 

970  “ 

1030  “ 

1080  “ 

1150  “ 

1240  “ 

870  “ 

760  “ 


In  experiment  10  all  the  nitrogen  manures  used  on  other 


•experiments  are  combined,  viz  : nitrate  soda,  sulphate  ammonia, 
cotton  seed  meal  and  the  three  applications  made. 


CONCLUSIONS. 


The  average  of  one  aiiplicaticn  is 1077.50  lbs. 

'The  average  of  two  applications  is 1110  ** 

The  average  of  three  applications  is 1120 


Two  applications  yields  82.50  lbs.  seed  cotton  more  per  acre 
Tthan  does  one  application,  and  three  applications  10  lbs.  more 
than  two  and  42.50  lbs.  more  than  one.  As  the  same  quantity 


476 


is  applied  in  one  application  as  in  application  2 and  3,  the  only 
cost  involved  is  the  labor.  From  these  results  it  may  be  asserted 
that  there  was  but  very  little  profit  arising  from  the  double  and 
triple  applications  of  manure. 


COEN. 

EXPERIMENTS  IN  CORN 

Were  of  two  kinds.  First,  Manorial  requirements,  includ- 
ing under  this  head  nitrogen,  phosphoric  acid  and  potash, 
manures,  and  applications  of  manures.  Second — varieties. 

PLAT  VII,  (X)PN — NITROGENOUS  MANURES. 

The  questions  propounded  are  the  same  as  those  propounded 
with  cotton  in  plat  1,  viz  ; ‘^Does  this  soil  need  nitrogen  to  grow 
corn  successully  f ’ 2nd  ^‘If  so,  in  what  form  must  it  be  presented  f ^ 
^‘3rd.  ^Tn  what  quantities  iier  acre?’’ 

The  mineral  and  vegetable  forms  of  nitrogen  have  been  used 
separately,  and  combined  with  mineral  manures.  ; 

CULTIVATION. 

Corn  was  planted  in  rows,  5 feet  wide,  3 feet  apart  in  drill,. 
March  12th.  Thinned  April  16th  and  plowed  with  side  harrow 
Ajiril  18th.,  with  cultivator  May  4th  ; with  shovel  and  heel 
scrape  May  18th,  and  27th,  giving  final  cultivation  with  same^ 
plow. 


I 


477 


Plat  No.  1 , Corn,  Nitrogen  Experiments. 


No. 

Experiin’ 


tl 

*3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 


13 

14 

15 
j6 

17 

18 

19 

20 
21 

22 


23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

8 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 


Kind  and  quantity  of  manure  per  acre. 


Husli  els 
''helled  corn 
per  HC  re. 


No  Manure 

Il2  lbs.  Nitrate  of  Soda 

168  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 

5 168  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals  } 

^112  lb.?.  Nitrate  Seda 
^ 168  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals  } 

( 224  lbs.  Nitrate  Soda  ) ' “ 
84  lbs.  Sulphate  of  Ammonia. 

168  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 

»6S  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals  , 
84  l!)s.  Sulphate  Ammonia  ' 
168  lbs.  IMixeu  Minerals  i 
188  lbs.  Sulphate  Ammonia  | 

I No  Manure 

; Dried  Bhmd 

168  11)8.  Mixed  Minerals 

j t 168  lbs  Mixed  Minerals  ) 

I ^ 112  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  S ’ 
j ^ 168  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 
j ( 224  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal 
|252  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal. . . 

[168  11)8.  Mixed  Minerals 

t 168  lbs,  Mixed  lilinerals  ) 

/ 252  lbs.  Cotton  Seed  Meal  ^ ' ' 

S 168  lbs  Mixed  Minerals  } 

( 504  lbs.  Cott(»n  Seed  Meal  \ ‘ ' 

!Vo  Manure 

728  lbs.  tJrushed  Cotton  Seed.. 

168  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 

{ 168  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 
} 728  lbs.  Crushed  Cotton  SeeM 
\ 168  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals 
( 1456  lbs.  Crushed  Cotton  Seed 

728  Ids.  Green  Cotton  Seed 

i68  1bs.  Mixed  Minerals 

( 168  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals  > 

( 728  lbs.  Green  Cotton  Seed  ) ' 
\ 16S  lbs.  Mixed  Minerals  ) 

^ 1456  lbs.  Green  Cotton  Seed  S ' 

No  Mai. lire 

2940  lbs.  Compost 

168  lbs  Mixed  Mineralc 

t 56  lbs.  Kainife  ) 

( 2940  lbs.  Co  1. post  ) 

5 56  lb'.  Kainite  ( 

( i880  lbs.  Compost  > 

728 ’bs.^llotten  Cotton  Seed 

168  lbs.  Mixed  .\Iineral8 

< 168  lbs.  Mixed  .Minerals  ) 

/ 728  lbs.  Fotten  Cotton  Seed  \ ' 


24.1'2 

28.32 

25. 

24.26 

25.57 

20. 

15. 

20.37 

24. 

16. 
20.31 

13. 

15. 

15.23 

17. 

9. 

14. 

21. 

9. 

12. 

6. 

14. 

20. 

17. 

11. 

19. 

22. 

la. 

17. 

12. 

14. 

20. 

17. 

12. 

18. 


fOld  turn  and  fence  row  formerly  occupied  this  experiment. 

^“Mixccl  Minerals”  consists  of  two  part^  of  Acid  Phosphate  with  one  parts  of  Ger- 
man Kainite.  Fertilizers  applieil  in  drill  at  time  of  planting. 


478 


CONCLUSIONS. 

It  is  perfectly  safe  to  assert  in  positive  terms  that  this  soil 
needs  nitrogen  badly  for  the  successfal  growing  of  corn,^and  per- 
il ips  the  same  may  be  said  for  every  other  crop.  Ko  form  of 
nitrogen  is  positively  preferred,  which  can  be  easily  shown,  by 
treating  results  as  was  done  under  similar  experiments  with 
nitrogen.  Again  the  double  quantity  of  nitrogen  has  not  been 
remunerative. 


PLAT  NO.  8. — CORN. — PHOSPHORIC  ACID. 

In  this  plat  the  same  questions  are  propounded  to  phospho- 
ric acid  as  were  propounded  with  cotton  in  Plat  2,  viz:  1st.  ‘‘Does 
this  soil  need  phosphoric  acid  to  grow  corn  successfully  V ’ 2nd.  ‘ ‘If 
so,  in  what  form  will  it  be  best  to  present  it?  3rd.  “In  what 
quantities  per  acre?” 

Cultivation  and  application  of  manures  same  as  in  plat  7. 


PLAT  NO.  8.  CORN — PHOSPHORIC  ACID  EXPERIMENTS. 


d 


Kind  and  Quantity  Manure  Used  Per  Acre. 


1 ' 56  lbs  Gypsum 

2 112  lbs  Dissolvecl  Bone  Black 

3 ‘420  lbs  Basal  Mixture.... 

4 420  lbs  Basal  Mixture,  112  lbs  dissolved  bone  black. 
420  lbs  Basal  Mixture,  224  lbs  dissolved  bone  black. 
56  lbs  Gypsiiiii. 

112  lbs  Acid  jibospbate. 

420  11)8  Basal  Mixtu.  e. 

Nt  manure. 

420  lbs  Basal  3Ii.\ture,  112  Acid  pliospbare 

420  lbs  Basal  Mixture,  224  lbs.  Acid  pbospbato. 

112  lbs  Bone  Meal 

420  lbs  Basal  Mixture 

14  I 420  lbs  Bar-al  Mixture,  112  lbs  Bone  meal 

15  420  lbs  Basal  Mix+ure,  224  lbs  Bone  meal 


26.69 

28 

25 

23 

21 

14.49 

13 

20 

12 

22.19 
22.18 

14.19 
17 

16 

19 


CONCLUSIONS. 

The  results  here  would  indicate  the  same  inferences  as  for 
cotton,  viz  : That  phosphoric  acid  is  perhaps  needed.  That 
the  soluble  forms  are  to  be  preferred.  That  excessive  quantities 
nre  unprofitable. 


i 


479 

PLAT  NO.  9. — CORN. — POTASH. 

In  this  plat  the  same  questions  are  propounded  to  potash  as 
were  propounded  with  cotton  in  Plat  2.,  viz  : “Does  this  soil 
need  potash  to  grow  corn  successfully  f ’ 2nd.  ^ ‘If  so,  in  what  form 
'Can  it  be  best  presented  f’  3rd.  “In  what  quantities  per  acre.” 
Cultivation,  etc.,  same  as  in  Plat  7, 

Following  are  results  : 


PLAT  NO.  9. — CORN. — POTASH  EXPERIMENTS. 


Kind  and  quantity  manure  used  p^'r  acre 


O 3 

II 


33 

1 

84  n>s.  RPipd  linll  jirIipr.*.. 

10 

•2 

504  lbs.  Meal  ]>hos])hate 

18 

504  I1>R.  Mp:i1  plujRpbnfp,  70  ll'js.  nslips 

19.38 

4 

5h4  lbs.  Mpa.1  pboRpluitp^  140  lbs.  rrIipr 

18.24 

13 

5 

No  M >1 1)  n I’p 

6 

ll2n»R  (-TPrninri  Irnioifp 

15.22 

7 

.504  Ibw.  Mp.0,1  ]»liosplin,t,p 

22 

8 

.504  lbs.  Mpn.l  ]>}inspbatp,,  112  lbs.  Opmuhii  Icsiiiiitp 

22.53 

9 

.504  lb«.  Mpn.1  pboR]>]ii  t.p,  224  Ibn  Opnnini  Ir.'i.iiiito 

25.18 

to 

28  lbs.  Muriate  potash 

18 

11 

.504  lbs.  Meal  ]»hospliate 

25.39 

42 

.504  11>«.  Mpa,l  ])bos|iba4p,  28  lbs.  niiiria.tp.  potash 

24.11 

1? 

504  lbs.  Meal  phosphate,  56  lbs.  muriate  p«)ta8h 

22.4 

14 

If 

No  manure 

20.31 

12  lbs.  Snlphnfp  potash 

18.4 

1( 

')04  lbs.  Meal  pbosohatp,  42  lbs.  siilphntp.  potash 

24.08 

i; 

)04  lbs.  Meal  phosphate,  84  lbs.  sulphate  potash 

24 

If 

Vo  manure 

12 

CONCLUSIONS. 

Thcvse  experiments  fail  to  show  that  potash  is  required  by 
vAihis  soil  in  any  quantity  or  form  to  grow  corn. 


480 


/ 


PLAT  NO.  10.  — CORN. — APPLICATION  OF  MANURES. 


Kind  and  quantity  of  manure  used  per  acre. 


When  applied 


10 


11 


12 


t *'168  lbs.  Mixed  minerals 
^ 112  lbs.  Nitrate  soda 

! 168  lbs.  Mixed  minerals 
56  lbs.  Nitrate  8‘>da. 

56  Ib^  Nitrate  soda 

f 168  lbs.  Mixed  minerals 
J 37^  lbs.  Nitrate  soda 

I .37^  lbs.  Nitrate  soda 

lbs.  Nitrate  soda 

t 168  lbs.  Mixed  minerals 
} 84  lbs.  Suljihate  amniouia 
flOSlbn.  Mixe<l  minerals 
^42  lbs.  Sulphate  ammonia 
f 42  lbs.  Snljdiate  ammonia. 
I 168  Jbs.  Mixed  mim  rals 
J 28  lbs.  Sulphate  ammonia 
j 2.8  lbs.  Snljihate  •sunmonia. 
1 2-8  Jbs.  Sulphate  ammonia. 
^ 168  lbs.  Mixe<l  minerals 
) 252  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal 

S 168  lbs.  Mixed  minerals 
126  lbs.  Cotton  8(*ed  meal 
126  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal..  . 

i 168  lbs.  Mixed  minerals 
84  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal 
84  Ills  Cotton  seed  meal..  .. 
84  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal. ..  . 
fl68  lbs.  Mixed  minerals, 

J 37^  lbs.  Nitrate  soda 
j 28  lbs.  Sulphate  ammonia 
I 78  lbs.  Cotton  seeil  meal 
f 168  lbs.  Mixed  minerals 
I 18f  lbs.  Ni- rate  soda 
I 14  lbs.  Sulphate  ammonia 
■{  42  lbs.  Cotton  s ed  meal 
I 18f  lbs.  Nitrate  soda 
I 14  lbs.  Sulphate  ammonia 
[ 42  lbs.  Cotton  8ee<l  meal 
fl68  1bp.  Mixed  minerals 
j 12  4-9  lbs.  Nitrate  soda 
I 9^  lbs.  Sulph.4te  ammonia 
26  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal 
j 12  4-9  lbs.  Nitrate  soda 
I 9|^  lbs.  Sulphate  ammonia 
I 26  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal 
12  4-9  lbs.  Nitrate  soda 
I 9f  lbs.  Sulphate  ammonia 
1^26  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal 


.At  time  of  planting 

.At  planting 
At  laying  by 
.At  planting 

.Second  working 
Laying  by 

.At  planting 

.At  jihinting 
.At  laying  by 
.At  planting 

.Second  working 
.Laying  by 

.At  planting 


.At  planting 


.At  planting 

.Second  working 
Laying  by 

.At  planting 


.At  planting 


? At  laying  by 


.At  planting 

Second  working 
.At  laying  by 


22  bushels- 
24  bushels. 

26  bushels’. 
19.5  bushels.. 

20  bushels-- 

24  bushelsi'.. 

22  bushel®-- 
24  bushels- 

28  bushels?- 

21  bushels* 


25  btEs-belss 


28.21  bushelsv 


“Mineral  Mixture”  consists  of  acid  jihosphate,  with  Crermau  kaiuite,  at  rate* 
of  168  lb®,  per  acre. 


CONCLUSIONS. 

Dividing  the  manures  into  three  a ^plications  has  given  oei 


481 


:an  average  5.43  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre  more  than  one, 
;and  3.30  over  tw^  applications.  Two  applications  givas  an  ex- 
*cess  over  one  of  2. 13  bushels.  The  increase  for  corn  from  apply- 
ing the  manures  at  different  times  is  strikingly  larger  than  for 
■'Cotton.  Gan  the  tap  root  of  cotton  intereei)t  the  lieeing  nitrogen 
.at  greater  depths  than  the  fibrous  rooted  corn  ? 

The  above  suggests  the  wisdom,  especially  on  loose,  sandy 
isoils,  of  dividing  the  fertilizers  intended  for  corn  and  api)lying 
it  at  different  times  during  growth. 

Incidentally  this  plat  shows  that  a mixture  of  nitrogenous 
manures  has  no  superiority  over  cotton  seed  meal  as  a fertilizer 
for  corn,  even  when  applied  at  intervals. 


PLAT  NO.  11— COKN  VARIETIES. 

This  plat  was  well  prepared  and  corn  planted  March  12th. 
Tt  was  fertilized  with  the  Station’s  compost,  mixed  at  rates  of 
.200  bushels  cotton  seed,  200  bushels  stable  manure  and  2000  lbs. 
lacid  phosphate,  applied,  one  handful  to  the  hill  at  time  of 
planting,  at  rate  of  about  30  bushels  per  acre.  Corn  gathered 
.'September  22.  It  was  weighed  in  shucks  ; then  shucked  and 
.'Shelled,  and  shuck,  cob  and  grain  weighed  separately,  and  per 
■scent,  of  each  calculated.  Eesults  are  as  follows  : 


The  Station  will  gladly  liirnisli  small  quantities  of  seed  of  any  of  the  above  varieties  upon  application. 


1 ^0-  P'xpeviiTi  e [ 

H:  i X 'f  = s ?!  H =•  * I r ;;=3- 

2 ^ S 5'  ^ E-'^.£  ~5.  = s 

l=  = = ^S;*|-g§-j::  : ISjfSr 

|g|<|5^||r  = = |:  : F;:  r|^: 

r O : pr:=-=  : : : : n; 

'•  • 9 ►t-'U  ? It  • ^ • I ’.  I • I 1 ^ : 

■ - Q ^ ^ ^ 

• • • rr  • • Jih  •••^ 

r i 

1 ' il 

1 !■ 

F 

’t:  ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ X 

X 2.  p ^ U ::  ' ? ?=  x < p = ?^  C iT 

2“  2^?  = 

X 5-  2 ^ I o*-'  2 2 2 5 -“  • 

i |r  V.2-.:  St?  ' ’-i:  ® J||y2  o; 
p|  \j:|j  =1 

•■':::  5 :=  : : : 

1 |:  : : ?:  r:  .\'f  : ?f  : Fi  f i i 

1 • • • f-l<  ••••*,•  M • • , • 

' ’**(7c Jc’*,I*** 

1 -i 

I 

i 1 1 

i 1 

I i 

1 " 

1 

1 

1 1 

! I 

i ! 

'X)(C -'cr.  M)rf>.04^i— X — C5^XO:iO-^O.fc. 

n^fi— «XOOiX'— OClOfLnO  — H- Xt,TX5XO 

J i 

Yield  Per  Acre 
in  Slnicks 

x:cnc.nwc;Oht^i— oorfi-tixiji^xoioiw'co 

ao  bi  io  x In  L o ^ o o o lo  Ic  w io  •-• 

O'  io  4-  c:  o o>  Oj  io  w-'  pC*  o o — tn  o oi  o o O'  X 

Per  Cent  Grain 

C:  O C,n  C;t  OMw  in  O O C;  O O in  O O CT  O 

1 Per  Cent  Cob 

1 

OiOOO.fc..JOXJO—  ^C^tOOX^CJ'O^i— 

00  o cr.  O ^ <C  NO  cc  ii  "o  Ic  iu  lo  ^ O bo  on  On 

on  X “ Xj  O'  O to  O O cr.  O O O'  O'  on  O on  On  ^ 

1 Per  Cent  Shucks 

W—  * Uw 

^ 00  00  o ^ — cr.  ic  c%  CO  ^ to  O'  00  o cr.  c: 
X 1—  x:;  be  (.0  o:  — — to  ^ O'  CT5  4^  00  on  O'  p O' 

CTSOOCt  — F-CttOOntCCtO^O'^tOO'^tOiOnO' 

i Y'ield  Per  Acre  in  ^ 

1 Shucked  Corn  j 

1 5 32-  ^f3 

^^CDO  ® ® ®®^  Ot.g® 

csS?  ? ,=.?? 

S“’25-'o  5-  S-5“ 

^ 'tA  >-  s: 

.2  |,1  2 1 

1 = 

33 

Kind  of  ('oi  n 

RESULTS  or  PLAT  XI — VARIETIES  OE  CORN. 


483 


PLAT  NO.  XII. 

Was  devoted  to  sugar  cane  and  sorghum.  In  the  regular- 
sorglium  crop  seven  varieties  were  planted  : 

Early  Amber  Sorghum — Stalk  small  and  he:ids  light. 
Matures  several  weeks  ahead  of  aay  other  varieiy.  Too  small 
for  much  tonnage. 

Early  Orange — Medium  stalk,  lieavy  heads  ; cures  well  into- 
hay.  Matures  two  to  three  weeks  later  than  Early  Amber.  An 
excellent  vaiuety  for  forage. 

New  Orange — Similar  in  every  respect  to  Early  Orange. 

White  India — Very  large  stalk,  heavy  white  seed  heads 
Matures  much  later  than  Amber.  Cures  well.  Tonnage  heavy 
p]xcellent  for  forage. 

Link’s  Hybrid — Heavy  heads.  Very  large  stalks.  Cures, 
well.  Matures  with  White  India.  Tonnage  heavy.  Excellent 
for  forage. 

Golden  Eod — Large  stringy  heads.  Stalk  quite  large  and 
tall  and  red  in  color.  Cures  well.  Tonnage  large. 

Minnasota  Early  Amber — Similar  to  Early  Amber. 

Kansas  Orange — Similar  to  New  Orange. 

A careful  chemical  analysis  was  made  of  varieties  in  Sep- 
tember and  the  tonnage  and  forage  qualities  tested.  The  readily 
cured  blades  are  eaten  with  avidity  by  cattle,  while  the  seed 
heads  are  excellent  for  both  stock  and  poultry.  The  following 
per  acre  was  obtained  : 


Early  amber 7.39  tons. 

Minnesota  Early  Amber 8.73 

Early  Orange 10.58 

New  Orange 10.60 

Kansas  Orange 13.94 

White  India 16.88 

Link’s  Hybrid ' 15.70 

Golden  Eod ’ 12.43 


Besides  these,  99  varieties  w^ere  received  from  Sugar  Exper- 
iment Station,  Kenner,  and  'planted  April  19th.  Quite  a num- 
ber of  varietie.^  failed  to  come  up,  having  planted  in  many  in- 
stances very  few^  seeds.  Those  that  did  come  and  ripened  before 
frost  were  carefully  analyzed,  with  some  veiy  promising  results, 
and  seed  carefully  saved. 

Besides  the  regular  crop  of  purple  sugar  cane  planted,  the 
Sugar  Experiment  Station  donated  to  this  Station  in  March, 
29  varieties  of  foreign  growm  canes.  Sufficient  seed  has  been  ob- 
tained to  make  small  planting  the  coming  year.  The  canes  grew 
nicely  and  x^rouiised  well.  Tlie  hardy  Japonica  cane  is  also 
growm  and  will  probably  do  well  in  this  latitude.  The  imrple 
caue  yiekksl  20.80  tons  per  acre,  an  excellent  yield  for  this  land.. 


9 

::  - s ^ s sS 

>-MMCOCOCOCObObCM 

OOOh-Mh-OCOOO 

' 

Date 

:atioii  -_  — 

nation  --  — - 

nation. — — . 

nation,  Japanese  Oane-  _ . 

A.  Stamper,  .Lincoln  Parish 

, M.  White  --  - 

"iltoii  Hammons,  Ouachita  Parish-. 
A\  Morris,  Ouachita  Parish,  Stubbl 
, ¥.  Camp 

Plant 

BY  WHOM  SENT 

^ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

9 01  ! 1 1 1 ! 1 

p p , 1 1 1 1 1 1 

p p 1 1 1 1 1 1 

1 t (f  > 1 1 1 1 1 1 

1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

1 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 > 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

! h- ^1— 

1 cs^^ptoiox^aioioi 

Total 

COMM 

_ Ci 

/ 

Solids 

< 

‘ tOMMMMMMMMM 
CO  CO  CO  to  to  bO  bO  CO  to  tsO 

J to  00  Oi  <PT  CO  03  O 00-^ 

Per  Cent 
Sucrose 

^ to  to  to  to  to  to  CO  to  to  to 

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ble  Sugar 
Per  Ton  on 
70  Per  Cent 
Extraction 

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ANALYSES  OF  SUGAR  CANE. 


485 


The  Station  proposes  making  sugar  next  season.  In  view 
•of  that  fact,  as  well  as  to  try  the  experiment,  nearly  an  acre  of 
‘cane  was  planted  in  fall,  a good  quantity  pro,serve,l  in  mat  and 
all  the  stubble  preserved.  Thus  far  both  stubble  and  plant 
are  keeping  nicely,  stubble  coming  up  and  plant  si^routing,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  that  the  experiment  will  be  successful.  The 
X^eople  of  North  Louisiana  are  anxious  to  make  their  own  sugar, 
and  the  Station  to  serve  the  people,  is  glad  to  bd  the  pioneer  in 
this  new  industry.  Already  North  Louisiana  practically  makes 
her  own  syrup  from  sugar  cane. 


PLAT  NO.  13 

Was  devoted  to  Forage  crops.  Bulletin  No.  22  gives  full 
description,  history  and  feeding  qualities  of  these  plants. 

The  fodder  is  not  inferior  to  corn  fodder,  nor  are  the  seed 
heads  much  inferior,  if  at  all,  to  Indian  corn.  They  are  eaten 
by  all  kinds  of  stock,  including  poultry.  The  Eural  Branching 
sorghum,  Millo  Maize  and  Large  African  Millet  are  also  adapted 
to  silo  1)11  r poses. 

The  following  were  planted  : Pearl  Millet,  Teasinte,  Large 
African  Millet,  Millo  I^laize,  Riii  iil  Branching  sorghum,  Kaffir 
corn  and  Black  Giant  sun  (lower,'  the  latter  a magnificent  chicken 
food.  Besides  these,  Seradella,  L ithyrus  Satious,  Lupins,  La- 
thyrus  Hirsutus,  Winter  Horse  Bern,  Soja  Bean,  (all  belonging 
the  leguminosal  family  and  closrdv  related  to  the  pea),  and 
Mammoth  Russian  sunflow  er,  were  planted,  but  with  poor  re- 
sults. Winter  Horse  Bean  was  a total  failure.  Soja  Bean, 
though  ranking  high,  as  a forage  plant,  with  some  Western  and 
Northern  experiment  stations,  has  failed  every  year  to  recom- 
mend itself  here.  The  results  of  the  present  year,  however,  were 
better  than  previous  years,  and  perhaps  it  may  yet  grow  into 
popularity.  It  certainly  has  qualities  to  recommend  it.  The 
large  leaf  surface  and  upright  stock,  bearing  pods  in  abundance, 
may  yet  place  it  high  among  forage  plants.  The  other  plants 
failed  largely  to  come  to  a stand  and]  those  that.: did  eome  were 
un.^  uccessful. 


486 


/ 


PLAT  NO.  14. — SUNDRY  CROPS. 

There  were  planted  in  this  plat  three  varieties  of  peanuts,, 
chiifas,  and  eleven  of  field  peas. 

Spanish  Peanut — -A  desirable  variety,  early,  a fine  bearer^^ 
growth  perfectly  erect,  not  spreading  on  the  ground  like  the 
common  kinds  of  peanut,  and  therefore  easily  cultivated,  the 
plow  doing  all  the  work.  Also,  in  harvesting,  all  the  peas  hang 
to  the  root  and  can  be  rapidly  gathered.  Planted  in  April  they 
ripen  in  August,  and  planted  as  late  as  July  1st  to  1 0th,  will 
mature  full  crops  before  frost.  Therefore  they  are  useful  to  fol- 
low after  oats.  The  stems  grow  erect,  are  easily  harvested  for 
forage,  making  the  richest  quality  of  hay.  The  pea  is  smaller 
than  the  Virginia  peanut,  but  very  sweet,  fills  out  well,  makes 
no  pods.  Can  be  planted  close  in  the  row  and  in  the  drill,  yield- 
ing largely  per  acre.  Splendid  to  fatten  hogs  and  children. 
The  vine  retains  its  greenness  much  longer  than  other  varieties, 
suggesting  its  Superiority  for  forage. 

The' present  year,  six  large  wagon  loads  were  gathered  from- 
less  than  one  quarter  acre,  supplying  a large  quantity  of  forage, 
hard  to  excel  in  nutritive  and  palatable  value,  all  stock  eating  ib 
with  great  relish. 

Virginia  Peanut — Vines  large  and  growing  flat  on  the- 
ground,  fruiting  from  tap  root  to  extremity  of  vine.  Fruit 
faulty  ,*  two  to  four  nuts  to  pod.  Pods  large  and  colored  lighb 
pink.  Yield  medium. 

Georgia  Eed  Peanut — Vines  medium  size,  growing  up  from 
the  ground  and  fruiting  principally  near  the  tap  root.  Pods, 
faulty  ; three  to  four  nuts  each.  Color  red.  Worthless  pea. 

cow  PEAS. 

Unfortunately;  but  little  is  known  of  the  botany  of  this 
genus  of  plants,  which  has  been  erroneously  styled  a pea.  It  is 
really  a bean,  Dolichos,’’  but  the  species  under  this  genus 
have  never  been  fully  determined.  Of  varieties  we  have  a great 
number,  i:>resenting  differences  in  habits  of  growth  and  matur- 
ing, and  giving  seed  of  every  size  and  quality,  and  of  every 
shade  of  color  from  the  purest  white  to  the  deepest  black.  This 


487 


crop  is  highly  priz(  d for  fertilizing  i3iirposes  among  the  sugar 
planters  of  South  Louisiana,  but  elsewhere  throughout  the  South 
it  does  not  receive  one-half  the  attention  which  its  valuable 
proi^erties  should  merit.  In  time  it  is  hoped  that  both  its  botany 
and  its  ecionomical  position  in  Sonthern  agriculture  will  be  both 
fully  understood. 

The  following  varieties  were  this  year  grown  : 

“ Pea  of  the  Backwoods,  or  the  Old  Man’s  Friend — This  pea 
was  brought  to  notice  two  years  ago  by  the  letters  of  Mr.  Edward 
Fonville,  of  Onslow^  county,  N.  C.,  in  the  Southern  Cultivator. 
It  was  recommended  as  the  earliest  bunch  pea,  and  excellent  for 
table  use.  It  has  so  proved,  twm  weeks  ahead  of  any  other,  a 
larger  bearer,  and  as  a shell  pea  for  table  use,  tender,  marrowy 
and  palatable.  Are  ripe  for  table  use  just  six  weeks  after  plant- 
ing. It  is  a bunch  pea  strictly,  therefore  affording  not  muck 
vine.  The  seed  are  small,  cream  colored,  slightly  ^pied.’  Very 
prolific.” 

At  Calhoun  it  matured  in  forty  days. 

“ The  Unknown  Pea — Is  a greenish  white  color,  with  white 
eye,  full  size,  makes  much  vine,  vigorous  growth,  large  bearer. 
Pods  long  and  very  full,  and  in  favorable  seasons  continues  to 
nnake  or  bear  fruit  during  several  weeks.  It  is  a very  fine  pea, 
w orthy  to  come  into  general  use.  The  Boss  Pea  advertised  lash 
yejir  proved  to  be  identical  with  the  Unknown.” 

At  Calhoun  it  was  very  late  bearing,  but  gave  heavy  yield  of 
peas  and  an  exceedingly  heavy  foliage. 

Dwarf  Whippoorwill  Pea. — A bunch  pea,  with  but  little 
vines.  Begins  fruiting  in  fifty  or  sixty  days.  Berry  speckled, 
pods  long  and  full,  yield  good. 

Clay  Pea, — Vines  and  foliage  medium.  Begins  fruiting  in 
seventy-five  days.  Yield  good.  Berry  cream  colored  with  wddte 
eye,  medium  in  size.  Pod  of  medium  length  and  not  crowded, 
keeps  well. 

Lady  Pea, — A small  white  pea,  wdiite  eye,  with  considerable 
vine  of  medium  foliage.  Begiiis  fruiting  in  ninety  days  from 
time  of  planting. 


488 


White  Prolific  Pea. — White  pea  with  black  eye,  vines  large, 
foliage  heavy,  yield  of  peas  good.  Bears  in  eighty  to  ninety 
<lays.  Berry  large  and  closely  resembling  the  next  variety.  A 
gi)od  table  pea. 

Large  White  Pea. — Vines  and  foliage  heavy,  very  late  fruit- 
ing. A large  white  pea,  black  eye,  and  very  prolific.  Bears  in 
ninety  days. 

Indian  Pea. — A large  ‘diver  and  white  pied’^  pea,  with  long 
and  crowded  pods.  Very  prolific.  Vines  and  foliage  heavy. 
Begins  fi’uiting  in  sixty  to  ninety  days.  Berry  soft  and  does  not 
keep  well. 

King’s  Pea. — A large  black  and  white  pied  pea.  Large  and 
crowded  pod.  Vines  and  foliage  heavy.  Very  prolific.  Begins 
fruiting  in  sixty  to  seventy  days.  Berry  too  soft  to  keep  well. 

Blue  Pea — A small  blue  bunch  pea.  An  excellent  bearer 
and  early,  maturing  peas  from  fifty  to  sixty  days  after  planting. 

Chufas — Were  a splendid  success,  giving  a large  yield,  sug- 
gesting and  proving  themselves  to  be  a splendid  crop  for  hogs, 
i-t*  ;^)|JiThe  station  has  preserved  seed  of  all  the  above  varieties  and 
can  supply  farmers  small  quantities  of  any  variety. 

In  Plat  15  was  a small  plat  of  sweet  potatoes.  Two  varieties 
were  used,  Yellow  Yams  and  Jersey  Sweets.  Potatoes  were  set 
out  June  4th,  on  freshly  prepared  land,  rows  31  feet  wide  by  18 
inches  in  drill. 

The  following  are  the  results  : 


Ivind  atul  quantity  of  niauure  used  ])er  acre.  | 

Variety.  j 

1 

1 

Yield  perl 
Acre  iu| 
pounds. ' 

i ! 

200  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal,  'i 

lO”?  11*8  Sulpliate  potasli  / 

Yams 

3160  lbs 

60  lbs  Acid  phosphate  ) 

300  11*8.  Cotton  seed  meal, 

O/Irt  IKq  liiill  n.filiAfi  >...  

Jersey  Sweets 

Jersey  Sweets 
Yams 

1 7100  lbs 

1 upj  \«/i  * 1/  UM 11  ooc/'i  11  rii.  i C4/01H-/0  / •••  •••••••»••••••••••• 

60  lbs.  Acid  phosphate.  } 

300  Cotton  spoil  - 

2780  lbs 

^40  ll)fl  Cotton  sppd.  linll  - 

3180  Ibg 

.Jersey  Sweets 

11720  lbs 

uicinurP*  •••.♦  * ••  ••  •• 

.Jersey  Sweets 

9P60  lbs 

300  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal.  105  lbs.  sulphate  potash..  .. 
300  lbs.  Cotton  seed  meal.  240  lbs.  cotton  seed  hull  ashes 

Alixed 

Mixed 

11000  lbs 
8900  lbs 

The  Jersey  Sweets  are  a new  potato  in  this  country.  They 


.489 


are  yellow  skin  and  meat,  very  dry  and  meally,  sweet  and  well 
flavored.  The  potato  is  rather  small,  but  good  bearer.  They  are 
quite  popular  in  Northern  markets.  The  prolonged  drouth  of 
mid  summer  and  early  fall  decreased  the  yield  in  large  measure. 


nd. 


cS 


A 

1890* 
J890 
206.^ 
224i> 
1680 
2388 
199i). 
206.'> 

These  experiments  are  not  absolutely  correct.  In  handling 
some  grain  was  unavoidably  wasted. 

PLAT  NO.  17. 

This  plat  was  devoted  to  watermelons,  planted  April  5th,. 
1889.  Bedded  rows  with  one  horse  Avery  plow,  8 by  20  feet  ; dug 
hole  18  inches  square  by  18  inches  deep  and  in  holes  1 peck 
of  compost  to  the  hill,  mixing  well  with  soil,  leaving  3 inches  of 
soil  on  top. 

They  were  i3lowed  May  21st  with  short  shovel  and  heel 
scrape,  and  hoed  them  once. 

Experiment  No.  1 — “ Pride  of  Georgia.  ” — A round  melon 
with  green  rind  and  vSx)anish  seed,  flesh  red  tender,  and  exceedingly 
sweet  and  highly  flavored — a little  late. 

Experiment  No.  2 — ‘^T.  J.  Bird.” — Named  for  our  Com- 
missioner! of  Agriculture,  Major  T.  J.  Bird — A round  melon  and 
sometimes  a little  oblcng,  green  rind  with  Spanish  seed,  red  flesh, 


PLAT  NO.  16— RICE. 

Eice  was  planted  April  12th,  in  drills  on  well  i^repared  la 
Below  are  the  results  : 

PLAT  NO.  16 — RICE  EXPERIMENTS. 


Kiud  and  Quantitv  of  iManure  Used  Per  Acre. 


1 300  lbs  Cotton  seed  meal 

2 150  lbs  Acid  phosphate 

3 50  lbs  Kainite 

4 |3001bs  Cotton  send  menl,  150  lbs  Acid  phosphate 

.5  |l00  Acid  ])hosphate  50  lbs  Kainite 

()  |300  11)8  Cotton  seed  meal,  75  lbs  Kaimte. 

7 jsOO  lbs  Cotton  seed  meal.  150  lbs  Acid  phosphate,  75  Kainite. 

8 jXo  Manure 


-a  ^ 


770 

806 

'll20 

1120 

1050 

1312 

1085 

1015 


490 


very  tender,  exceedingly  sweet  and  a delicious  flavor.  Will 
grow  to  weigh  50  pounds,  doubtless  originated  from  the  Pride 
of  Georgia.^’  These  two  varieties  excel  all  others. 

Experiment  ^^"0.  3 — ‘‘ Kalb’s  Gem.’’ — A round  melon  with 
i*ind  of  light  and  dark  green  stripes,  black  seed,  red  flesh,  very 
Arm  or  tough,  thick  rind,  good  flavor,  large  size. 

Experiment  Ko.  4 — Burpe’s  Iron  Clad.” — An  oblong  mel- 
on with  light  rattlesnake  rind,  light  red  flesh  that  is  soft  and  not 
particularly  sweet — grows  extremely  large. 

Experiment  Ko.  5 — 'Tee  Cream.”  A small  melon  but  of  ex- 
cellent quality,  rind  of  two  colors,  green — inclined  toward  grey, 
small  white  seed,  crimson  flesh,  sweet  and  tender. 

Experiment  No.  6 — ‘‘Seminole.” — Thin  gray  rind,  flesh  red 
and  Arm  with  red  seed,  medium  size  and  of  poor  quality. 

Experiment  Ko.  7 — “ Battlesnake.” — Oblong  shape  with 
i*attlesnake  rind,  quite  thin,  flesh  red,  tender  and  moderately 
sweet,  Spanish  seed  ; quality  medium. 

Experiment  No.  8 — “Jackson  Kew.” — Oblong  shape  with 
thin  green  rind,  inclined  toward  gray,  flesh  red  and  tender,  not 
sweet,  small  white  seed;  early  variety,  size  medium;  quality,  poor. 

Experiment  No.  9 — “Jones.” — A round  melon  with  dark, 
green  rind,  red  flesh,  tender  and  well  flavored,  early  variety, 
growing  large  ; Spanish  seed  ; quality,  very  good. 

Experiment  Ko.  10 — “Augusta  Sugar  Loaf.” — Gray  rind, 
red  flesh,  tender  and  sweet,  thin  rind,  Spanish  seed  ; quality, 
medium. 

Experiment  Ko.  11 — “Cuban  Queen.” — A round  melon  of 
medium  size,  rattlesnake  rind,  flesh  red  and  firm,  heart  decidedly 
tough,  thick  rind,  black  seed,  keeps  well ; quality,  poor. 

Experiment  Ko.  12 — “Georgia  Scaly  Bark.” — An  oblong 
melon  with  [green  rind,  having  a scaly  appearance,  red  meat  and 
seed  ; quality,  very  poor. 


IRISH  POTATOES.— (SOLAMUK’S  TUBEROSUM.)' 
Experiments  in  potatoes  were  of  three  kinds  : First,  experi- 
ments in  varieties,  object,  to  test  the  variety  or  varieties  best 


491 


cadapted  to  this  soil  and  climate.  Second,  physiological  experi- 
ments, object,  to  test  size  of  potatoes  and  cuttings  best  to  plant. 
Third,  experiments  in  fertilizers,  object,  to  test  the  fertilizer  best 
suited  to  potatoes  in  this  soil. 

VARIETIES. 

A small  plat,  situated  on  a gently  sloping,  well  drained,  hill 
side,  was  selected  in  the  garden  for  experiments  in  varieties. 

The  land  is  poor,  impoverished,  devoid  of  vegetable  matter 
:and  almost  entirely  denuded  of  surface  soil. 

Early  in  February  cotton  seed  hulls  were  scattered  broadcast 
'Over  the  plat,  and  land  deeply  broken  broadcast  with  two-horse 
Avery  plow,  at  time  of  planting,  February  22nd,  rows  three  feet 
wide  were  laid  off  with  Diamond  scooter.  Three  rows  were 
devoted  to  each  variety. 

The  potatoes  were  cut  into  large  piecas,  with  from  two  to 
four  € yes.  They  were  fertilized  with  crushed  cotton  seed,  at  rate 
•of  sixty  bushels  per  acre,  and  at  rate  per  acre  of  2000  pounds  of 
following  mixture  : 1000  pounds  cotton  seed  meal,  600  pounds 

<lermain  kainite,  400  pounds  acid  phosphate. 

The  fertilizer  was  applied  in  the  opened  scooter  furrow,  and 
then  “listed”  on  with  one-horse  Avery  plow,  flat  list.  The  list 
was  then  opened,  potatoes  planted,  eight  inches  apart,  and 
•covered  with  two  furrows  of  a diamond  scooter  plow,  planting- 
done  February  22nd.  The  soil  w^as  in  loose,  pulverable  condi- 
tion. 

The  cold  nature  of  light  sandy  soil  retarded  germination 
.somewhat.  Excepting  a slight  drouth  in  May,  the  seasons  were 
,ull  that  could  be  wished.  On  April  12th  the  potatoes  were  “off- 
.barred”  with  Diamond  scooter  and  the  middles  burst  out  to 
them.  No  other  cultivation  whatsoever  was  given  them. 

The  crop  was  harvested  June  28th,  carefully  assorted,  the 
merchantable  from  the  non -merchantable,  (smaller  than  pullet 
eggs),  and  each  crop  accurately  weighed. 

Below^  is  a tabulated  statement,  giving  the  yield  per  acre  of 
vboth  merchantable  and  non -merchantable  potatoes  : 


492 


YIELD  PEE  ACEE  OF  VAEIETIES  OF  POTATOES  HAEVESTED 
JUNE  28th,  1889. 


Name  of  variety 

! 

Merchantable, 
No.  Bushels 

Non -Merchant- 

able, or  culls, 
No.  Bushels. 

Total  yield  per 

acre,  No. 
Bushels. 

About  when 

ripe. 

Early  Bose  _ _ 

148  1-6 

48  5-12 

196  7-12 

June  3rd 
June  8th 
June  8th 

Boston  Peerless 

197  1-6 

171  3-4 

268  11-12 

Beauty  of  Hebron 

162  1-6 

58  1-3 

220  1-2 

liural  Blush-  _ _ 

179  2-8 

39  2-3 

210  1-3' 

June  12th 

Thorburn  _ 

Extra  Early  Vermont 

Kussett  - _ 

Burbank ..  _ _ 

83  5-12 
130  19-20 
140 

1.53  5-12 

46  2-3 
41  1-30 
39  1-12 
81  2-3 

130  112 
174  59-60 
179  1-12 
235  1-12 

June  12th 
lJune  15th 
June  20th 
June  20th 

EXPEEIMENTS  IN  FEETILIZEES. 

As  state4  above,  tbe  object  of  these  experiments  was  to  test 
the  value  of  fertilizers,  and  to  determine  that  fertilizer  best* 
suited  fco  a maximum  production  in  this  soil. 

SOIL,  LOCATION,  PEEPAEATION,  ETC. 

The  plat  selected  for  these  experiments  is  similar  in  location' 
and  in  character  to  that  of  varieties.  A crop  of  dead  pea- vines, 
was  turned  under  with  two  horse  Avery  plow,  early  in  February 
and  left  in  this  condition  till  time  of  planting. 

Boston  Peerless  was  the  variety  jilanted,  cuttings  of  two  or 
more  eyes  were  used.  The  iilanting  was  done  February  27. 

Eows  were  laid  off  three  feet  apart,  with  straight  shovel,. 
and  fertilizer  applied.  A flat  list  was  then  made  on  fertilizer,, 
list  opened,  potatoes  planted  one  foot  apart,  and  covered  with 
two  furrows  of  a straight  shovel.  The  land  was  loose  and  in 
good  imlverable  condition. 

On  April  12th,  they  were  ‘^off  barred,”  and  middles^ 
opened  with  half-shovel.  This  was  absolutely  the  only  cultiva- 
tion the  potatoes  received.  Each  experiment  embraced  five  rows. 

Below  is  a tabulated  statement,  showing  number  of  experi- 
ment, the  fertilizer  used,  and  the  yield  of  merchantable  and  non- 
merchantable  potatoes  per  acre. 


YIELD  PER  ACRE  OF  POTATOES,  EXPERIMENTS  IN  FERTITAZERS, 
HARVESTED  JUNE  25TH  AND  26TH,  1889. 


f 3 lbs  i^^itrate  Soda 

; I 2 lbs  Sulphate  Ammonia 

li  ^ 6 lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

I 1 5 lbs  Aeid  Phosphate 

[4  lbs  Kainite 

3 lbs  Aitrate  Soda 

2 lbs  Sulphate  Ammonia 
()  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal  __ 

5 lbs  Acid  Phosi3hate 

JiNo  Manure 

j r3  lbs  Aitrate  Soda 

4;  I 2 lbs  Sulphate  Ammonia 

j ( 6 lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

5|5  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

j r 18  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal-. 
6 5 lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

f 18  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal-_ 

I I 4 lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

8 Ko  Manure 


9 

10 

11 

12 


15! 


18  lbs  Cotton  Seed  Meal 

4 lbs  Kainite 

60  lbs  Crushed  Cotton  Seed 

4 lbs  Kainite 

5 lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

j 60  lbs  Crushed  Cotton  Seed 

(5 


lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

13|Ko  Manure 

14|60  lbs  Crushed  Cotton  Seed 
60  lbs  Crushed  Cotton  Seed 

4 lbs  Kainite 

60  lbs  Green  Cotton  Seed 

-j  5 lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

(4  lbs  Kainite 


16 


1 

Merchantable 

Ko.  of  Bushels 

1 

Kon -Merchant, 

1 

No.  of  Bushels 

1 

r - 
1 s ^ 

i ^ ^ 
i H 6 

I 

212  1-10 

1 

39  1-10 

251  1-5 

i 

1 

i 

1 

210  1-3 

23  4-5 

1 . 

234  2-15 

52  1-2 

9 14-15 

62  13-30 

150  9-60 

34  3-20 

184  3-10 

57  2-3 

14  1-2 

81  9-10 

1 

227  19-60 

' 31  2-3 

259 

192  19-60 

30  1-10 

222  5-12 

62  3-10 

18  1-3 

80  19-39 

154 

31  19-60 

185  19-60 

94  2-3 

32  1-5 

126  13-15 

232  8-15 

1 

42  1-2 

275  11-39 

173  3-10 

1 37  4-15 

211  3-5  ' 

34  7-15 

I 51  14-15 

86  2-5 

84 

1 48  3-10 

132  3-19 

67  1-3 

67  43  60 

135  1-20 

160  7-60 

0 

''9 

00 

208  14-15 

i 


494 


CONTINUED. 


EERTILIZEES  USED. 


17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 


f 60  lbs  Green  Cotton  Seed 

I 5 lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

No  Manure 

60  lbs  Green  Cotton  Seed 
I 60  lbs  Green  Cotton  Seed- 

( 4 lbs  Kainite 

1 100  lbs  Compost 

( 4 lbs  German  Kainite 

100  Compost 

No  Manure 

75  lbs  Compost 

C Hog  Hair 

^ 5 lbs  Acid  Phosphate 

( 4 lbs  German  Kainite 


Merchantable 

No.  of  Bushels 

Non.  Merchant. 

1 

No.  of  Bushels 

Total  Yield 

No.  of  Bushels 

121  4-5 

64  2-3 

186  7-15 

23  4-15 

43  1-20 

66  19-60 

121  4-5 

42 

163  4 5 

115  2-3 

56  7-20 

172  1-60 

149  4-5 

48  49-60 

198  37-60 

88  1-3 

70  7-10 

159  1-30 

22  3-4 

47  57-60 

70  7-10 

109  7-20 

47  3-5 

157  1-10 

83  3-10 

40  2-3 

123  29-31 

Very  little  rot  was  found  in  potatoes.  The  skin  was  com- 
paratively smooth,  except  where  crushed  and  green  cotton  seed 
and  hog  hair  were  used,  then  they  were  found  to  be  a little  scaly 
and  rough.  There  also  seemed  to  be  a little  more  rot  found  in 
these  cases  than  in  others.  It  will  be  observed  that,  wherever 
nitrogen  was  employed,  no  matter  in  what  form,  a green,  healthy 
and  luxuriant  growth  was  the  result,  as  well  as  a good  yield.  It 
will  also  be  observed  that  acid  phosphate  and  kainite  produced 
a smaller  growth  of  vine,  less  luxuriant  and  smaller  yield.  The 
best  results  are  found  where  they  were  used,  together  or  singly, 
with  some  form  of  nitrogen.  The  best  yield  275^^  bushels,  being 
found  in  experiment  No.  11,  where  60  pounds  of  crushed  cotton 
seed  was  used  with  four  pounds  kainite  and  five  pounds 
acid  phosphate.  Hog  hair  seems  to  have  been  of  little,  if  any, 
manurial  value  whatever. 


PHYSIOLOGICAL  EXPERIMENTS, 

The  object  of  these  experiments,  as  stated  above,  was  to  test 


495 


:^rst  the  size  of  potato  most  lireferable  to  plant,  using  large  and 
medium  potato  ; then  the  cuttings,  using  those  with  two  or  more 
^yes  and  then  with  one  eye. 

The  seeds  used,  were  the  varieties  above.  In  each  row  there 
■were  planted  eight  large  potatoes,  (a),  eight  medium  i30tatoes, 
^(b),  eight  pieces  cut  in  usual  manner,  with  two  or  more  eyes,  (c), 
rand  eight  pieces  with  only  one  eye  (d),  all  planted  one  foot  apart. 

Below  is  a diagram  showing  weight  of  potatoes  and  cuttings 
used,  ^^a,”  weight  of  eight  large  potatoes,  weight  of  eight 

.medium  potatoes,  ‘^c,’’  weight  of  eight  cuttings  with  two  or 
more  eyes,  ^‘d,”  weight  of  eight  cuttings,  with  one  eye  : 


Kame  of  variety 

a. 

b.  c. 

d. 

Early  Eose  _ __ 

2 13-24  lbs 

1 13-24  lbs 

11-24  lb 

1-6  lb 

Boston  Peerless  

5 1-3  lbs 

1 2-3  lbs 

17-24  lb 

15-48  lb 

Beauty  of  Hebron  _ 

2 13-16  lbs 

1 7-16  lbs 

1-2  lb 

5-16  lb 

Eural  Blush--  _ 

2 5-12  lbs 

1 1-3  lbs 

3-8  lb 

1-6  lb 

'Thorburn  _ _ __  __ 

2 7-24  lbs 

23-24  lb 

5-8  lb 

5-16  lb 

Extra  Early  Vermont 

3 1-8  lbs 

1 1-2  lbs 

7-16  lb 

1-4  lb 

Eussett  - 

2 14  lbs 

1 3-8  lbs 

5-16  lb 

1-4  lb 

Burbank-  _ 

2 19-24  lbs 

1 1-16  lbs 

1-2  lb 

1-6  lb 

Tabulated  statement,  giving  results  of  yield  per  acre  of  fore- 
;going  physiological  experiments : 

^^a,”  eight  large  potatoes,  “b,’’  eight  medium  potatoes,  ^‘c,” 
weight  cuttings,  two  or  more  eyes,  ‘‘d,’’  eight  cuttings,  one  eye  : 
[See  tabulated  statement  on  next  page.] 


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SECOND  CROP  OF  POTATOES. 

Ou  July  31st  a good  large  plat  of  Irish  potatoes  was  planted, 
nsiiig  the  large  and  medium  potato,  fertilized  with  four  parts 
'eotton  seed  meal,  one  part  acid  phosphate  and  one  part  of  potash, 
at  rates  of  fourteen  pounds  per  acre.  The  object  was  principally 
to  raise  potatoes  for  fall  market.  But  the  long  continued  drouth 
of  summer  and  early  fall  interfered.  Only  one  rain  fell  on  crop 
during  the  time  and  that  was  before  they  came  up,  and  even  a 
very  poor  stand  was  obtained,  in  some  instances  not  a third  of  a 
.stand. 

But  of  those  that  did  come,  it  was  remarkable  to  see  the  fine, 
large  potatoes  raised.  And  how  they  made  without  rain  is  a 
wonder,  yet  several  barrels  have  been  packed  in  sand  and  will 
be  planted  in  early  spring.  Thus  far  they  are  keeping  well,  and 
the  station  will  be  able  to  put  seed  potatoes  on  the  spring 
market.  The  following  varieties  have  been  preserved  : Boston 
Peerless,  Vermont  Early  Eose,  Beauty  of  Hebron,  Eural  Blush, 
Burbank,  Extra  Early  Vermont,  Eusset  and  Thorburn.  Besides 
these  varieties,  the  station  received  from  the  State  Experiment 
^Station,  Baton  Eouge,  120  varieties. 

They  were  carefully  planted  and  results  of  germination 
watched.  Only  a few  hills  of  each  variety  were  planted.  The 
-dry  weather  prevented  many  from  coming  up.  Those  that  did, 
have  been  harvested  and  carefully  preserved  in  sacks,  packed  in 
.sand. 

In  the  spring  a larger  planting  will  be  made,  and  all  varieties 
tested,  and  reported  on.  The  object  of  this  fall  planting  was  to 
preserve  seed.  That  done,  the  results  of  varieties  will  be  eagerly 
watched  next  spring. 


BULLETIN  No. 


KEPOKT 

OF  THE 

SUGAR  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 

OF  THE 

■LODISIM  STIlTE  UNIVERSITY  AND  A.  & M.  COLLEGE, 

AT  ^ 

AUDUBON  PARK,  NEW  ORLEANS,  LA. 

Wm.  C.  STUBBS,  PH.  D.,  Director. 


ISSUED  BY  THE  BUREAU  OF  AGRICULTUIWE, 
T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner. 


PRINTED  AT  THE  TRUTH  BOOK  AND  JOB  OFFICE, 

BATON  P^ttgE,  la. 


THE  AGRIGULTUE4L  EXPERIMENT  STATION, 

LA.  STATE  BNITEESITY  AND  A.  S M.  COLLEGE. 


BUREAU  OF  AGRICULTURE.. 

GOV.  F.  T.  NICHOLLS,  President. 

WM.  GARIG,  Vice-President  Board  of  Supervisors. 

T.  J.  BIRD,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture. 

STATION  STAFF. 

WM.  C.  STUBBS,  Ph.  D.,  Director, 

D.  N.  BARROW,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Baton  Rouge. 
J G.  LEE,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Director,  Calhoun. 

Assistant  Director,  Audubon  Park. 

B.  B.  ROSS,  M.  S.,  Chemist. 

M.  BIRD,  B.  S.,  Assistant  Chemist. 

A.  T.  PRESCOTT,  M.  A.,  Botanist, 

H.  A.  MORGAN,  M.  S.  Entomologist  and  Horticulturist. 
W.  H.  DALRYMPLE,  M.  R.  C.V.  S.,  Veterinary  Surgeon. 
A.  M.  GARDNER,  B.  S,,  Farm  Manager  Audubon  Park. 
J.  E.  PRATT,  Farm  Manager,  Baton  Rouge. 

L.  M.  CALHOUN,  Farm  Manager,  Calhoun. 

H.  SKOLFIELD,  Treasurer.  , 

J.  D.  STUBBS,  Secretary. 


The  bulletins  and  reports  will  be  sent  free  of  charge  to  all  farmers,  by  applyiugrr 
to  Major  T.  J.Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agricultnre,  Baton  Rouge,  La. 


EXPERIMENT  STATION,  > 
Audubois  Park,  New  Orleans,  La.  ) 

Major  T.  J.  Bird,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Baton  Rouge,  La.: 

Dear  Sir — I hand  you  herewith  Field  Experiments  with 
Sugar  Cane,  and  ask  that  it  be  published  as  Bulletin  No.  28. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Wm.  C.  Stubbs, 

Director. 


FIELD  EXPERIMENTS. 


With  the  end  of  the  present  season  closes  a series  of  experf- 
ments  begun  four  years  ago.  It  was  contemplated  in  the  begin- 
ning to  extend  them  through  five  years,  but  the  removal  of  this 
station  from  its  old  location  near  Kenner,  to  its  new  domicile  at 
this  place,  has  shortened  the  time. 

These  four  years  have  been  patiently  spent  in  repeating  the 
same  experiments  upon  the  same  soil,  and  the  aggregate  results 
are  far  more  suggestive  and  conclusive  than  those  reached  in 
one  year.  The  bulletin  will  contain,  therefore,  a summary  of 
the  results  of  the  four  years,  together  with  the  detailed  results  of 
1889.  In  comparing  the  yearly  results,  the  different  seasons 
must  be  known  and  considered.  The  station  has  kept  an  accu  - 
rate weather  record  and  diary  ever  since  March  1,  1886.  The 
following  is  a condensed  record  of  each  year’s  rainfall  and  tem- 
perature. 


Cdndensed  Weather  Becord  of  Sugar  Experiment  Station  from  March 
1,  1886^  to  January  1,  1890. 


Month. 

“Average  I 
Temp. 
Deg. 

Vlaximum 

Temp. 

Deg. 

Minimum 

Temp. 

Deg. 

Eainfall 

Inches. 

1886. 

March-  — 

63 

80 

37 

9 13 

April 

69 

87 

41 

7 32 

May  - 

76 

93 

57 

3 59 

June-  - - — — 

83 

97 

69 

11  5 

July—— 

83 

95 

68 

3 25 

August  --  — 

84 

96 

66 

4 18 

September-  _ 

80 

91 

59 

5 24 

October 

73 

87 

39 

1 

l^ovember--  - — 

66 

75 

33 

5 55 

December 

65 

79 

26 

2 75 

1887. 

January-  _ - — - 

5? 

82 

22 

3 31 

February--  - - 

65  4 

80 

30 

5 23 

March  - ..  - -- 

58  2 

81 

40 

3 27 

April* — _ - --  - 

71  7 

89 

57  ■ 

2 21 

May-  --  - --  - 

78 

94 

59 

6 56 

June  _ - - 

84 

94 

62 

10  35 

July 

84 

• 97 

68 

7 86 

August-  — 

82  5 

95 

69 

6 7 

September  — _ - - 

79 

92 

56 

3 3 

October-  _-  - — 

69  5 

86 

40 

6 39 

November — ^ 

60 

80 

30 

11 

December _ 

54  6 

77 

30 

7 14 

1888. 

January--  - _ 

56  6 

77 

30 

3 77 

February-  _ 

59  8 

76 

37 

9 8 

March 

59 

78 

36 

5 79 

April--  — 

73  4 

85 

54 

91 

May 

76  7 

92 

54 

11  77 

June-  - - -- 

79  8 

92 

65 

8 69 

July 

. . 82 

98 

71 

5 49 

August  _ - . 

81  2 

95 

70 

15  8 

September-  - - . 

. 77  3 

89 

57 

3 29 

Of^tohpr 

70  6 

85 

1 53 

3 4 

Nuvpinbpr  _ 

62  4 

84 

1 34 

2 5 

December  --  - - - . 

63  6 

71 

■I  27 

4 12 

[Continued  on  page  3.] 


502 


[Continued  from  page  2.] 


Months. 

Average 

Temp, 

Deg. 

Maximum 

Temp. 

Deg. 

Minimum 

Temp. 

Deg. 

Eainfall 

Inches. 

1889. 

January 

54  . 

71 

34 

8 3 

February 

55 

75 

31 

3 21 

March 

63  6 

79 

40 

2 38 

April 

72 

86 

47 

3 28 

May 

78  1 

91 

48 

76 

June 

82  3 

96 

57 

9 43 

July 

85  6 

92 

68 

7 15 

August  * 

81 

90 

66 

5 74 

September-  _ 

79  1 

91 

51 

5 3 

October-  

68  1 

86 

51 



November - 

58  9 

82 

30 

i 

December-  - 

63 

80 

45 

, 43 

In  the  following  table  is  presented  the  four  years  in  a com-* 
parative  form,  and  it  may  be  useful  in  determining  some  of  the. 
factors  which  go  toward  solving  the  problem  of  good  crop  years. 

The  winter  of  1886  was  very  severe,  destroying  much  of  the 
seed  and  stubble,  the  spring  was  late  and  cold,  and  good  stands, 
of  cane  were  not  obtained  till  May.  The  subsequent  seasons 
were  fair,  and  where  good  stands  prevailed  the  crop  was, 
medium. 

The  winter  of  1887  was  mild  and  conducive  to  excellent 
seed  cane,  the  spring  was  moderately  dry  and  warm  ; followed 
by  a warm  and  wet  summer  grading  into  a cool  dry  autumn  ; 
conditions  favorable  to  heavy  tonnage. 

The  winter  of  1888  was  fairly  proi3itious,  but  the  spring 
was  excessively  wet,  preventing  the  proper  cultivation  of  the 
cane.  iThe  wet  weather  extended  to  July,  causing  a serious, 
postponement  or  abandonment  of  the  regular  ‘May-by  of  cane. 
These  rains  were  succeeded  by  a dry,  cool  fall,  giving  us  light 
tonnage,  but  heavy  sugar  yield,  due  more  to  the  low  glocuse. 
<}ontent  than  excess  of  sugar  in  cane. 


503 


The  year  1889  will  always  he  remembered  as  the  year  of 
flronth.  The  rainfall  for  the  year  was  only  forty-six  inches^  and 
this  fell  mostly ^n  the  winter  and  summer,  giving  us  a spring 
and  fall  of  unexampled  drjmess — a dryness  which  has  been  pro- 
longed into  the  wdnter  of  1890  and  up  to  this  time  has  scarcely 
been  broken. 

Taking  the  table  and  the  seasons,  we  find  that  a dry,  warm 
winter,  followed  by  a moderately  dry  spring,  and  this,  in  turn^ 
succeeded  by  a hot  wet  summer,  shading  gradually  into  a cool 
<lry  autumn  are  conditions  favorable  to  a maximum  growth  of 
cane. 

After  the  cane  is  laid  by  frequent  showers  of  considerable 
intensity  seem  highly  beneficial. 

The  following  is  the  comparative  weather  statement  for  the 
four  years. 


Aver. 

Temp. 

Max. 

Temp. 

Min.  1 

Temp. 

Eainfall 

Inches. 

1887 

deg. 
70  3 

deg. 

97 

deg. 

22 

62  43 

1888-  __  __  _ 

69  3 

98 

27 

75  33 

1889-_  - - _ _ 

70  1 

96 

30 

45  98 

Spring  months,  1886--  __  _ _ 

69  3 

93 

37 

20  04 

Spring  months,  1887-  _ _ 

69  3 

94 

40 

12  04 

Spring  months,  1888-  __  

69  7 

92 

36 

18  47 

Spring  months,  1889  — 

71  2 

91 

40 

6 42 

Summer  months,  1886- 

83  3 

97 

66 

18  93 

Summer  months,  1887 

83  5 

97 

62 

24  91 

Summer  months,  1888- 

81 

98 

65 

29  98 

Summer  months,  1889 

82  9 

96 

57 

22  32 

Pall  months,  1886- 

73 

87 

33 

It  79 

Fall  months,  1887  

69  5 

92 

30 

9 8 

Fall  months,  1888  _ 1 

70  1 

89 

35 

9 19 

Fall  months,  1889- 

68  7 

91 

34 

5 3 

"Winter  months,  1887 

59 

82 

22 

15  68 

Winter  months,  1888 

56  6 

77 

27 

17  69 

W inter  months,  1889  „ 

57  S' 

82 

31 

11  94 

504 


THE  FIELD  EXPERIMENTS, 

Extending  over  the  four  years,  have  been  of  the  following  : 

1.  Germination  questions. 

2.  Physiological  questions. 

3.  Varieties  best  adapted  to  Louisiana. 

4.  Manurial  requirements. 

GERMINATING  QUESTIONS. 

The  sugar  cane  has  been  so  long  cultivated  from  cuttings 
that  it  has,  like  the  banana,  lost  its  power  of  producing  ordinary - 
true  seed,  even  though  it  passes  through  all  the  phases  of  fructi- 
iication.  Often  io  nature,  when  an}"  organ  is,  rendered  useless, 
at  ceases  to  exist.  The  fish  in  underground  caverns  are  eyeless. : 
'The  banana  and  some  other  plants,  long  propagated  from  shoots. 
‘Or  suckers,  produce  seedless  fruits.  In  the  last  year  or  two, 
3iowever,  the  cane  has  been  made  to  produce  true  seed.  The 
idea  by  which  this  result  was  achieved,  was  in  itself  a simple 
•one,  yet  the  thought  may  produce  a revolution  in  cane  culture. 
Profs.  Harrison  and  Bovell,  of  Dodd’s  Reformatory,  Barbadoes, 
<}onceived  the  idea  that  by  placing  in  close  proximity  unlike 
varieties  of  cane  from  different  parts  of  the  world,  by  cross  fer- 
itilization,  perfect  fructification  might  result. 

Experiments  have  verified  this  conception,  and  to-day  a 
’large  number  of  true  seedlings  are  growing  (some  on  this  station 
rfrom  seed  kindly  furnished  by  Prof.  Bovell,)  and  already  several 
mew  varieties  of  great  promise  have  been  named  and  propagated. 
'This  discovery  is  of  great  value,  since  the  cane  plant,  hitherto 
;SO  refractory  and  susceptible  to  change  only  through  bud  varia- 
tion, now  become  a pliant  tool  in  the  hands  of  the  scientist,  and 
isoon  we  may  expest  varieties  of  great  excellence  as  the  result  of 
the  labors  of  the  latter.  Pending  these  researches  and  experi- 
.ments,  the  Louisiana  planters  must  continue  to  utilize  a goodly 
part  of  each  crop  as  seed,  and  economy  often  suggests  the  pro- 
priety of  planting  the  upper  jiart  of  the  stalk,  so  poor  in  sugar, 
instead  of  the  entire  stalk,  so  valuable  at  the  mill.  This  prac- 
tice is,  however,  severely  criticised  by  some,  upon  reasons  drawn 
;from  known  princiiiles  of  vegetable  physiology.  The  cane,  say 


505 


they,  has  only  sterile  flo^srers,  and  consequently  gives  no  seed  or 
grains.  Therefore  the  eyes  of  the  cane  are  intended  to  replace  the 
true  seed  or  grain.  In  all  seed  bearing  plants,  those  seed  germi* 
nate  and  fructify  best  which  are  permitted  to  reach  perfect  ma- 
turity. Therefore,  in  imitation  of  this  natural  law,  we  musfe- 
seek  that  part  of  the  stalk  which  contains  the  largest  and  best 
developed  eyes  in  order  to  secure  seed  which  will  produce  the= 
most  vigorous  plants.  It  is  further  claimed  that  where  tops  are 
universally  used  as  seed  a degeneracy  of  the  cane  will  folloTf, 
since  the  latter  is  always  reproduced  with  those  parts  of  the 
cane  where  the  juices  are  poorest  in  nourishment  (sugar)  and  the 
eyes  the  most  imperfectly  developed.  Hence,  it  is  a practice 
with  some  of  our  planters  never  to  plant  fall  cane  until  the 
polariscope  shows  at  least  10  per  cent,  sugar  in  the  cane.  Ter' 
contra  there  are  others  who  claim  that  the  planting  of  the  tops  is^ 
justfiable  from  purely  scientific  reasons,  besides  the  economy- 
involved. 

They  regard  the  cane  planted  as  cuttings,’^  rather  tham 
true  seed,  and  the  eyes  as  buds  to  be  developed  under  proper- 
conditions.  They  say  that  the  florist  when  he  wants  to  root  new 
plants,  never  uses  the  old  or  mature  wood,  but  rather  the  young- 
and  succulent  portion.  Therefore  in  planting  cane  the  youngest 
and  most  succulent  portions  will  secure  the  best  results.  Whick 
is  right  has  not  yet  been  decided  by  science.  Experiments  in  the^ 
field  have  demonstrated  that  eyes  from  both  the  mature  and  im- 
mature parts  of  the  stalk  will  germinate.  But  which  are  the^ 
best,  i.  e.,  which  will  insure  the  best  and  surest  results  under* 
the  varying  conditions  of  our  seasons,  soils,  and  rainfall  ? 

To  determine  this  question,  the  following  experiments  were^ 
instituted,  with  a view  of  continuing  them  through  a series  oT 
years  in  order  to  eliminate  as  far  as  possible  all  the  modifying 
factors  incident  to  one  year’s  experiment.  Great  pains  were 
taken  to  select  healthy  stalks  of  uniform  length.  These  were  cut  ‘ 
up  into  short  pieces,  beginning  with  the  green  immature  top. 
Two  eyes  were  left  upon  each  cutting,  and  each  stalk  wa& 
selected  so  as  to  give  eleven  cuttings.  Seventy-five  of  these  cutr- 


506 


tings,  containing  150  eyes,  were  devoted  to  each  experiment. 

The  land  was  in  excellent  order,  having  had  a large  crop  of. 
pea  vines  turned  in  early  in  the  fall  with  a four-horse  plow.  The 
cuttings  were  carefully  deposited  in  each  row  and  covered  by  a> 
hoe.  The  following  are  the  experiments  : 

PLAT  O. — GERMINATION  QUESTIONS. 

1.  Seventy -five  white  immature  joints  of  two  eyes  each. 

2.  Seventy-five  joints  next  to  No.  1,  partially  white,  two» 
eyes  each. 

3.  Seventy-five  joints  next  to  No.  2,  full  red,  two  eyes  each,. 

4.  Seventy -five  joints  next  to  No.  3,  full  red,  two  eyes  each, 

5.  Seventy -five  joints  next  to  No.  4,  full  red,  two  eyes  each.. 

6.  Seventy-five  joints  next  to  No.  5,  full  red,  two  eyes  each.. 

7.  Seven ty-five  joints  next  to  No.  6,  full  red,  two  eyes  each.. 

8.  . Seven  ty-five  joints  next  to  No.  7,  full  red,  two  eyes  each, 

9.  Seventy-five  joints  next  to  No.  8,  full  red,  two  eyes  each.. 

10.  Seventy-five  joints  next  to  No.,  9,  full  red,  two  eyes; 
each. 

11.  Seventy -five  joints,  butts,  two  eyes  each. 

In  1886  the  severe  weather,  with  a late  unfavorable  spring, 
so  prevented  germination  as  to  vitiate  results.  All  germinated 
badly,  but  No.  3 gave  the  largest  number  of  sprouts,  followed 
closely  by  No.  2. 

In  1887  a fresh  planting  was  made,  which  was  closely  fol- 
lowed through  three  years. 

In  1887  and  1888  this  plat  was  worked  up  during  Novem- 
ber ; in  1889,  in  October.  This  year  was  one  remarkable  for 

immature  cane,  particularly  in  the  early  part  of  the  season.  The 
following  tables  will  show  the  yield  and  sugar  contents  for  each 
year  : 


507 


TABLE  I — PLAT  O — GERMINATION  QUESTIONS. 

•Planting  different  parts  of  the  Stalks  of  the  Cane  February  9^  1887. 
First  year  Flant  Cane  harvested  Nov.  3. 


Part  of  the  Stalk  Planted. 


No.  of  Stalks  from  150  Eyes 
Planted,  Counted. 


IS  N 


1 Upper  White  joints I 5 


2 Next  to  White  joints. 

3 Next  to  No.  2 . 

4 Next  to  No.  3. 

5 Next  to  No.  4. 

G Next  to  No.  5. 

7 Next  to  No.  6. 

8 Next  to  No.  7. 

9 Next  to  No.  8. 

30  Next  to  No.  9. 

11  Butts  * 


;24!24 

|394l 
145  48 
12734 
|27  36 
25  35 
19  20 
1318 
19  23 
12  14 
11  15 


24! 26  34 
41145145 
54  63  69 

3945I5I 

45|51|53 
4315258 
253340 
23  2732 

28,34139 

20,26,36 

20I41I4I 


97 
140 
165 
152 
154 
149 
147 
133 
13' J 
97 
73 


® ec 


247 

407 

485 

428 

442 

426 

400 

320 

340 

214 

160 


2.54 

2.91 

2.94 

2.82 

2.87 

2.86 

2.72 

2.41 

2.61 

2.21 

2.19 


18.14 

32.06 

38.18 

33.75 

34.8 

33.56 

31.48 

25.24 

26.82 

16.88 

12.62 


W « 

d ^ 


14287 
21050 
25987 
23940 
24255 
23467 
23152 
20947 
20552 
15276 
11 520 


* This  row  was  seriously  injured  in  the  summer  by  iiroximity  to  a fig" 
^ree,  and  is  not  counted  in  stubble. 


TABLE  2— PLAT  O— FIRST  YEAR  STUBBLE  HARVESTED  NOV.  14, 1888 


Part  of  Stalks  Planted. 

No.  of  Stalks 

Harvested. 

Weight  of 

Stalks. 

Average  Weight 
of  each. 

Tons  per  Acre. 

No.  of  Stalks 

per  Acre. 

1 Upper  White  joints 

76 

lbs. 

136 

lbs. 

1.79 

10.71 

11970 

2 Next  to  White  joint 

119 

206 

11.73 

16.22 

17742 

41  Next  to  No.  2 

133 

257 

11.87 

19  72 

20947 

4 Next  to  No.  3 

127 

226 

1I.7 

17.79 

20002 

5 Next  to  No.  4 

13U 

244 

'1.88 

19.21 

20475 

6 Next  to  No.  5 

142 

238; 

1.68 

18.74 

22305 

7 Next  to  No.  6 

124 

220 

4.77 

17.32 

19536 

8 Next  to  No.  7 

132 

256 

1.94 

20.16 

20790 

9 Next  to  No.  8 

104 

192 

1.84 

15.12 

16380 

10  Next  to  No.  9 

89 

146  j 

1.64 

11.49 

14017 

508 


TABLE  3-PLAT  O-SECOND  YEAR  STUBBLE  HARVESTED  OCT.  15, 1880 


Part  of  the  Stalk  Planted. 

No.  of  Stalks 

Harvested. 

Weight  of 

Stalks. 

Average  Weight 

of  eacli. 

Tons  per  Acre. 

No.  of  Stalks 

Per  Acre. 

1 Upper  white  joints 

60 

lbs. 

78 

lbs. 

1.3 

6.16 

9480 

2 Next  to  white  joints 

91) 

167 

1.72 

13.19| 

1 14536 

3 Next  to  No.  2 

110 

182 

1.66 

14.37 

17380 

4 Next  to  No.  3 

125 

257 

|2.06 

20.3 

19750 

5 Next  to  No.  4 

92 

125 

l.,36 

' 9.8 

14536 

6 Next  to  No.  5 

112 

246 

2.2 

19.41 

18960 

7 Next  to  No.  6 

124 

2.35 

1.9 

18.56 

19592 

8 Next  to  No.  7 

123 

214 

1.74 

16.9 

19434 

9 Next  to  No.  8 

90 

165 

1.84 

13.03 

14220 

10  Next  to  No.  9 

64 

114 

1.78 

9. 

10112 

TABLE  4— PLAT  O— FIELD  AXD  SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS,  NOV.  3, 
1887.  FIRST  YEAR  PLANT. 


Number  and  Kind  of 
Experiments. 

Yield  per  Acre  in 
Tons. 

Degree  Baume 

Total  Solids.  ^ 

Sucrose.  ® 

Glucose. 

Purity  Coefficient. 

Glucose  Ratio. 

Poui 
av  a 
suga 
70  p> 
extr 

d 

o 

CD 

Ph 

ads  of 
liable 
IT  upon 
er  cent 
action. 

p 

c 

rt 

1 Upper  white  joints. . 

18.14 

7.4 

13.31 

10.3 

!i.24 

77.38 

! 12.04 

118 

! 2141 

2 Next  to  white  joints. 

32.66 

7.8 

14.01 1 

11.2 

1.35 

79.94| 

12.05 

128 

1 4104 

3 Next  to  No.  2 

38.18 

7 6 

13.71  i 

10.3 

1.28 

75.12 

12.42 

117 

4467 

4 Next  to  No.  3 

33.75 

7.3 

13.21 

10. 

1.6 

75.7 

16. 

99 

3341 

5 Next  to  No.  4 

34.80 

7.5 

13.61! 

10. 

1.6 

73.47! 

16. 

99 

3445 

6 Next  to  No.  5 

33.56 

7.8 

14.01 

10.9 

1 35 

77.80 

12.38 

124 

4161 

7 Next  to  No  6 

31.48 

7.3 

13.11 1 

10.5 

1.28! 

80.09 

12.19 

120 1 

3777 

8 Next  to  No.  7 

25.24 

7.8 

14.011 

10.6 

1.35' 

81.36 

12.73 

120 

3029 

9 Next  to  No.  8 i 

26.82 

8. 

14.41 

10.5 

1.35 

72.86 

12.95 

119! 

3192 

10  Next  to  No.  9 | 

16.88' 

' 7.9 

14.31 

11.5 

1.3,5^ 

80.36 

11.73 

133! 

2245 

509 


TABLE  5. — PLAT  O — FIELD  AND  SUGAR  HOUSE  EESTOTS— -NOV. 
14,  1888. — FIRST  YEAR  STUBBLE. 


Number  and  Kind  of 
Experiment. 

Yield  per  acre, 
in  tons. 

Degree 

Baume. 

\.nal3 

t£ 

'o 

1 13 
o 

H 

rses. 

CD 

SO 

2 

o 

s 

1 Glucose.  1 

Purity. 

Coefficieut. 

Glucose  Ratio. 

Pound*  aTaiiable 
sugar  upon  70  pev 
cent,  extraetion. 

Per  ton. 

Per  acre. 

1 Upper  white  joints. . 

10.71 

8.4 

15.2 

13.5 

89 

88.81 

6.59 

170.1 

.1821.77 

2 Next  to  white  joints 

16.22 

8.2 

14.8 

13  3 

75 

89.86  5.63 

169.75 

2753.34 

3 Next  to  No.  2 

19.72 

8.4 

15.1 

13.5 

77 

89.4 

5.7 

172.27 

3397.16 

4 Next  to  No.  3 

17.79 

8.4 

15.2 

13.7 

80 

90.13  5.84 

175 

3113.25 

5 Next  to  No.  4 

19.21 

8.3 

14.9 

13.5 

82 

90.6 

16.07 

171.78 

3299.89 

6 Next  to  No.  5 

18.74 

8.6 

15.5 

14 

69 

90.32  4.92 

181.51 

3401.49 

7 Next  to  No.  6 

17.32 

8.3 

15 

13 

82 

86.66|6.3 

164.78 

2853.98 

8 Next  to  No.  7 

20.16 

8 1 

14.6 

12.7 

87 

86.98 

6.85 

159.53 

3216.12 

9 Next  to  No.  8 

15.12 

7.5 

13.6 

11.4 

89 

83.82 

7.8 

140.91 

2130.56 

10  Next  to  No.  9 

11.49 

7.8 

14.1 

12.3 

91 

87.23 

7.39 

153.09 

1759 

TABLE  6. — PLAT  O. — FIELD  AND  SUGAR  HOUSE  RESULTS — OCT.. 


15,  1889. — SECOND  YEAR  STUBBLE. 


Number  and  Kiud  of 
Experiment. 

Yield  per  acre 
in  tons. 

Analyses. 

Purity 

Coefficient. 

Glucose  Ratio. 

Pounds 

ble  sug 
70per  c 
trac 

o 

"fH 

qj 

Ph. 

availa- 

Degree 

Baume. 

Total  solids. 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

;ar  upon 
lent,  ex- 
tion. 

<© 

w 

CS 

S-t 

<© 

1 Upper  white  joints 

6.16 

6 6 

11.9 

8.2 

2.6l| 

, 69 

31.82 

59.99 

* 369..54 

2 Next  to  white  joints 

13.19 

6.7 

12.2 

8.2 

2.67 

67 

.32.56 

58.66 

773.72 

3 Next  to  No.  2 

14.37 

7.6 

13.7 

8.4 

!2.46 

61 

29.4 

65.99 

947.56 

4 Next  to  No.  3 

20.3 

7.6 

13.8.10.8 

2.41 

78 

22.31 

100.66 

2043.4 

.5  Next  to  No.  4 

9.88 

7 

12.7 

9.6 

2.37 

75 

24.68 

84.7 

836.84 

6 Next  to  No*  5 

19.41 

7 

12.6 

9.7 

2.38 

77 

24.53 

85.82 

1665.76 

7 Next  to  No.  6 

18.56 

7.7 

14 

10.7 

2.63 

76 

24.57 

94.64 

1756.52 

8 Next  to  No.  7 

16.9 

7 

12.6 

8.6 

2.91 

68 

34.18 

58.66 

990.35 

9 Next  to  No.  8 

13.03 

6.5 

11.7 

7 

3.23 

59 

46.14 

30.24 

394.08 

10  Next  to  No.  9 

1 9 

5.5 

10 

5.1 

3.33 

51 

1 65.29 

1.54 

13.8S 

510 


The  following  table  will  give  the  aggregate  yield  and  the 
available  sugar  on  70  per  cent,  extraction  per  acre  for  the 
three  years : 

Yield  Available  sugar 


tons  pounds. 

1 Upper  white  joint 35.01  4332 

2 Next  to  white  joint 61.47  7631 

3 Next  to  No.  2 72.27  8812 

4 Next  to  No.  3 71.84  8497 

5 Next  to  No.  4 63.89  7582 

6 Next  to  No.  5 71.71  9228 

7 Next  to  No.  6 67.36  8387 

8 Next  to  No.  7 62.3  7235 

9 Next  to  No.  8 55.67  5717 

10  Next  to  No.  9 1 37.37  4018 


CONCLUSIONS. 

Here  NTo.  3 has  given  the  largest  tonnage  and  next  to  No.  6 
the  largest  available  sugar.  The  upper  white  joints  germinate 
much  more  quickly  than  the  others^  but  these  sprouts  are  inca- 
pable of  withstanding  prolonged  droughts  in  early  life.  Many 
of  these  sprouts  died  in  1886,  and  the  stubble  crops  were  there- 
fore “gappy.’’  Again  the  stubble  of  No.  5 was  somewhat  in- 
jured in  1888  by  driving  carts  over  it  to  obtain  cane  from  the  ex- 
periments beyond,  and,  hence,  its  yield  was  very  low  in  1889. 

These  experiments  clearly  show  that  the  upper  portion  of 
the  cane,  barring  the  green,  immature  joints,  is  the  equal  if  not 
the  superior  of  the  whole  cane,  or  any  other  portion  for  seed, 
and  suggests  the  propriety  of  search  for  some  practical  way  of 
utilizing  the  upper  thirds  of  the  entire  crop  for  seed  and  grind- 
ing the  other  two-thirds. 

HOW  MANY  STALKS  OF  CANE  TO  PLANT  ? 

This  question  propounded  to  the  plant  cane  in  1887,  has 
been  followed  through  the  first  and  second  rattoons. 

Simultaneous  with  this  question  has  been  incidentally  pro- 
pounded another : 

WHICH  IS  BEST  FOR  SEED— PLANT  OR  STUBBLE  CANE  ? 

In  the  same  plat  were  also  tried  a few  experiments  comfirm- 
atory  of  *^^hose  already  described,  viz  c 

WHAT  PART  OF  THE  CANE  IS  BEST  FOR  SEED  ? 

The  following  are  the  experiments  in  full : 


CO  lO  CO  L- 


511 


1.  One  cane  with  a lap,  cut  iu  the  row, 

2.  Two  canes  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 

3.  Three  canes  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 

4.  Four  canes  with  a lap,  cut  in  the  row. 

5.  One  cane,  no  lap,  uncut. 

6.  Upper  halves  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 

7.  Lower  halves  of  cane,  two  and  a lap. 

8.  Upper  thirds  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 

9.  Middle  thirds  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 

10.  Lower  thirds  of  canes,  two  and  a lap. 

The  results  of  three  years  are  given  in  the  following  table  s .* 

TABLE  7.— PLAT  O— GERMINATION  QUESTIONS— PLANTED  FEB.  10, 
AND  GATHERED  NOV.  4,  1887.  PLANT  CANE. 


Number  and  kind 
of  Experiments 


1.  One  cane,  (cut) 
. Two  cane,  (ent) 
. Three  cane  (cut) 
. Four  cane  (cut) . 
. One  cane  ( nnent) 
. Ui)per  halves . . . 
I.  Lower  halves... 

8.  Upper  thirds. .. . 

9.  Middle  thirds. . . 
10.  Lower  thirds... 


Mfircli 

13. 

May 

25. 

Nov. 

4. 

JSo.  of 
Sprouts. 

No.  of 
Sprouts 

Plant. 

Stubble 

s 

oj 

3 

m 

Plant. 

42 

U1 

No  of 

Stalks. 

l'S;5 

® 4^ 

9 

o 

■rA  CS 
<D 

rt 

o 

H 

No.  of 

Stalks. 

Weight  of 
Stalks,  lbs. 

Tons  per 

acre. 

36 

50 

89 

77 

371 

1114 

33.42 

420 

1109 

33.27 

87 

83 

172 

1.54 

4(i9 

1232 

36.96 

413 

1338 

40.14 

136 

144 

220 

214 

430 

1144 

34.32 

440 

1336 

40  08 

120 

158 

250 

279 

409 

1296 

38.88 

479 

1410 

42.3 

30 

48 

53 

77 

357 

1146 

34.33 

413 

1132 

33.96' 

108 

106 

148 

154 

421 

1360 

40.8 

436 

1292 

38.76 

53 

57 

123 

109 

388 

1334 

40.02 

402 

980 

29.4 

139 

101 

168 

147 

420 

1278 

38.34 

344 

918 

27.54* 

100 

109 

165 

180 

385 

1276 

38.28 

310 

860 

25.8  * 

117 

46 

177 

104 

407 

1134 

34.02 

296 

740 

22.2  * 

Injured  more  or  less  by  shade  of  a live  oak  tree. 


512 


TABLE  8— PLAT  O— FIRST  YEAR  STUBBLE,  NOV.  14,  1888. 


Number  and  Kind  of  Exiieriments. 

Plant. 

Stubble. 

Number  of 

Stalks. 

Weight  of 

Stalks. I 

t-i 

DO 

S 

O 

H 

Number  of 

Stalks. 

Weight  of 

Stalks. 

Tons  per 

Acre. 

1. 

One  cane' (cut) 

315 

516 

15.48 

355 

668 

20.04 

2, 

Two  canes  (cut) 

355 

578 

17.34 

419 

770 

23.1 

3. 

Three  canes  (cut) 

377 

544 

16.32 

433 

719 

21. ,57 

4. 

Four  canes  (cut) 

433 

691 

20.73 

461 

866 

25.98 

5. 

One  cane  (uncut) 

.358 

742 

22.26 

338 

622 

18.66 

6. 

Up2ier  halves 

398 

870 

26.1 

374 

784 

23.52 

7. 

Lower  halves 

400 

804 

24.12 

209 

521 

15.63^ 

8. 

Upper  thirds 

405 

826 

24.78 

310 

492 

14.76* 

9. 

Middle  thirds 

414 

750 

22.5 

298 

454 

13.62* 

10. 

Lower  thirds 

373 

604 

18.12 

277  1 

432 

12.96* 

TABLE  9.~PLATT  O— SECOND  YEAR  STUBBLE,  OCT.  15,  1889. 


Number  and  Kind  of  Experiment. 

Plant. 

Stubble. 

No.  of 
Stalks. 

^ • 

O OD 

3 

No.  of 
Stalks. 

Weight  of 
Stalks. 

Tons  per 
Acre 

• 

lbs. 

i 

lbs. 

I 

1.  One  cane  (cut) 

275 

572  i 

17.16 

307 

767 

123.01!* 

2.  Two  canes  (cut) 

278 

533! 

15.19 

217 

451 

13.54 

3.  Three  canes  (cut) 

262 

1^0 ! 

14.70 

257 

596 

17.88 

4.  Four  canes  (cut) 

334 

8551 

25.65 

368 

868! 

26.05 

.5.  One  cane  (uncut) 

297 

867 

26.01 

156 

522| 

15.66 

6.  Upper  halves 

321 

674 

20.22 

241 

.520l 

15.61 

7.  LoAver  halves 

334 

835 

25.05 

247 

503 

15.69 

8.  Uiiper  thirds 

346 

733 

21.09 

180 

309 

9.27 

9.  Middle  thirds 

291 

680 

20.40 

112 

116 

3.8 

JO.  LoAver  thirds 

2891 

693 

20.79 

80 

76 

2.28 

^Injured  by  shade. 


513 


TABLE  10— PLANT  CANE,  HARVESTED  NOV.  4,  1887.  PLAT  O— 
GERMINATION  QUESTIONS. 


Humber  and  Kind  of 
Experiments. 

Yield  per  acre,  in  tons 

Analyses. 

Coefficient  purity. 

Glocuse  ratio. 

Pounds  of 
available 
sugar  upon 
70  per  cent 
extraction. 

Degree  Baiune. 

Total  solids.  | 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Per  ton. 

Per  acre 

1 one  cane  cut,  plant. . . 

33.42 

7.05 

12.71 

9.9 

1.77 

77.89 

17.86 

101.5 

3392 

1 one  cane  cut,  stubble 

33.27 

7.3 

13.24 

11.3 

1.57 

85.35 

13.88 

125.30 

4169 

:2  two  cane  cut,  plant . . 

36.96 

7.4 

13.39 

10.2 

1.84 

76.17 

18.03 

104.16 

3850 

2 two  cane  cut,  stubble 

40.14 

7.4 

13.49 

10.2 

2.24 

76.61 

21.96 

95.76 

3844 

3 three  cane  cut,  plant. 

34.32 

7.3 

13.19 

10.1 

1.92 

76.57 

19. 

101.08 

3469 

-3  three  cane  cut, stubble 

40.08 

7.5 

13.69 

10.3 

1.9 

75.23 

18.44 

104.82 

4180 

4 four  cane  cut,  plant. . 

38.88 

7.5 

13.59 

9.9 

2.04 

73.58 

20.6 

95.76 

3723 

4 four  cane  cut,  stubble 

42.3 

7.5 

13.59 

10.9 

1.9 

80.2 

17.43 

112.7 

4767 

5 one  cane  uncut,  plant 

34.33 

7.3 

13.24 

10.8 

1.9 

81.57 

17.59 

111.3 

3821 

one  cane  uncut,  stubble 

33.96 

7.4 

13.49 

10.4 

2. 

77.83 

19.23 

103.6 

3418 

6 upper  halves,  plant. . 

40.8 

7.3 

13.24 

10.8 

1.9 

81.57 

17.59 

111.3 

4541 

'6  upper  halves,  stubble 

38.76 

7.5 

13.69 

10.2 

2. 

74.5 

19.6 

100.8 

3907 

7 lower  halves,  plant. . 

40.02 

7.3 

13.19 

10.8 

2.14 

81.88 

19.51 

106.26 

4253 

7 lower  halves,  stubble 

*29.4 

7.4 

13.49 

10.3 

2. 

76.64 

19.41 

102.2 

2004 

•8  upper  thirds,  plant. . 

38.34 

7.3 

13.14 

10.4 

L9 

79.9 

18.26 

105.7 

4053 

8 upper  thirds,  stubble 

*27.54 

7.6 

13.89 

10.6 

2. 

77.03 

18.86 

106.84 

2930 

9 middle  thirds,  plant . . 

38.28 

7.4 

13.44 

10.5 

1.9 

78.12 

18.09 

109.1 

4100 

9 middle  thirds,  stubble 

*25.8 

7.6 

13.89 

10.5 

2. 

75.59 

19.94 

105. 

2709 

TO  lower  thirds  plant .... 

34.02 

7.6 

12.74 

10. 

l.^O 

78.49 

18.6 

101. 

3436 

10  lower  thirds,  stubble . 

*22.2 

7.9 

14.29 

11.2 

1.82 

78.37 

16.25 

118.58 

2521 

^Injured  by  proximity  of  live  oak. 


Througli  an  accident  in  the  laboratory,  the  samples  of  juic  e 
"were  mixed,  which  vitiated  the  accuracy  of  results,  and  hence 
no  correct  table  can  be  given  for  1888.  That  for  1889  is,  how- 
<ever,  presented  : 


514 


TABLE  NO.  11— SECOND  YEAR  STUBBLE,  HARVESTED  OCT.  15,  1889. 
ITAT  O— GERMINATION  QUESTIONS. 


, 

1 

Number  and  Kind  of 
Experiments. 

Yield  jier  acres  in  tons 

Degree  Banme.  j 

1 ^ ' 

Total  solids.  ^ j 

’ses. 

'Jl 

0 

m 

Glucose.  1 

1 

i 

0 

|o 

Glucose  ratio. 

Pour 
avai 
suga 
70  pi 
extr; 

0 

0 

Ph 

ids  of 
lable 
r u])on 
er  cent 
iction . 

9 

cz 

PP 

1 one  cane  cnt,  ])lant. .. 

17.16 

! 7.4 

13.3 

10 

'2.27 

75 

22.7 

92.33 

1,584.38 

1 one  cane  cnt,  stubble. 

23.02 

! 8.1 

14.6' 

10.7 

2.27 

73 

, 2i!i9' 

102.13, 

2,351.03 

2 two  cane  cut,  plant. . 

16.01 

6.6 

11.9 

9.5) 

2.2li 

1 80 

23.26i 

86.59 

1,386.31 

2 two  cane  cut,  stubble 

13.54 

6.9 

12.4 

7.8) 

2.89  63 

37 . 05 

48.51 

656.83 

3 three  cane  cut,  i)lant. 

14.93) 

7.2 

12.9 

9.6 

2.59 

26.97 

80.01 

1,195.89 

3 three  cane  cut,  stubble 

17. 

7.9 

14.3 

19.9, 

2.35 

76 

21 .46 

103.251 

1,846.11 

4 four  cane  cut,  plant. . 

25 . 65 

7.3 

13.2 

9.9! 

2.64 

75 

26.66 

83.16, 

2,133.05 

4 four  cane  cut,  stubble  ; 

26.05 

7.4 

13.4 

9.8| 

2.52 

73 

25.71 

84.2^ 

2,165.49 

.5  one  cane  uncut,  plant  j 

26.01 

7.7 

13.9 

10.8! 

2.3i 

77 

22.03 

101.32 

2,635.33 

5 one  cane  uncut, stxibble 

15.61 

7.6 

13.8 

10.41 

2.61 

75 

25 . 38 

90.16, 

1,411.90 

6 upper  halves  plant. . . 

20.2,' 

7.8 

14. 

U.5I 

2.38 

82 

20.69 

111.02 

2,244.82 

6 upper  halves,  stubble 

15.61 

8. 

14  4 

10. 7i 

2.72 

74 

25.42 

92.68 

1,446.73 

I?  lower  halves,  plant. . . 

25.65 

7.5 

13.5 

10.71 

' .57 

79 

24.01 

95.83 

2,458.04 

lower  halves,  stubble. 

^15.11 

7.9 

14.2 

11. 

2.64 

79 

24. 

98. 56|  1,488. 24 

rt  upper  thirds,  plant. .. 

22. 

7.3 

13.1 

10. 2| 

2.56 

78, 

25.09 

89. 7411, 974. 2B 

8 up2)er  thirds,  stubble 

^ 9.28 

7.5 

13.6 

L0.3! 

2.48 

75 

24.07 

92.12 

854.87 

9 middle  thirds,  2)la>nt . . 

20.42 

7. 

12.7 

^9.4; 

2.48 

74 

26.38 

79.52 

1,623.8 

9 middle  thirds,  stubble 

^ 3.49 

7.4 

13.4 

10.2! 

2.5  . 

76 

25.09 

89.04 

1,310.75 

10  lower  thirds,  plant. . . 

20.8 

7.1 

12.81 

9.61 

2.70 

75 

28.12 

77.7 

616.16 

10  lower  thirds,  stubble.. 

* 2.3 

7.3 

13. 1! 

■ H.?! 

2.95 

66 

33.93 

61.95 

142.48 

’^lujured  by  shade. 


lu  the  above  experiments  several  of  those  where  stubble 
^ane  was  used  as  seed,  were  injured  by  shade.  Eliminating 
these,  we  find  that  in  an  average  year,  with  good  seed,  two  stalks 
and  a lap  will  be  abundant  see  1 5 that  stubble  cane  is  as  good, 
if  not  better  seed,  than  plant  and  that  the  upper  halves  or  thirds 
of  the  cane  are  [as  good  as  the  entire  stalk  for  seed.  It  is  also 
shown  that  there  is  no  physiological  benefit  accruing  from  cutting 
.the  cane.  Whatever  benefit  may  arise  from  this  practice,  now 
almost  universal,  must  be  ascribed  to  care  and  efficiency  of  work 
in  planting  and  covering,  and  to  the  decreased  risk  of  unearth- 
ing the  cane  during  early  cultivation,  especially  when  the  latter  is 
very. crooked.  When  cane  has  to  remain  in  the  ground  all  winter, 


515 


before  germinating,  it  is  best  not  to  cut  the  cane  at  all  if  its 
physical  condition  will  permit  such  a procedure,  since  every 
cut  i3roduces  a wound  which  more  or  less  induces  fermentation 
and  decay.  It  is  the  belief  of  those  who  practice  cutting  that 
when  an  eye  on  an  entire  stalks  starts  vigorously  into  growth,  it 
can  and  may  injure  the  vitality  of  the  other  eyes,  and  hence  they 
recommend  cutting  the  cane,  to  prevent  this  destruction.  That 
such  is  not  the  case  has  been  shown  by  a number  of  experiments 
conducted  by  the  station.  In  planting  entire  stalks  it  is  difficult 
to  cover  each  eye  at  the  same  depth.  Those  near  the  surface 
germinate  first,  while  those  at  the  greatest  depth  may  never  ger- 
minate at  all,  though  perfectly  sound  and  healthy,  because  ere 
the  conditions  necessary  to  germination  at  that  depth  are 
secured  the  earlier  sprouts  are  being  cultivated  and  more  dirt 
thrown  on  them.  It  frequf^ntly  happens  in  digging  stubble  that 
eyes  on  the  mother  cane  are  found  sound  and,  in  many  instances,, 
germinate  after  a burial  of  over  twelve  months.  With  a view  of 
throwing  more  light, on  this  subject,  the  following  experiments 
were  instituted  and  carried  to  successful  completion : 

1.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops  three  inches,  butts  six 
inches  deep. 

2.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops  three  inches,  butts  ten 
inches  deep. 

3.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops  three  inches,  butts  four^ 
teen  inches  deep. 

4.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops  three  inches,  butts  six- 
teen inches  deep. 

5.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops  three  inches,  butts  seven- 
teen inches  deep. 

6.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops,  three  inches,  butts 
eighteen  inches  deep. 

7.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops  three  inches,  butts  twenty 
inches  deep. 

3.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops  three  inches,  butts 
twenty-one  inches  deep. 

9.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops  three  inches,  butts, 
twenty-tw'o  inches  deep. 


516 


10.  Two  wliole  canes  planted,  tops  three  inches,  hntfs 
twenty-four  inches  deep. 

11.  Two  whole  canes  i^lanted,  tops  eighteen  inches,  butts 
three  inches  deep. 

12.  Two  whole  canes  planted,  tops  twenty-two  inches,  butts 
three  inches  deep. 

13.  Tsvo  whole  canes  planted,  tops  twenty-four  inches,  butts 
three  inches  deep- 

14.  One  whole  cane  planted  perpendicularly,  top  up,  butt 
down. 

Canes  of  about  four  feet  in  length  were  placed  carefully  in 
trenches  properly  prepared  of  above  depth,  on  March  13,  1889. 

^ <3 

On  November  14th  and  15th,  they  were  carefully  dug  up, 
the  growing  canes  removed  and  counted,  the  mother  stalk  care- 
fully washed^ and  examined,  and  each  eye  carefully  treated  as 
regards  germination  and  soundness.  The  following  are  the  notes 
niade : 

Experiment  1.  Both  mother  canes  rotten,  seventeen 
developed  stalks,  one  stool  coming  from  the  eye  deepest  buried 
(six  inches.) 

Experiment  No.  2.  One  mother  cane  rotten.  The  other 
perfectly  sound  with  two  well  preserved  sound  eyes  on  it : there 
were  twenty-four  well  developed  stalks,  one  stool  from  eyes  at3 
depth  of  six  inches,  eight  inches  and  ten  inches,  (lowest  eye). 

Experiment  No.  3.  Both  mother  canes  sound,  twenty-eight 
growing  stalks  ; one  stalk  had  a stool  at  fourteen  inches  depth, 
another  at  ten  inches,  and  another  at  six  inches,  with  one  sound 
eye.  The  other  stalk  had  its  lowest  four  eyes  staided,  but  not 
yet  to  surface,  with  stools  at  ten  inches,  six  inches.  Every  eye 
but  one  had  germinated,  this  was  dead  and  was  at  depth  of  near 
eight  inches. 

ExiDeriment  No.  4.  Both  mother  canes  rotten  ; only  twelve 
stalks  of  cane.  The  lowest  eye  which  germinated  was  at  six 
inches. 

Experiment  No.  5.  Both  mother  canes  rotten,  twenty -one 
stalks  of  cane,  one  stool  from  an  eye  twelve  inches  dee}^,  one  at 
eight  inches,  and  another  at  kix  inches. 


517 


Experiment  6.  Eoth  motlier  canes  rotten  5 thirteen 
stalks  of  cane,  one  stool  of  two  stalks  from  an  eye  four  inches 
deep  and  another  from  eye  twelve  inches,  and  at  the  lower  end 
(eighteen  inches)  was  found  a living  sucker  not  yet  out  of  the 
ground,  coming  from  a dead  sprout,  which  had  doubtless,  been 
smothered  in  the  spring. 

Experiment  ISTo.  7.  Both  mother  canes  rotten  ; eleven  stalks 
cane,  one  stool  from  eye  fifteen  inches  deep,  and  another  from 
eye  fourteen  inches  deep. 

Experiment  No.  8.  Both  mother  canes  rotten,  and  no  eyes 
germinated. 

Experiment  No.  9.  One  mother  cane  rotten,  the  other 
sound.  No  eyes  germinated  on  rotten  cane.  Three  stools  from 
sound  cane  from  upper  eyes.  Thirteen  canes  5 three  eyes  still 
good. 

Exx)eriment  No.  10.  One  mother  cane  rotten,  and  one  ex- 
cellently well  preserved.  Twenty-three  canes.  Only  one  stool  of 
three  stalks  from  rotten  stalk,  from  second  eye  from  top  of  cane 
((about  five  inches).  Four  stools  had  developed  on  sound  cane, 
from  twelve  inches  up  to  three  inches  deep.  Five  eyes  had 
developed  on  lower  x)art  of  cane  into  short  sprouts,  which  had 

been  smothered.  Two  eyes  still  good. 

Exx^eriment  No.  11.  Both  mother  canes  sound  ; twenty 
canes  ; one  stool  from  an  eye  twenty-four  inches  deep,  was  very 
curious  in  its  underground  connection  with  the  mother  stalk.  It 
ran  out  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees  to  mother  stalk  to  a 
length  of  seventeen  inches,  and  then  came  x^erpendicularly  to  the 
surface.  This. forcibly  illustrated  the  x)ower  of  vitality.  Three 
€^yes  on  the  two  canes  were  still  sound. 

Experiment  No.  12.  Both  mother  canes  rotten  ; thirteen 
€*anes  from  only  two  eyes,  at  eight  and  six  inches  deex). 

Exx^eriment  No.  13.  Both  canes  rotting  ; twelve  canes  from 
two  eyes,  ten  to  eight  inches  deep. 

Experiment  No  14.  This  cane  was  still  sound.  Every  eye 
from  eighteen  inches  deep  to  the  top  germinated,  giving  twenty- 
one  fully  developed  canes.  After  being  dug  up  the  stalk  with 
its  adherent  growth  was  a great  curiosity.  It  had  the  form  of  an 


518 


umbrella  inverted  by  the  wind,  only  the  ribs  were  placed  at  inter- 
vals along  the  stalk.  At  the  depth  of  twenty- five  inches  there  was 
found  a sound  eye.  Below  this  the  stalk  was  rotten,  above 
sound  and  strong. 

The  sound  eyes  in  every  case  were  planted,  and  germination 
actually  produced.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  canes  used  in 
these  experiments  were  defective.  Our  best  seed  had  been 
planted  before  this  work  was  projected,  and  in  preparing  for  this 
work  we  had  to  select  stalks  from  refused  seed  cane.  However^ 
enough  is  shown  to  controvert  the  opinion  that  an  eye  starting: 
early  into  growth  does  destroy  the  other  eyes  on  the  same  cane 
unfavorably  situated.  It  also  suggests  the  immense  power  resi- 
dent in  a good  sound  eye  of  cane.  Last  season  was,  however,  a. 
very  dry  one,  and  perhaps  favorable  to  these  experiments,  whiles 
the  seed  used  was  defective  and  unfavorable.  A Avet  season,  aa  itlr 
excellent  seed  cane,  might  giA^e  different  i esults,  especially  u}3oni 
stiff,  undraiued  soil.  Whenever  a large  number  of  stalky, 
appeared  aboA^e  ground,  the  mother  cane  was  nearly  always 
sound. 

Along  with  the  above,  another  series  of  exx>eriments  was^ 
made.  Canes  were  cut  up  into  one  and  two  joints  and  planted^ 
A^ertically  at  distances  apart  varying  from  six  to  eighteen  inches. 
The  land  was  nicely  bedded,  and  the  joints  Avere  simply  inserted 
by  hand.  A drouth  of  unprecedented  fury  prevailed  immedi- 
ately after  planting,  Avith  disastrous  results  to  the  experiments.. 

Eow  No.  1,  where  one  joint  was  planted  12  inches  apart,, 
failed  to  germinate. 

Eow  No.  2,  where  one  joint  Avas  planted  18  inches  apart,, 
give  one  stool  of  fifteen  stalks. 

Eow  No.  3,  where  one  joint  was  planted  6 inches  apart,  gave 
eight  stools,  aggregating  seventy-nine  stalks. 

Eow  No.  4,  where  two  joints  were  planted  12  inches  apart^ 
gave  six  stools,  aggregating  seventy-six  stalks. 

Eow  No.  5,  where  two  joints  w^ere  planted  18  inches  aj)art,, 
gave  five  stools,  aggregating  sixty-eight  stalks. 

Eow  No.  6,  Avhere  two  joints  Avere  planted  6 inches  apart^ 
gave  seven  stools,  aggregating  eighty-three  stalks. 


519 


This  cane  came  up  very  scatteringly  and  suckered  enorm- 
ously,  giving  very  few  well  develoj)ed  stalks. 

PHYSIOLOGICAL  EXPEEIMENTS. 

WHAT  DISTANCE  APART  SHALL  WE  GIVE  OUR  CANE  ROWS  ? 

This  question  was  experimentally  begun  with  plant  cane  in 
1888.  This  year  it  has  been  followed  into  stubble. 

The  following,  taken  from  bulletin  No.  20,  gives  an  account 
of  the  original  planting.  This  year  the  stubble  has  been  treated 
in  same  manner  as  regards  fertilizers,  the  latter  applied  on  May 
2.  Some  difficulty  was  experienced  in  working  properly  the 
uarrrow  rows,  and  they  suffered  in  consequence. 

^^1.  Three  rows,  three  feet  wide. 

^ ^ 2.  Three  rows,  four  feet  wide. 

‘^^3.  Three  rows,  five  feet  wide. 

4.  Three  rows,  six  feet  wide. 

I ^ 5.  Three  rows,  seven  feet  wide. 

^^6.  Three  rows,  eight  feet  wide. 

‘‘These  rows  were  two  acres  long,  and  were  divided  into 
«qual  parts.  Upon  the  upper  part,  plant  was  used  for  seed  ; and 
on  the  lower,  stubble.  Each  of  these  parts  was' again  equally 
divided,  and  upon  the  southern  half  of  each  part  manure  was 
used,  the  same  amount  to  each  experiment.  This  gave  each  row 
the  same  amount  of  manure,  but  very  varying  quantities  iier 
ucre.  Bradley’s  fertilizer  was  used  on  the  part  planted  with 
stubble,  and  Bowdker’s  fertilizer  on  that  with  plant.  These 
goods  were  especially  prepared  in  Boston,  for  Mr.  Frank  Ames, 
for  his  sugar  plantation,  and  by  him  presented  to  the  station. 

“ Two  attempts  were  made,  after  the  cane  had  reached  seve- 
ral feet  in  height,  to  cultivate  the  narrow  rows  with  a two  horse 
plow,  by  driving  the  mules  “tandem,”  but  a failure  was  made 
each  time.  The  soil  was  too  stiff.  The  other  experiments  were 
cultivated  like  the  rest  of  the  cane  on  the  station,  in  the  usual 
way. 

“ The  difficulty  of  cultivation  must  alw^ays  remain  as  a seri- 
ous objection  to  iiarro^w  rows  for  cane  in  stiff  soils.  In  light  soils 
a one  horse  plow  may  do  all  the  work  effectually.  Howwer,  in 
these  ex]ieriments  our  narrow^  row^s  do  not  show  any  loss  from 


520 


lack  of  cultivation,  nor  from  the  absence  of  high  ridges  and 
deep  middles,  though  the  subsequent  seasons  were  extremely 
unfavorable.’’ 

Eesults  of  both  1888  and  1889  are  herewith  given  : 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  13— DIFFERENT  WIDTHS  OF  ROWS  IN  PLANT 

CANE,  FOR  188ri. 


f rows,  feet.  1 

£» 

f-( 

Fertilized  per 

acre. 

32 

o 

-M 

OJ 

!-i 

O 

a 

© 

3 

An 

32 

alyst 

iS. 

_© 

"© 

© 

o 

.2 

Pounds  of 
a vail  a b le 
sugar  upon 
TO  per  cent, 
extraction. 

Width  o] 

o 

N 

s 

o 

3 

<5 

© 

© 

tc 

© 

GO 

CZ 

-*-» 

o 

H 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

© 

© 

30 

O 

© 

o 

Per  ton  i 

Per  acre 

3 

Bradley 

Lbs. 

1,336 

39.38 

16.2 

14.1 

.78 

87.03 

5.33 

181.02 

7,128.57 

4 

Bradley 

1,002138.  A5l8. 4 

15.1 

12.5 

1.15i 

82.789,  l'.i 

150.9 

6,748.25 

5 

Bradley 

800:34.048.8 

15.8 

13.4 

.971 

'84.817.23 

167.3 

5,694.89 

6 

Bradley 

668  30.8718.5 

15.3 

12.8 

;i.i5 

83.66,8.97 

155.12 

4,788.55 

7 

Bradley 

573  29.69 

8.4 

15.2 

12.7 

jl.08; 

83.. 55  8. 5 

155.12 

4,605.51 

8 

Bradley 

504  21.59 

8.2 

14.8 

12  4 

! M 

83.78|7.82 

153.3 

3,177.91 

3 

No  manure 

31.41 

7.3 

13.2 

11.2 

.75 

84.09;6.75 

141.12 

4,432.58 

4 

No  manure 

25.93 

7.3 

13.2 

11.2 

.75 

84.096.75 

141.12 

3,659.24 

5 

No  manure 

24.91 

7.3 

13. 2l 

11.2 

.751 

84. 0916.75 

141.12 

3,515.3 

6 

No  manure 

21.69 

7.3 

13. 2i 

11.2 

.75! 

84.099.7. 

141.12 

3,060-91 

7 

No  manure 

24.69 

7.3 

13.21 

11.2 

.75| 

84.(96.75 

141.12 

3,516.48 

8 

No  manure 

20.65 

7.3 

13.2 

11.2 

.75| 

84.096.75 

141.12 

2,914.13 

3 

Bowdker’a 

1,336 

35.91j 

7.5 

13.5 

11.2 

.86; 

81.967.67 

138.79 

4,982.15 

4 

Bowdker’s 

1,002 

31.44!7.8 

14. 

12.2 

1.07 

87.14,8.77 

148.4 

4,665.7 

3 

Bowdker’s 

800 

27.72 

7.4 

13.4 

11^2 

.8 

83. 5817. 67 

138.74 

3,845.87 

6 

Bowdker’s 

667 

21.29 

7.9  14.2 

11.9 

1.06 

83.8 

8.90 

144.34 

3,023 

7 

Bowdker’s 

573 

21.91 

6.7 

12. 

9.5 

.87 

79.169.15 

114.8 

2,515.2^ 

8 

Bowdker’s 

504 

18.4 

7.8 

14. 

12.5 

.96 

89.287.68 

154.84 

2,^'49.06 

3 

No  manure 

31.37 

8. 

14.4 

13. 

1.01' 

90.277.76 

160.86 

5,040.18 

4 

No  manure 

23 . 53 

7.5 

13.6 

11.9 

.96 

87.5  |8.06 

146.44 

3,545.73 

5 

No  manure 

20.82 

7.9 

14. 2| 

12. 

.83: 

84  5 6.91 

150.64 

3,130.32 

6 

No  manure 

16.22 

8.2 

14.8 

12.7 

.92| 

85. 8 117. 32 

158. 4 ■< 

2,570.54 

7 

No  manure 

17.1 

8. 

14.4, 

12.3 

.>6  85.4i;6.99 

151.14 

2,635.79 

8 

No  manure 

W 75  8.4 

15. l' 

12  9 

.9  ' 

85.43  6.07 

161  .7 

3.190.57 

521 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  13— DIFFERENT  WIDTHS  OF  ROWS  -IN  STUB- 
BLE CANE,  1889. 


? 

o 

o 

Fertilizer  Used. 

Amount  Fertilizer  per 
Acre.  Lbs. 

! 

Yield  per  Acre  in  Tons' 

Analyses. 

Coefficient  of  Purity. 

Glucose  Ratio. 

Pounds  availa- 
ble sugar  upoii 
70  per  cent,  ex- 
trac  tion. 

Degree  Baume. 

Total  Solids 

Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Per  Ton. 

2 

< 

Pm 

3 

Bradley 

1,336 

23.22 

7.8il4.ll 

11.9 

1.31  84 

11. 

139.09 

3,231 

4 

Bradley 

1,002 

19.74 

7.8 

14.1 

12. ll 

1.11 185 

9.17 

146.16 

2,885* 

5 

Bradley 

800 

21.76 

7.8 

14.1  1 

12.  i 

1.17 '85 

9.75 

143.5 

3,123:- 

6 

Bradley 

668 

20.31 

7.8 

14.  i 

11.9 

1.13  !85 

9.49 

142.94 

2,903 

7 

Bradley 

.573 

20.17 

8. 

14.5' 

12.5 

1.04 ^86 

8.31 

153.16 

3,089’ 

8 

Bradley 

504 

15.88 

7.9 

14.2 

12.4 

,1.14|87 

9.19 

149.66 

2,37T 

3 

No  manure.. 

15.63 

8. 

14.5 

12.3 

il.06  84 

8.61 

149.94 

2,343- 

4 

No  manure.. 

10.82 

8. 

14.5 

12.5 

1.14i86 

9.12 

151.06 

1,634 

5 

No  manure*. . 

12.64 

7.8 

14. 

12. 

:1. 15:85 

i 9.58 

143.92 

1,819' 

6 

No  manure. . 

12.69 

8.1 

14.6 

12.2 

1.16 183' 

9.5 

146.44 

1,8. 58-. 

7 

No  manure.. 

14.04 

8. 

14.5 

12.1 

1.22  83 

10.08 

143.78 

2,018: 

8 

No  manure.. 

15.12 

8. 

14.5 

12.5 

:i.l8|86 

9.44 

150.22 

2,271 

3 

Bowdker’s. . . 

1,336 

, 24.45 

7.9 

14.2 

12. 

;i.03  84 

8.58 

146.44 

3,580- 

4 

Bowdker’s. . . 

1,0(12 

20.09 

7.9 

14.3 

12.1 

il.06  184 

8.76 

147.14 

2,95d. 

5 

Bowdker’s. . . 

800 

17.2 

7.9 

14.2 

12. 

|1.07 

:84 

8.91 

145..  6 

2,504 

6 

Bowdker’s. . . 

! 668 

15,36 

7.9 

14.2 

11.5 

ll.ll 

181 

9.65 

137.69 

2,114 

7 

Bowdker’s. . . 

573 

14.61 

7.9 

14.2 

11.8 

1.19  83 

10.08 

140.21 

2,048'- 

8 

Bowdker’s. . . 

504 

15.5 

7.5 

1 3,5 

11.3|1.2l 

183 

10.7 

132.79 

2,058- 

a 

No  manure. . 

12. .‘■16 

7.9 

14.2 

11.5 

1.08 '81 

9.39 

138.32 

1,737 

4 

No  manure.. 

13.68 

8.3 

15. 

13. 

1.01 

87 

7.76 

160.79 

2,199' 

») 

No  manure. . 

15.52 

8.4 

15.1 

13. 

1.02 

86 

7.84 

160.. 58 

2,492 

6 

No  manure.. 

15.2 

8. 

14.5 

12 . 5 

1.11 

86 

8.88 

151.69 

2,30d 

7 

No  manure.. 

14.84 

8.3 

15. 

12.6 

1.19 

84 

9.44 

151.41 

2,247 

8 

: "Vr.  trx'imrp 

13  ^6 

8.3 

!i5. 

12  71.13 

85 

8.89 

1,54.07 

2,12ffi 

% 


COMPAKISON  OF  AGGHEGATE  RESULTS  OF  PLAT  13  FOR  TWO  YEARS. 


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523 


The  sucrose  content  seems  to  depend  upon  factors  other  than 
width  of  rows,  thongh  the  narrow  rows  have  slightly  the  advan- 
tage. Attention  was  called  in  bulletin  No.  20  to  the  defective 
drainage  of  the  six  foot  plat,  due  to  an  old  water  furrow  which 
once  drained  an  oat  patch.  The  decrease  in  yield  due  to  this 
cause  was  also  apparent  this  year. 

To  plant  an  acre  in  cane,  with  rows  seven  feet  apart,  using 
^Hwo  stalks  and  a lap  ” for  seed,  will  require  about  four  tons  of 
cane  ; at  the  same  rate  there  will  be  required  for  seed  : 

In  three  foot  rows,  nine  and  one-third  tons  per  acre. 

In  four  foot  rows,  seven  tons  per  acre. 

In  five  foot  rows,  5.6  tons  per  acre. 

In  six  foot  rows,  four  and  two-thirds  tons  per  acre. 

In  seven  foot  rows,  four  tons  per  acre. 

In  eight  loot  rows,  three  and  one  half  tons  per  acre. 

Substracting  these  qualities  from  average  yield  above  will 
give  net  cane  j)er  acre  over  the  amount  used  in  planting  a» 
follows  : 

Three  foot  rows,  44.15  tons. 

Four  foot  rows.  38.94  tons. 

Five  foot  rows,  38.05  tons. 

Six  foot  rows,  33.67  tons. 

Seven  foot  rows,  35.26. 

Eight  foot  rows,  31.66, 

These  results  are  so  striking  that  we  can  not  avoid  the  con- 
clusion reached  last  year. 

It  is  unwise  as  well  as  unscientific  to  draw  conclusions  from 
a few  years’  experience,  yet  the  above  results  strongly  suggest 
thought  and  reflection.  Have  not  in  our  eTorts  at  eisy  and 
thorough  cultivation  passed  the  boundary  of  maximum  yield 
sugar  content  in  the  width  of  our  rows?  Do  not  wide  rows  and 
late  cultivation  also  tend  to  large  ininiiture  canes  at  harvest? 
The  frequent  remarks  of  planters  that  ^^cane  never  grows  well 
until  laid  by,”  and  ‘-cane  never  grows  fast  until  it  shades  the 
ground,”  cause  the  inquiring  mind  to  ask  the  reasons  for  these 
popular  axioms.  May  not  the  frequent  rupture  of  the  roots  in 


524 


<$iiltivation,  wliicli  wide  rows  permit  to  be  extended  (perhai)s) 
l^eyond  tlie  requirements  of  the  plane,  and  the  growth  of  grass 
^ind  weeds,  which  flourish  longer  (because  unshaded)  in  wide 
"a-ows  (the  killing  of  which  often  requires  the  late  cultivation), 
liave  much  to  do  with  originating  these  j)opular  beliefs ! 

It  is  certainly  desirable  in  this  climate  to  have  early  matur- 
ing cane.  To-do  this  obstacles  or  checks  upon  its  growth  must 
'bit  presented  in  some  form  in  order  that  it  may  do  the  only 
thing  left  it — i.  e.,  mature.  These  obstacles  may  be  found  in 
want  of  drainage,  or  lack  of  fertility.  The  last  obstacle  may  be 
presented  by  withholding  fertilizers,  absence  of  deep  ploughing, 
want  of  rain  and  crowding  the  land  with  cane,  etc.  IVCay  not  a 
witdh  of  rows  just  sufficient  for  good  cultivation,  varying  accord- 
ing to  soil,  be  better  than  the  conventional  seven  foot  row  now 
-almost  everywhere  found.  The  station  continues  to  test  this 
•question. 

VARIETIES  OF  CANE. 

The  station  has  now  growing  on  it  over  sixty  varieties  of 
<<jcane,  collected  from  all  parts  of  the  world.  It  has  received  since 
-^ur  last  report  thirty-five  varieties  from  the  Botanical  gardens 
«iof  Jamaica,  kindly  donated  by  the  director. 

It  has  also  received  from  Prof.Bovell,  of  Dodd’s  Beforuiatory, 
JIarbadoes  a bottle  of  true  cane  seeds.  These  have  been  carefully 
planted.  Many  have  germinated,  but  have  been  rapidly  de- 
-stroyed  by  ants.  Preventive  measures  have  been  now  intro- 
dneed,  and  it  is  hoped  that  canes  may  ultimately  be  obtained 
here  from  seed,  as  has  been  so  successfully  accomplished  at  Bar- 
badoes.  To  both  of  the  above  mentioned  gentlemen  the  station 
returns  thanks. 

Last  year  over  thirty  varieties  of  cane  were  growui  to  matu- 
rity, carefully  analyzed,  and  in  several  instances  worked  up  in 
the  sugar  house.  Our  results  so  far  are  somewhat  contradictory. 
Several  canes  wdiich  did  well  in  1888,  a wet  season,  almost  failed 
in  1889,  a very  dry  one,  and  vice  versa.  Again,  several  canes 
whdch  were  very  j^romising  the  first  year,  have  not  fulfilled  ex- 


525 


pectations  in  subsequent  seasons,  while  others,  eiitir'eEy*  ijrfptmri- 
ising  the  first  season,  are  gradually  becoming  accKnmted  at  d are 
growing  in  favor.  Xo  foreign  cane  has  as  yet  attained  that  coni- 
plete  acclimation  which  will  enable  us  to  speak  positively  of  its 
merits.  It  is,  therefore,  deemed  best  to  withhold  all  remarks  in 
regard  to  the  different  varieties  until  their  merits  and  demerits 
have  been  more  fully  investigated. 

One  fact  is  here  worthy  of  record  ; Every  sample  receivetl 
is  carefully  examined  and  an  accurate  description  as  to  its  botan- 
ical and  physical  properties  noted  in  a book  kept  for  that  pur- 
pose. On  harvesting  the  cane  the  next  season,  another  thorough 
examination  is  made  and  entered  in  its  appropriate  place  From 
a record  of  such  examinations,  we  find  that  many  ot  these  canes 
have  either  been  changed  greatly  by  planting  here,  or  in  their 
immature  condition  (only  eight  months  old  here),  are  quite  dif- 
ferent from  the  mature  cane  received.  It  is  well  knowrj  that 
many  favointe  varieties  of  cane  are  susceptible  of  variation  in  the 
same  climate  on  different  soils.  Perhaps  in  a different  climate 
and  on  a different  soil  variation  may  markedly  occur.  These 
thoughts  have  been  suggested  by  receiving  canes  of  mai'ked 
similarity,  and  yet  totally  unlike,  from  different  countries  under 
different  names.  Have  not  the  numerous  socalled  varieties  origi- 
nated by  variations  incident  to  climatic  and  soil  influences,  and 
can  not  a patient  investigation  eliminate  a large  number  of  the- 
present  varieties  and  reduce  the  number  to  a few  primordial 
types,  with  numerous  slight  variations  unworthy  of  being  styled 
varieties  ? The  station  is  now  trying  to  collect  and  bring  to- 
gether under  a common  influence  all  the  noted  varieties  of  cane 
and  to  test  the  question  of  reduction  of  the  number  of  true  varie- 
ties. At  an  early  day  a bulletin  covering  the  study  already' 
made  of  the  numerous  varieties  now  on  the  station  will  be  issued. 

Last  April  thirty  varieties  of  cane  were  planted  in  adjacent 
rows  in  the  hot  room  of  agricultural  hall.  These  came  from  all 
parts  of  the  world,  and  were  planted  in  close  proximity,  in  order 
that  by  cross  fertilization  the  fructifying  power  might  be  given 
to  the  seed.  It  is  well  known  that  all  canes  at  a certain  age*  go 


526 


tkroiigh  the  process  of  ‘^arrowing’’  or  ^‘tasselling,’’  but  usually 
produce  no  true  seed.  Profs.  Harrison  and  Bovell  have,  by 
placing  varieties  of  opposite  character  and  habits  in  close  j uxta- 
positioip  produced  true  seeds,  which  have  germinated  and  given 
new  varieties  of  cane.  In  humble  imitation  of  their  example^ 
the  station  is  now  anxiously  awaiting  the  tasselling  of  this  cane, 
in  hopes  of  obtaining  true  seed.  As  yet  no  sign  of  the  arrow  is 
visible,  though  the  canes  are  immense  and  their  sugar  content 
has  i>assed  over  18  per  cent,  in  several  instances. 

MANUEIAL  EEQUIEEMENTS. 

For  four  years  the  station  has  made  strenuous  exertions  to 
determine  a fertilizer  suitable  for  caue  on  the  sugar  lands  of 
Louisiana.  A fertilizer  is  desired  which  will  give  simultane- 
ously large  tonnage  with  large  sugar  content.  Unfortunately, 
these  combinations  are  rarely  obtained  in  this  latitude,  where 
the  cane  is  harvested  long  before  maturity.  So  far  that  class  of 
manures  which  will  insure  a large  tonnage  are  known  to  give 
succulent  watery  canes,  poor  in  sugar,  while  unmanured  stunted 
canes  are  apt  to  be  comparatively  rich  in  saccharine.  It  is  there- 
fore, for  the  present  at  least,  prudent  to  seek  a fertilizer  which 
will  give  a fair  tonnage  with  chances  in  favbr  of  high  sucrose. 
The  ingredients  of  value  in  every  commercial  fertilizer  are  nitro- 
gen, phosphoric  acid,  and  ]3otash.  These  in  different  forms  are 
combined  in  varying  proportions  to  form  the  fertilizers  offered 
on  our  market. 

Do  our  soils  need  all  three  of  these  ingredients  to  make  a 
remunerative  harvest  of  cane?  If  so,  in  what  forms  shall  they 
be  presented,  and  in  what  proportions  shall  these  combinations 
be  made  and  what  quantities  of  the  mixtures  shall  be  used  per 
acre  ? To  answer  truly  all  these  questions  would  be  the  solution 
of  the  chief  agricultural  problem  to-day  presented  to  our  sugar 
planters.  In  experimenting  to  determine  these  questions,  a 
.seemingly  insuperable  difficulty  confronts  us.  We  are  seeking 
mgar — a compound  containing  only  carbon  and  hydrogen — without 
a trace  of  any  of  the  above  ingredients,  and  yet  it  is  universally 


527 


known  that  well  developed  cane  can  not  be  obtained  when  ttee 
soil  is  deficient  m any  one  of  them.  What  then  are  their  rela- 
tions to  the  elaboration  of  sugar  in  the  cane  ? Their  action  i&> 
not  nntritons.  It  may  be  physiological,  bat  exactly  in  Avhat 
way  is  yet  an  undetermined  problem.  Do  excesses  of  all  or  any 
one  of  these  ingredients  tend  to  develop  sugar  in  the  juiced  M- 
trogenous  manures  alone  certainly  do  not,  for  when  offered  in-^ 
excess,  larodnce  exceedingly  poor  canes  in  large  quantities.  Phos- 
phatic  manures  may  accomplish  this  end,  yet  there  are  seasons'-. 
when  they,  too,  utterly  fail  to  augiiient  the  sugar  content,  pot- 
assic  manures  in  all  forms  have  failed  with  us  to  effect  the  sugar- 
content  or  tonnage  in  any  way,  though  reported  favorably  as  to 
the  former  in  some  foreign  experiments.  Experiments  covering' 
all  of  the  above  questions  have  been  carefully  and  patiently  made- 
for  four  years,  under  the  hopes  that  some  light  would  be  thrown*, 
upon  this  important  problem.  While  the  problem  has  been  byr 
no  means  solved,  yet  much  valuable  information  has  been  gained., 
and  we  are  enabled  to  report  successful  progress. 

NITROGEN  MANURES. 

In  1886  a series  of  experiments  were  begun  with  the  differ- 
ent forms  of  nitrogen,  using  nitrate  of  soda,  sulphate  of  ammonia^, 
cotton  seed  meal,  fish  scrap,  and  dried  blood.  All  of  these  were^ 
used  in  such  quantities  as  to  give  twenty-four,  forty-eight,  an^ 
S3venty-twm  pounds  of  nitrogen  per  acre,  styled  one-third,  two- 
thirds,  and  one  full  ration.  The  results  of  1886  and  1887 
clearly  demonstrated  that  the  full  ration  of  seventy-two  pounds 
per  acre  was  excessive  and  wasteful,  and  hence,  in  subsequenl 
years,  only  the  one-third  and  two-thirds  rations  were  used.  The 
above  forms  were  used  with  excesses  of  acid  i)hosphate  and  potash^. 

At  same  time  experiments  with  a mixture  of  these  last  twQ> 
substances,  called  mixed  minerals,  were  made  to  test  their  effi- 
cacy when  used  alone.  In  1886  the  stand  was  severely  injured,., 
and  hence  tonnage  not  secured j only  analyses  of  canes  obtained.^ 
Each  subsequent  year  gave  both.  The  following  table  gixre; 
the  results  for  1«89  : 


o 

Q 

H 

't 


Poniids  available  sugar 
upon  70  per  et.  extration. 

•a.Toy  19  j 

2905 

3194 

2720 

2050 

2917 

2533 

2926 

2640 

2870 

1588 

2505 

2941 

•no;  .T9J 

t-  »0  »0  OT  lO  l- CO  ^ CO  CO 

i 

•OT^UH  f>SO0U[fJ 

r-^  1-H  Ci  X CO  CO  OJ  cr.  oi  x ci 

•^.Tiap^joo^ 

" a';liuj 

Analyses. 

■osoonif,j  S?  sS32£.^  = SSi  ;:| 

•9S'().i.ni^< 

tH  rH  'X  cm  X X X OI  i-h  <>,  CO  -+I 

•Spi[t)S 

P-loj. 

t-h  (M  X lO  Ol  1—  X CO  CO  X CO  CO 

•STIO:^  Til 

‘a.iau  jad  ppip^ 

r T3  'SSSSSSSS^SS 
^ 2 r s s 2 o{  2 J::  2' 

m 

O 


1 

> 


a 


th  CO  lc  CO  ; - X'  c;  o r-i 'm 


529 


COMPARISON  OF  RESULTS. 


AVEliAGE  YIELD  PEK  ACEE  OF 

No  Manure. 

Mixed 

Minerals. 

Tons. 

Ave’ge 

sugar 

Tons. 

A ve’ge 
sugar 

'^cottonseed  meal  over 

7.62 

lbs. 

1,288 

1,345 

7.75 

lbs. 

1,115 

cotton  seed  meal  over 

9.20 

9.33 

1,172 

lisli  scrap  over 

5.48 

5.61 

fisli  sera])  over 

6.40 

1,231 

6.56 

1,056 

i dried  blood  over 

7.86 

7.99 

drie<l  blood  over 

8.82 

1,175 

8.95 

1,002 

sulphate  ammonia  over 

6.29 

1,203 

1,225 

6.42 

1,024 

1,052 

^ sulphate  ammonia  over 

9.78 

9.91 

^ nitrate  soda  over 

7.53 

967 

7.16 

694 

nitrate  soda  over 

7.41 

647 

7.54 

174 

Av.  of  all  ^ rations  over 

6.85 

1,150 

1,124 

6.98 

944 

Av.  of  all  f rations  over 

8.33 

.8.46 

951 

CONCLUSIONS. 

It  is  evident  from  the  experiments  of  four  years  that  these 
soils  require  nitrogen  to  grow  maximum  crops.  This  is  clearly 
shown  by  the  constant  increase  of  the  nitrogen  mixtures  over 
both  ^^no  manure’’  and  ^bnixed  minerals.”  Either  of  the  above 
forms  are  readily  assimilable  by  the  cane  plant,  hence  the  planter 
can,  with  impunity,  purchase  that  form  which  will  give  him  the 
cheapest  nitrogen. 

The  third  question  propounded  by  these  experiments  is  not 
j^et  satisfactorily  solved,  viz  : The  quantity  of  nitrogen  to  be 
used  per  acre.  The  whole  ration  (seventy-two  pounds  per  acre) 
is  certainlj^  excessive  and  wasteful.  Whether  the  two -thirds 
ration  (forty-eight  pounds  per  acre)  carries  with  it  a profit  over 
the  one-third  ration  (twenty-four  pounds  per  acre)  is  still  doubt- 
ful. Though  the  tonnage  is  slightly  enhanced,  the  sugar  per 
acre  is  about  the  same,  and  future  experiments  must  fully  decide 
this  question. 

PHOSPHORIC  ACID  AND  POTASH. 

Experiments  with  the  various  forms  and  in  different  quanti- 
ties of  phosphoric  acid  and  potash  have  besn  made,  extending 
over  three  years,  and  the  results  have  been  published  yearly.  By 


530 


comparing  these  results,  it  will  he  seen  that  phosphoric  acid  is 
needed  on  thase  soils  to  grow  maximum  croi)S,  though  not  in  as, 
great  demand  as  nitrogen.  It  has  also  been  shown  that  the  solu- 
ble forms  are  the  most  profitable  for  cane. 

N^o  form  of  potash  used  in  moderate  quantities  has  been  pro- 
ductive of  apparent  good.  The  carbonate  of  potash  and  the 
ashes  of  cotton  seed  hulls  have  both  produced  results  inferior  to 
the  other  forms. 

The  following  table  gives  the  comparative  results  for  four 
years : 


531 


KESULTS  OFFOU  R YEARS  COMPARED.— NITROGENOUS  MANURES. 


1.  Mixed  minerals,  i ) 
ration  of  cotton  meal  ^ 


2.  Mixed  minerals,  f ^ 
ration  of  cotton  meal  ^ 


3.  Mixed  minerals,  f ) 
ration  of  fish  scrap  ( 


4.  Mixed  minerals,  . . . . 


5.  Mixed  minerals,  f ) 
ration  of  fish  scrap  ) 


ii.  Mixed  minerals,  ^ ) 
ration  of  dried  hlood  ^ 


7.  Mixed  minerals,  f I 
ration  of  dried  blood  ^ 


S.  Mixed  minerals,  Ira-  I 
tion  of  snl.  ammonia  ^ 


S.  Mixed  minerals,  fra-  > 
tion  of  sill,  ammonia  ^ 


10.  No  manure 


lU  Mixed  minerals  f I 
ration  of  nitrate  soda  ^ 


12.  Mixed  minerals,  f > 
ration  of  nitrate  soda  ^ 


1886  1887.  1888.  1^89. 


15.7 


14.5 


11.7 


14 


Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre j... 

Sucrose 113. 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs  available  sugar 

Yield  iier  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Lbs.  available  sucar 


19.18  26.^3 
12.2  1 13.2 
1.45!  -83 

2,695 
22.4 
11.6 
1.82 


..  2,780  4,289!3,194  3,421 


29 


17  7 
3.1 
1.11 

2,816  

1.24  19.07 
12.2  |12.2 
1.561  .7 

1,719 
20.33 
12.7 
1.56 
2,948 


12.8 


13.1 


12.9 


13.1 


13 


11.4 


22.75 

11.1 

1.'32 


4,492|2,905 
26.25124  85i24.5 


22.92 
13  05 
1.2 
3.364 


13  11.1 

.89  1.28 


I" 

|12.55 

1.33 


25.55  19.09 
11  8 
1 08 
2,720 
14  03 
12,2 
1 04 
2,979  2,050 
25.2 
12.9 


26 
11  5 
1.8 
3,203 
26.84 

10.4 
1.6 

3,006 

21.31 

11.5 

1.8 


20  78- 


15  17 
12  37 
1.1 
2,249 
19.65121.73 
12.3  12  85 


. to 
4,156 
21.81 


22.75 

13.2 

.81 

3,822 

23.8 

13.1 

.79 


1 13  1 15 
2,917  3,307 


3,203  3,975 


29 

10.4 
2 

3.004 
15.22 
10.8 

1.8 

1,726 

27.4 
10  6 

2 

2,913 

21.77 

8.8 

2.42 


-.-^3.56  22 


18  66 
11 
1 07 
2,532 
22.79 
]1  3 
1.42 
2,9;>6 
19  68 
11  2 
1.07 
2,640 


22.16 


13.4 

.8 

4,029 
17  87 
12.6 
.65 
2,9i3 
20.55 
12.9 
.62 
3,411 
24-85 
11.6 
.72 


1,576  3.653 


11.1 
1.38 
2,870 
12  81 
10.7 
1.23 

I, 588 
17.05 
12 

1 

2,505 
21.. 51 

II. 4 

1.11 

2,941 


24  12 
11.93 

128 
3,251 
2159 
12  23 
1 22 
3,273 

25  8 

11  95 
1 39 

3,301 
15  3 
11  8 
1 22 
2,076 
22  33 

12  13 
1.21 

2,943 
22.71 
10  8 
1 41 
2,723 


532 


FOEMULAS  FOR  CANE. 

Another  part  of  Plat  14  was  devoted  to  the  trial  of  various 
formulas  hitherto  given  to  the  public  as  adapted  to  cane. 

No.  13,  consisting  of — 

130  pounds  nitrate  of  potash, 

650  pounds  acid  phosphate^ 

510  pounds  gypsum,  ^ 

is  prescribed  by  Prof.  George  Ville,  of  the  government  school  at 
Vincennes,  France,  as  specially  adapted  to  plant  cane.  It  is  an 
expensive  compound  and  experience  here  has  shown  excessive  in 
phosphoric  acid  and  deficient  in  nitrogen. 

No.  *14  is  a formula  prescribed  by  the  Exj^eriment  Station 
upon  St.  Denis,  on  the  island  of  Reunion  (formerly  Bourbon), 
und  is  highly  endorsed  by  the  planters  of  this  island  and  Mauri- 
tius. It  too  is  expensive  and  the  quantity  per  acre  much  in  ex- 
cess of  the  ordinary  requirements  of  our  crops.  It  is  as  follows  : 
No.  14— 

140  pounds  sulphate  of  ammonia, 

100  pDunds  nitrate  of  soda,  120  pounds  dried  blood, 

560  pounds  acid  phosphate, 

80  pounds  muriate  potash. 

Here  the  nitrogen  is  presented  in  three  forms,  which  is  be- 
lieved to  best  meet  the  requirements  of  the  x)lants. 

Nos.  15,  16  and  17,  which  were  fertilized  last  year  respec- 
tively with  Ohlendorff’s  ‘^A’’  Special  Cane  Manure,  “B”  Early 
Oane  Manure,  and  Dissolved  Peruvian  Guano,  were  this 
year  as  stubble,  in  default  of  these  goods,  treated  with  the  fol- 
lowing mixtures : 

No.  14— 

720  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  pounds  acid  phosphate. 

320  pounds  kainite. 

No.  16— 

720  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  pounds  acid  phosphate. 

80  pounds  muriate  of  potash. 

No.  17 — 

720  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  pounds  acid  phosphate. 

80  pounds  sulphate  j)otash. 


533 


YIELDS  OF  1888  AND  1889.— PLAT  14. 


r 

13.  Ville’s  ForuniLi 

14.  St.  Deuis  Formula ^ 

15.  Olileudorf'S  Special  Cane  Manure  f 

in  1888 j 

Meal  phosphate  with  Kainite  iu^, 
1889 [ 

16.  Ohlendorf’s  Early  Cane  Manure  f 

in  1888 ! 

Meal  Phosphate  with  Muriate  | 
Potash  in  1889 [ 

17.  Ohlendorf’s  Dissolved  Peruvian  f 

Guano  in  1888 ] 

Meal  Phosphate  with  Suli)hate  of  ) 
Potash  in  1889 [ 


Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Pounds  available  shgar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose '. 

Glucose .’ 

Pounds  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Su(‘rose 

Glucose  

Pounds  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Pounds  available  sugar 

Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose  

Pounds  available  sunar 


1888. 

Plant. 

1889. 
Sthl  e- 

26.01 

15.65 

13.2 

11 

.84 

1.31 

4,357 

1,979' 

30.05 

21.56- 

13.1 

10.9 

.9 

1.32 

4,943 

2,692 

29.16 

20.82' 

11.7 

11.2 

.9 

1.22 

4,225 

2,731 

24.73 

19.13 

12.4 

11.4 

.91 

1.47 

3,825 

2,462 

22 

20.88 

15.7 

10.9 

.85 

1.22 

3,527 

2,651 

The  St.  Denis  formula  has  furnished  the  largest  tonnage 
each  year,  while  No.  15  has  given  this  year  the  largest  sugar 
yield.  The  fertilizers  used  in  Nos.  15,  16  and  17  are  far  cheaper 
than  those  prepared  by  the  foreign  formulas,  and  give  equally  as 
good  results.  Ville’s  formula  is  deficient  in  nitrogen  and  exces- 
sive in  phosphoric  acid,  while  St.  Denis  is  excesssive  in  both  j 
both  nitrogen  and  phosphoric  acid  in  Nos.  15_,  16  and  17  were 
greatly  in  excess  of  requirements  last  season,  this  being  an  un- 
usually dry  one. 


WHAT  PROPORTIONS  SHALL  NITROGEN  AND  PHOSPHORIC  ACID  BE 
COMBINED  FOR  CANE? 

A part  of  Plat  14  was  used  for  these  experiments. 

The  object  of  these  experiments  was  to  determine,  if  possi- 
ble, the  proportions  in  which  cotton  seed  meal  and  acid  phos- 
phate should  be  mixed  to  give  the  best  results  on  cane. 

Cotton  seed  meal  has  been  used  alone  on  experiment  18.  In 
the  other  experiments  it  has  been  combined  in  such  proportions 
with  acid  phosphate  as  to  give  the  following  ratios  of  nitrogen  to 
phosphoric  acid,  viz  : 1 — 3,  1 — 2,  1 — 1,  2 — 1,  and  3 — 1.  In  this 
combination,  no  account  has  been  taken  of  small  amount  of 
phosphoric  acid  in  cotton  seed  meal,  or  of  the  still  smaller 


534 


amount  in  the  insoluble  form  in  the  phosphate.  The  nitrogen  is 
reckoned  at  7 per  cent,  in  the  meal,  and  the  soluble  phosphoric 
acid  at  14  per  cent,  in  the  phosphate.  The  combination  was 
used  at  rite  of  750  pounds  per  acre.  The  following  are  the 


•quantities  used  : 


JExperimeut  No.  18 — 
‘‘  ‘‘  19— I 

a 20 I 

u 21— 

u 22— I 

“ 23— i 

24— j 


650  lbs.  cot.  seed  meal 
300  ? 

450  “ acid  phosphate  S 
375  lbs.  cot.  seed  meal  ) 
375  “■  acid  phosphate  ) 
Nothing 

500  lbs.  cot.  seed  meal  ) 
250  “ acidphospliate  ) 
600  cot.  seed  meal  ? 
150  acid  ])ho8phate  ^ 
650  “ cot.  seed  meal  ) 
100  “ acidphospliate  > 


Nitrogen  1 to  phosxihoric  acid  ,3 
Ito  “ “ 2 

“ Ito  1 

2 to  1 

“ 3 to  1 


The  results  of  both  years  are  herewith  given  : 


PLAT  14. 


18 


19 

.20 


21 


•22 


.23 


.24 


Cotton  Meal  (alone). 

Nitrogren  7 
to 

Phosphoric  Acid  3. 

Nitrogen  1 
to 

Phosphoric  Acid  3. 

Nitrogen  1 
to 

Phosphoric  Acid  2. 


No  Manure 


Nitrogen  1 
to 

Phosphoric  Acid  1. 

Nitrogen  2. 
to 

Phosphoric  Acid  1. 

Nitrogen  3 
to 

Phosphoric  Acid  1. 


{Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar , 

{Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar 

{Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar, 

{Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar 

r Yield  per  acre 

I Sucrose 

) Glucose 

Impounds  available  sugar 

{Yield  per  acre 

Sucrose 

Glucose 

Pounds  available  sugar, 

I Yield  per  acre 

I Sucrose 

1 Glucose 

t Pounds  available  sugar 


1888 

Plant. 

1889 

Stubble. 

18.69 

20.23 

11.9 

11.1 

.71 

1.19 

2,839 

2,638 

19.48 

19.79 

14.2 

12.6 

.39 

1.04 

3,623 

3,059 

20.07 

19.85 

14.8 

11.5 

.56 

.9 

3,914 

2,834 

16.97 

14.65 

11.4 

12.8 

.76 

.91 

2,435 

2,345 

22.75 

18.53 

12.2 

10.5 

.75 

.1 

3,536 

2,334 

24.5 

19.25 

13  4 

11.5 

.71 

1.21 

4,241 

2,610 

33.8 

20.55 

13.4 

11.3 

.78 

1.29 

4,082 

2,694 

In  1888  ^7o.  23,  nitrogen  two  parts  to  iDhosphoric  acid  one 
;p^rt,  gave  the  largest  tonnage,  and  No.  20,  nitrogen  one  part  to 


535 


phosphoric  acid'  two  parts,  the  largest  sugar  content.  In  188^- 
]S'o.  24  gives  the  largest  tonnage,  and  No.  19  the  highest  sucrose •- 
period. 

TILED  VEESUS  UNTILED  LAND. 

In  the  fall  of  1885  a plat  of  the  blackest  and  stiffest  land  on 
the  Station,  and  perhai)s  as  black  and  stiff  as  any  piece  in  the 
State,  was  selected  for  testing  the  efficacy  of  tiles  in  ameliorating; 
the  physical  and  chemical  properties  of  such  soils.  This  plat 
was  four  acres  deep  and  nearly  one  acre  wide.  It  was  divided 
into  two  equal  parts — one  was  tiled  and  the  other  left  undis- 
turbed. After  comi:>leting  the  work  there  was  no  sign  or  indica- 
tion of  the  line  of  demarcation  between  the  two  pieces.  These 
tiles  were  laid  four  feet  deep  and  twenty  feet  apart.  The  work 
was  performed  by  Mr.  Oakes,  of  Ohio,  and  was  well  done. 

Early  in  the  winter  of  1885-’86  the  plat  was  flushed  and  di- 
vided in  tv/o  equal  parts.  The  untiled  part  was  named  Plat  No. 
lY,  and  the  tiled.  No.  V.  They  were  carefully  bedded  and 
planted  in  cane  in  the  early  spring  of  1886.  These  plats  were  in. 
stubble  cane  when  we  obtained  the  place,  and  we  were  told  that 
it  had  been  in  succession  cane  for  years. 

The  seed  cane  used  was  defective  and  the  stand  was  poor, 
except  on  the  first  group.  Hence,  only  this  group  was  harvested 
this  year.  On  account  of  the  poor  stand  of  1886,  the  stubble 
was  plowed  up  and  land  replanted  in  cane  March  5,  1887.  An 
excellent  stand  was  obtained,  which  has  subsequently  been  culti- 
vated as  first  and  second  year  stubble  (1888  and  1889).  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  manures  used  per  acre  on  each  plat : 

No.  1.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  pounds  acid  phosphate. 

500  pounds  kainite. 

No.  2.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  pounds  acid  phosphate. 

No.  3.  Nothing. 

No.  4.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  j)ounds  natural  phosphate. 

500  pounds  kainite. 


536 


Ko.  5.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  pounds  natural  phosphate. 
oSTo.  6.  Nothing. 

No.  7.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  pounds  bone  dust. 

500  pounds  kainite. 

No.  8.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  pounds  bone  dust. 

No.  9.  Nothing. 

No.  10.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  pounds  floats. 

500  pounds  kainite. 

No.  11.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  x^ounds  floats. 

No.  12.  Nothing. 

No,  13.  500  x)ounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  x)Ounds  ashes  cotton  hulls. 

500  |)ounds  kainite.  ^ 

No.  14.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

500  i)ounds  ashes  cotton  hulls. 

No.  15.  Nothing. 

No.  16.  500  pounds  cotton  seed  meal. 

No.  17.  500  pounds  acids  phosphate. 

No.  18.  500  x^ounds  kainite. 

No.  19.  Nothing. 

Both  plats  have  received  the  identical  treatment  througb 
the  four  years. 

The  accomx^anying  table  gives  the  results  of  the  four  years. 


RESULTS  PLAT  4 AND  5,  UNTILED  AND  TILED  LANDS. 


•8qt‘9J0'B 
j[9d  j'eSng 

C005050Xt^01'^t^X-^-^COX03H#OOrH03 
l0l0l0i05  03rH05  05OC0rHCr05  03  C0  03r+(,-HOX 
X03-+XC05C0-i<C005C0C0X05Ort<03X0)XC0rl* 
rH  03  03  03  rH  X rH  rH  — ' 03  — 03  r-  03  rH  rH  - 

•9soonx^ 

10r#t^XX03XCOXX03X--ri'XC00305rH 

03  03  CO  03  rH  o 05  03  03  03  O O 03  r-  05  hh  cO  CO 

rH  rH  rH  rH  I rH  rH  rH  ^ rH  rH  rH  rH  rH  —>  H-<  .-h 

‘980J9ng 

XXIO  ^X-H<05  CO  XCOXX  COXOXIOOO 

rH  rH  rH  03*  oj  rH  O 03  O 03  r-l  03*  0>  rH  0>  03*  03*  03*  rH  rH 

I rHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrHrH 

•8n0!).  ^9J0B 
J9d  PI9IA 

X CO  03  CO  03 

CO  rH  CO  X X X 05  X O CO  X 03  t--  X XiO  XjO 

*^t^(XCx5cO-2x*03XOrH*rH*odcOrH*COt>^COX03CO 
05rH— 'T— i rHrH-i— IrH  rHrHrHrH  rH  rH 

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a;9d  j^Siig 

2797 

3756: 

3454 

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• CO  CO  riH  X*  CO  X*  CO  rj<  •*  03  X*  CO  CO  CO  X 

• rH  rH  rH  rH  rH  rH  •—  rH  • r-'  rH  — • rH  rH  rH 

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05  tH  CO  05  03  tH  I>- X 03  rH  iX>  CO  CO  t-H  Oi  CO  05  05  X 

XI:^U0C0ri<XC0Xrtlr}'Orl^X-*t'-X0C00503rH 
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18.  Untiied 


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539 


REVIEW  OF  RESULTS  OF  TILE  DRAINED  LANDS'^ 


There  are  in  the  above  two  sets  of  experiments.  The‘see©mii! 
set  runs  within  a few  feet  of  the  tiles,  and  hence,  the  benefits  of  ' 
the  latter  are  plainly  apparent  in  the  results.  The  first  set  more- 
nearly  represents  the  true  difference  between  tiled  and  untiledl 


lands.  Taking  the  difference  of  yield  for  each  year  we  have — 


FIRST  SET.  Tons 

cane. 

Increase  per  acre  of  tiled  oyer  untiled  for  18®6  5.36 
Increase  per  acre  of  tiled  over  nntiled  for  1887  6.23 
Increose  per  acre  of  tiled  over  nntiled  for  1888  6.06 
Increase  per  acre  of  tiled  over  nntiled  for  1889  7.05 
Average  increase  for  the  four  years 6.17 

SECOND  SET. 

Increase  per  acre  of  tiled  over  nntiled  for  1886  5.18 

Increase  per  acre  of  tiled  over  nntiled  for  1887  2.58 
Increase  i)er  acre  of  tiled  over  nntiled  for  1888  2.68 
Increase  per  acre  of  tiled  over  nntiled  for  1889  2.61 

Average  increa.se  for  the  four  years. 3.27 

Average  increase  of  both  sets  for  fonr  years  4.72 


Lbs.  availa- 
ble sugar. 


and 

909 

and 

758 

and 

1,236 

and 

968 

and 

357 

and 

551 

and 

336 

and 

415 

and 

691 

Tons. 


Tlie  aggregate  yield  of  first  set  tiled  per  acre  for  fonr  years 61 

The  aggregate  yield  of  first  set  nntiled  per  acre  for  four  years 41 

The  aggregat(‘  yield  of  second  set  tiled  per  acre  for  four  years 58-^ 

The  aggregate  yield  of  second  set  untiled  per  acre  for  four  years ....  47 

The  aggregate  yield  of  both  sets  tiled  per  acre  for  four  years 59| 

The  aggregate  yield  of  both  sets  untiled  per  acre  for  four  years. ....  44 

Per  cent..,. 

The  increase  per  cent,  of  first  set  tiled  over  nntiled 48 

The  increase  ])er  cent,  of  second  set  tiled  over  untiled 24 

The  increase  per  cent,  of  both  sets  tiled  over  untiled 36 


It  may,  therefore,  be  truly  said  that  the  increase  in  cane:’ 
upon  lands  well  tiled  will  be  from  25  to  50  per  cent,  upon  similar- 


lauds  not  tiled.  These  tiles  are  twenty  feet  apart,  the  distance- 
recommended  by  many  experienced  engineers. 

Trtie  actual  benefits  just  enumerated  are  sufiicient  recom- 
mendations for  the  drains;  but  to  them  must  be  added  that  lands^. 
tile-drained  are  made  warm,  sweet  and  mellow  ; roots  ifenetrate* 
easier  and  deeper,  and  thus  provide  themselves  with  better  ap- 
paratus for  procuring  water  in  times  of  drouth.  In  wet  weather 
the  excess  is  drained  off,  instead  of  being  evaporated.  Evapora- 
tion is  a cooling  process,  requiring  much  of  the  hi  at  of  the  soiL 
Again  it  takes  a much  larger  quantity  of  heat  to  warm  up  a soil- 
filled  with  water  than  a dry  one.  Water  is  also  a poor  conductor  “ 
heat,  and,  therefore,  wet  soils  are  warmed  downward  very? 


540 


slowly.  As  water  drains  from  a soil  air  enters  it  and  aids  in 
warming.  Snow  melts  at  least  a week  earlier,  on  an  average, 
upon  drained  than  on  undrained  land  similarly  situated,  Vege- 
tation advances  far  more  rapidly  on  drained  land.  Stiff  soils  are 
made  open  and  porns,  easier  worked,  and  earlier  handled  after 
rains.  The  time  and  labor  saved  in  a few  years  will  pay  for  the 
tiles.  The  open  ditches  are  objectionable  for  many  reasons, 
some  of  which  are  constant  cost  of  cleaning,  waste  of  land,  plow- 
ing can  only  be  done  one  way,  the  loss  of  the  cream  of  the  soil 
by  being  constantly  washed  in  small  T)articles  through  the  quarter 
drains  into  the  ditches,  and  thence  into  the  canal  and  swamps. 

Drainage  is  of  the  first  importance  to  the  sugar  planter, 
since  cane  revels  in  w’ell  drained  land.  The  successful  sugar 
planter  recognizes  the  necessity  of  drainage,  and  a heap  of  it. 
Year  before  last  there  fell  on  this  station  75  inches  of  rain.  Each 
inch  represents  27,154  gallons  of  water  per  acre,  or  in  round 
numbers  2,03G,550  gallons,  or  8,485  tons  by  w^eight  per  acre  for 
the  year.  This  would  give  an  average  of  25  tons  of  water  to  be 
evaporated  daily  from  each  acre  of  land  did  none  run  off  the  sur- 
face. If  it  run  off  what  a powerful  eroding  and  carrying  power 
on  our  soils  ! If,  as  our  engineers  say,  one  i^ound  of  coal  will 
evaporate  eight  pounds  of  water,  it  would  require  over  three 
tons  of  coal  per  day  for  each  acre. of  land  throughout  the  year  to 
evaporate  the  water  which  falls  on  it.  This  enormous  rainfall 
forces  the  necessity  of  drainage.  But  which  is  best,  surface 
drains,  with  loss  of  soil,  or  under  drains,  which  not  only  relieve 
the  soil  of  excess  of  moisture,  but  make  it  warm  and  mellow? 
Tile  drainage,  like  diffusion,  is  surely  but  slowly  coming. 


PLAT  15.— PEA  VI YES  EEMOVED  VERSES  PEA  VINES 
TURNED  UNDER. 

In  the  spring  of  1886  plat  15  was  sown  broadcast  in  cow  peas. 
A luxuriant  growth  of  vines  Avas  obtained.  The  plat  was 
divided  into  two  equal  x)arts.  The  vines  were  removed  on  the 
west  half,  and  fed  to  stock.  The  entire  plat  v as  then  fallowed 


541 


with  four  horse  plow,  and  cane  planted  in  October,  1886. 
This  gave  a basis  for  similar  experiments  with  and  without  pea 
vines.  In  order  to  determine  the  chemical  value  of  the  latter, 
together  with  its  roots,  the  following  experiment  was  made  : A 
square  10x10  feet  near  the  centre  of  the  plat  and  fairly  repre* 
sen  ting  the  average  of  the  crop,  was  selected,  and  the  vines  care- 
fully removed  by  a scythe.  These  were  at  once  weighed,  and 
thoroughly  dried  and  analyzed.  Around  this  plat  a ditch 
eighteen  inches  deep  was  dug,  and  with  a strong  spray  pump, 
the  roots  were  patiently  washed  up.  It  required  three  days 
with  three  laborers  to  successfully  perform  the  operation.  The 
vines  were  nearing  maturity  and  had  passed  the  period  most 
desirable  for  hay  making. 

The  following  are  the  results  with  analyses  : 


lbs. 

Amount  of  green  vines  removed  per  acre 21,345 

Amount  of  roots  washed  up  per  acre 3,464 


Total  green  matter  removed  per  acre 24,809 

When  thoroughly  dried,  the  vines  weighed 3,330 

When  thoroughly  dried,  the  roots  weighed 1,040 


Total  dry  matter  per  acre 4,370 


It  is  proper  to  add  here,  that  despite  our  careful  efforts, 
a considerable  quantity  of  the  small  rootlets  escaped  us.  The 
following  are  the  analyses : 


Organic 

matter. 

Ash. 

Nitro- 

gen. 

Phos. 
Potash,  acid. 

Lime. 

Dried 

vines 90-26 

9-74 

1-7 

2.77 

-48 

1-01 

Dried 

roots 92-58 

7-42 

-8 

1-74 

-43 

-97 

Applying  the  above,  one  acre  of  cow  peas  turned  under 
^ives  to  the  soil  3970.38  ]30unds  organic  matter,  containing 
64.95  pounds  nitrogen,  20.39  pounds  phosphoric  acid,  110.56 
pounds  potash,  and  42,6  pounds  lime.  Removing  the  vines  for 
stock  feed,  leaves  in  the  roots  at  least  965  pounds  organic  matter, 
containing  8.34  pounds  nitrogen,  4.43  pounds  phosphoric  acid, 
18.1  pounds  potash,  and  10.16  pounds  lime.  Good  cotton  seed 
meal  contains  7 per  cent,  nitrogen,  3 per  cent,  phosphoric  acid. 


542 


and  2 per  cent.  iDotash  and  kainite^^  12  per  cent,  of  potash. 
Therefore  the  vines  and  roots  combined  contain  more  nitrogen 
than  is  contained  in  900  pounds  of  cotton  seed  meal,  and  more 
potash  than  is  in  the  same  amount  of  meal,  additioned  by  700 
pounds  kainite.  This  amount  of  meal  would  contain  a few 
pounds  more  of  phosphoric  acid  than  is  found  in  the  peas. 

Removing  the  vines  for  feed  would,  therefore,  decrease  the 
supply  of  plant  food  to  the  acre,  by  the  following  amounts  : 
Mtrogen,  56.01  pounds  ; i^hosphoric  acid,  15.96  ; potash,  92.46 
pounds — amounts  about  equal  to  that  contained  in  800  iDOunds 
cotton  seed  meal,  and  640  i30unds  kainite. 

Therefore  in  removing  the  Adnes  there  is  certainly  a removal 
of  a large  supply  of  valuable  plant  food.  Will  the  cane  plant 
testify  to  the  same  f<ict  ? To  decide  this  question,  duplicate  ex- 
periments were  made  upon  each  half  of  the  plat.  All  the  factors 
of  planting,  fertilizer,  and  cultivation  Avere  identical — the  only 
variation  was  the  ‘Vines  removed  on  one’’  and  “turned  under  on 
the  other. 

There  were  other  incidental  questions  also  asked  of  this  plat, 
but  this  was  the  leading  object.  These  experiments,  begun  with 
plant  cane  in  1887,  have  been  continued  in  1888  and  1889  as  first 
and  second  year  stubble. 

The  table  following  gVes  the  results  for  1889,  second  year 
stubble. 

This  plat  was  harvested  Oct.  3,  and  was  too  green  to  be  suc- 
cessfully manipulated  in  the  sugar  house.  The  syrup  could  not^ 
be  grained  in  the  pan. 


543 


RESULTS  PLAT  XV.  — SECOND  YEAR  STUBBLE 

OCTOBER  3. 


HARVESTED 


Manures  Used  Per  Acre. 


1.  500  lbs.  Cot.  Seed  Meal) 
250  B)s.  Acid  Phosphate  > 
If'O  lbs  Kaiiiite  ) 

1.  Ditto 

2.  .^'00  lbs.  Cot.  See<l  Meal) 

500  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate  > 
100  lbs  Kaiuite  ) 

2*  Ditto 

3.  500  lbs.  Cot.  Seed  Meal  ) 
2.50  lbs.  Acid  Piiosphate  ^ 

3.  Ditto 

4.  500  11)8.  Cot  Seed  Meal  I 
.500  lbs.  Acid  I’hosphate  S 

4.  Ditto 

5.  No  manure 

5.  No  manure 

6.  No  manure 

6.  No  manure 

7.  100  lbs.  Nitrate  Soda 

70  lbs.  Sulpli.  Am.  I 

150  lbs.  Cot.  Seed  Meal  > 
300  lbs  Acid  Phosphate 
100  lbs.  Kaiuite  J 

7-  Ditto 

8.  300  lbs.  Nitrate  of  Soda) 

300  lbs . Acid  Phosphate  ? 
100  lbs.  Kaiuite  ) 

8.  Ditto 

0.  10‘»lbs  Sulph,  Am. 

200  lbs  Dried  Blood  1 
300  lbs.  Acid  Phosi)hate  [ 
100  lbs  Kainite  J 

9.  Ditto 

10.  200  lbs.  Sulph.  Am.  ) 

300  lbs.  Acid  Phosphate  > 
100  lbs.  Kaiuite  S 

10.  Ditto 


Disposition  of  Pea  Vines 

Yield  Per  Acre  in  Tons. 

Analyses. 

t 

1 

Total  solids. 

1 Sucrose. 

Glucose. 

Purity  coefficient. 

Glucose  ratio. 

1 Turned  in 

1 

16.03 

11.9 

8.2 

3.03 

69 

36.95. 

16.02 

j 

10.9 

6.4 

3.48 

59 

54.37 

Turned  in 

17.17 

10.7 

6.6 

3.44 

62 

52.33; 

Removed 

16.45 

10.4 

7.6 

3.36  73 

44.21; 

Turned  in 

15.99 

ko.9 

7 

3.06164 

43.71: 

Removed 

14.88 

'll 

1 

6.6 

3.37  68 

51.06: 

Turned  in 

17.05 

11.7 

6.4 

3.4155 

53.28: 

Removed 

14.37 

11.6 

7.1 

3.59*61 

50.561 

Turned  in 

ill.4l! 

11.8 

7.3 

3.42:62 

46.84  1 

j Removed 

10.54i 

11 

6 6 

3.33  60  50.451 

Turned  in! 

11.52111.8 

7.3 

|3.48'62;47.671 

j Removed 

10.7 

.10.6 

5.7 

3.55 

54 

62.38 

1 Turned  in 

17.95 

9.5 

4.8 

3.51 

50 

73.12  . 

1 

Removed 

17.57 

10.7 

5.5 

3.33 

51 

60.54 

Turned  in 

17  26 

10.7 

5.5 

3.33 

51 

60.54 

Removed 

15 . 54 

10 -.7 

5.6 

3.57| 

52 

63.74* 

Turned  in 

17.25 

10.7 

6 

3.57 

56 

59.5 

Removed 

18.06 

10.5 

5.8 

3.7 

55  1 

1 

63.79 

Turned  in 

17.68 

10.5  i 

5.8 ! 

3.7 

55', 

63.79 

Removed 

15.83 

10.6! 

5.3: 

3.85' 

50' 72. 64  . 

Pounds 
avai  1 a- 
ble  sug- 
ar on  70 
per  ct . 
ext  ra  c- 
tiou. 


16.5 


5.3 


760 

264 

346 

590 

540 

322 


335 

56 


7.1 

7.1 


3.5 

3.5 


124 

122 

53 

156 

63 

62 


RESULTS  FOR  THREE  YEARS. 

Taking  the  experiments  with  no  manure,  and  where  no 
known  errors  have  influenced  results,  we  have  obtained  the  fol- 


544 


ISowing  per  acre  due  to  pea  vines  turned  under  : 

In  1887,  2.91  tons;  in  1»88,  3.69  tons,  and  1889,  .82  tons. 
"■Total,  7.42  tons. 

Taking  the  entire  plat,  with  several  known  modifying  errors, 
we  have,  in  1887,  2.23  tons;  in  1888,  1.08  tons,  and  1889,  .94 
tons.  Total,  4.25  tons. 

The  former  increase  is  perhaps  nearer  the  actual  gains  than 
■'the  latter.  The  vines  removed  would  have  given  about  two  tons 
per  acre  of  cured  hay,  worth,  after  the  expenses  of  harvesting  is 
deducted,  $5  i^er  ton,  or  $L0  per  acre.  They  were  worth  as  a 
-fertilizer  the  equivalent  of  800  pounds  cotton  seed  meal  and  640 
pounds  kainite.  The  former  is  now  worth  $20  per  ton  and  the 
Tatter  $15,  and  these  would  give  a fertilizing  value  to  pea  vines 
^•of  $12.80. 

From  this  investment  there  has  been  an  increase  of  7.42 
Tons  cane,  worth,  say,  $4  per  ton,  or  $29.68  per  acre.  It  is  be- 
lieved’ that  the  average  results  from  pea  vines  turned  under  are 
v'even  higher  than  those  obtained  here. 

However,  the  results  obtained  show  conclusively  that  re- 
moving the  pea  vines  for  hay  is  to  the  detriment  of  subsequent 
'^rops,  even  to  the  third  year. 

The  incidental  questions  involved  in  the  above  experiments 
;are  corroborative  of  others  answered  elsewhere.  1.  Potash  in 
■small  quantities  is  without  effect  on  these  soils.  2.  That  exces- 
.rsive  quantities  of  phosphoric  acid  are  without  beneficial  results. 

That  while  sulphate  of  ammonia  has  given  slightly  better  re- 
.“sults,  the  increase  is  so  slight  and  the  price  of  this  article  pro- 
portionately so  dear,  that  any  form  of  nitrogen  usually  offered  on 
our  market  can  be  used  with  safety  by  our  planters.  4.  That 
^stubble  cane  makes  just  as  good  seed  as  plant. 

PLAT  2— POPULAE  MAAUEES. 

In  1886  this  plat  was  planted  and  fertilized  with  the  follow- 
ing popular  manures  : Cotton  seed  meal,  acid  phosphate,  kainite, 
•Charleston  fioats,  gypsum,  cotton  hull  ashes,  tankage,  and  cot- 
ton seed.  These  experiments  have  been  continued  to  third 
^year  stubble  and  one  remarkable  fact  has  been  shown  conclu- 
isively  by  them,  viz. : that  when  the  proi3er  manure  in  aijpro- 
priate  quantities  has  been  used  yearly,  a profitable  crop  of 
Third  year  stubble  has  been  gathered.  When  an  improper  fer- 
tilizer has  been  used,  or  tho  soil  has  received  no  fertilizer,  no 
crop  has  been  gathered.  An  inspection  of  the  following  table 
will  shovf  this  : 


RESULTS  OF  PLAT  2— THIRD  STUBBLE,  1889. 


•p9!^80Aa;T]H  AY 

rH'-  V.  VV.  V.X.V. 

r2 

^ ^ ^ :::r 

o 

O 

Lbs  available 
sugar  on 

70  per  cent, 
extraction. 

•9j;oy  J9X 

396 

589 

979 

997 

1545 

589 

472 

4S9 

•nox  J9X 

00  OJ  CO  lO  O C-  'S' 

nr.^  CO  CO  CO  oi ' 

L--  CO  JO  rr  C-  CO  00  CO 

: 

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cirH  c:  -^cooocaoo 

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: 

Analyses. 

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REBULTS  PLAT  2— THIRD  STUBBLE,  18S0.— CONTINUED. 


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546 


SUMMARY  OF  RESULTS  FOR  FOUR  ITEARS. 

The  four  years  just  ended,  have  been  patiently  and  indus- 
triously spent  in  the  investigations  of  the  many  problems  under- 
lying the  successful  growth  of  sugar  cane  and  its  manufacture 
into  sugar.  While  everything  hoped  for  has  not  been  attained, 
the  little  accomplished,  supx)lemented  by  the  consciousness  of 
the  rectitude  of  our  intentions  and  that  generous  supj)ort  yielded 
by  an  indulgent  patronage,  gives  consolation  and  lends  encour- 
agement for  renewed  efforts  in  the  future.  Mature  yields  her 
secrets  with  great  slowness,  and  only  to  those  who  apply  aright, 
aloes  she  reveal  them  at  all.  Mindful  that  there  are  many, 
many  facts  yet  to  be  learned  before  perfection  in  cane  produc- 
tion can  be  attained,  and  relying  upon  that  cordial  support  of 
•the  "public  so  generously  bestowed  in  the  past,  and  a strong 
determination  to  accomplish  its  mission,  the  Sugar  Experiment 
Station,  in  its  new  and  handsome  quarters,  re-enters  the  experi- 
mental arena,  confident  of  ultimate  success. 


The  following  are  some  of  the  conclinsions  taught  by  the 
results  of  the  last  four  years  : 

1.  That  the  upper  portion  of  the  cane  is  the  equal,  if  not  the 
superior  to  the  lower  part  for  seed,  while  the  latter  is  vastly 
superior  as  a sugar  producer. 

2.  That  with  good  seed,  two  stalks  and  a slight  lap  will 
give  an  abundant  harvest,  and  no  more  is  needed. 

3.  That  seed  cane  may  be  selected  from  either  plant  or 
stubble. 

4.  That  suckering  (tillering)  is  a natural  function  of  all 
cereals  and  should  be  encouraged  to  i^roduce  the  best  results. 

5.  That  rattoons  come  equally  as  well  from  suckers  as  from 
the  original  stalk. 

6.  That  cutting  cane  in  planting  is  not  necessary  to  insure 
successful  germination,  the  latter  being  dei^endent  upon  other 
conditions. 

7.  That  the  vital  power  of  good  sound  eyes  is  enormous, 
^enabling  the  latter  under  favorable  conditions  of  heat,  moisture, 


547 


tind  access  of  air  to  germinate  at  great  depths,  or  even  remain 
dormantly  sound  for  over  a year  when  properly  protected. 

8.  That  the  present  width  of  rows  may  be  lessened  (when 
the  soil  will  permit  of  easy  cultivation)  with  promise  of  increased 
production. 

9.  That  several  varieties  of  foreign  canes  promise  adapta- 
bility to  our  wants. 

10.  That  both  nitrogen  and  phosphoric  acid  are  needed  by 
our  soils  to  grow  maximum  crops  of  cane.  That  excessive 
quantities  of  each  should  be  avoided,  the  former  as  being  i^ositive- 
ly  injurious  and  the  latter  as  being  redundant  and  wasteful. 

11.  That  while  sulphate  of  ammonia  gives  slightly  the  best 
results  and  hsh  scrap  slightly  the  worst,  it  may  be  asserted  that 
any  form  of  nitrogen  experimented  with,  will  give  remunerative 
returns  when  properly  compounded,  and  used  in  such  quantities 
as  to  furnish  from  twenty-live  to  fifty  pounds  nitrogen  per  acre. 

12.  That  phosphoric  acid,  when  applied  at  or  after  planting, 
should  be  in  a soluble  state,  in  quantities  of  thirty-two  to  sixty- 
four  pounds  i^er  acre.  Even  the  latter  might,  with  propriety,  be 
applied  before  the  crop  is  planted.  That  insoluble  phosphates 
should  always  be  applied  sometime  in  advance  of  the  j^lanting. 

13.  That  no  foi  m of  potash  is  preferred  by  the  cane  plant, 
and  that  small  quantities  neither  increase  the  tonnage  nor  the 
sugar  content. 

14.  That  mineral  manures  (phosphates  and  potash)  when 
applied  alone,  are  without  much  effect ; to  be  available  they 
must  be  combined  with  nitrogen. 

15.  That  nitrogen  is  most  cheaply  supplied  to  the  planters 
of  Louisiana  in  the  form  of  cotton  seed  meal,  and  exiDeriments 
have  demonstrated  that  its  profitable  limits  are  between  300 
to  600  pounds  per  acre  under  cane. 

16.  That  tile  drainage  is  a very  valuable  amendment  to 
the  soils  of  South  Louisiana,  and  when  properly  done  will  j>ay 
a handsome  dividend  upon  investment.  Experiments  indicate 
that  best  results  are  obtained  when  tiles  are  placed  from  twenty 
to  thirty  feet  apart. 

17.  That  pea  vines  turned  under  give  an  increased  yield 
to  the  subsequent  crops,  exteneling  even  to  the  second  year’s 
stubble. 


548 


18.  That  the  stubble  from  canes  properly  manured  will 
^Ive  profitable  crops  for  several  years,  while  that  unmanured, 
or  improperly  fertilized,  will  fail  in  a year  or  two. 

19.  That  manures  can  be  prepared  which  will  give  tonnage, 
but  no  special  manure  has  yet  been  found  which  will  insure  a 
large  sugar  content.  The  latter  seems  to  be  largely  dependent 
upon  soil,  sunshine,  temperature,  moisture,  and  climate. 

These  are  the  deductions  from  the  work  of  the  past  four 
years,  and  may  be  modified  by  future  investigations. 

The  question  of  the  proi3er  manuring  of  cane  is  not  yet 
^settled.  Seasons,  particularly  rainfall,  modify  the  benefits  of 
fertilizers.  If  one  could  accurately  foretell  the  season,  then 
manuring  could  be  done  with  some  degree  of  intelligence.  It 
seems  quite  well  established  that  manures  should  be  api^lied  in 
such  quantities  and  proportions  to  meet  the  requirements  of  a 
vigorous  growth  from  the  time  of  germination  until  Sex^tember. 
At  that  time  all  available  plant  food  should  be  exhausted  and 
growth  should  be  suspended  and  the  plant  permitted  to  mature. 

The  proportions  are  independent  of  seasons,  but  the  quanti- 
ties assimilated  by  the  plant  are  regulated  almost  entirely  by  the 
amount  and  distribution  of  rainfall.  Therefore,  what  would  be 
an  excessive  manuring  in  a very  dry  season,  might  prove  inade- 
quate to  the  requirements  of  a plant  in  a very  favorable  one. 
Our  experiments  indicate  that  from  twenty-four  to  forty-eight 
pounds  of  nitrogen  and  forty  to  seventy-five  pounds  phosphoric 
acid  to  the  acre,  are  the  quantities  which  can  be  successfully 
assimilated  during  an  average  season.  These  are  furnished  by 
using  from  350  to  700  pounds  cotton  seed  meal  combined  with 
300  to  600  pounds  acid  phosphate,  and  this  mixture  is  recom- 
mended both  on  account  of  its  cheapness  and  its  efficacy.  Upon 
new  lauds  abounding  in  nitrogen  or  pea  vine  fiillow  (see  Plat 
XY,)  less  nitrogen  is  required  than  upon  stubble  or  succession 
cane.  Equal  mixtures  will  do  for  the  first,  while  two  or  even 
three  parts  of  cotton  seed  meal  to  one  of  acid  x^hosphate  may  be 
required  upon  the  lattar.  Each  xhanter  should  study  his  soils, 
and  when  found  deficient  in  vegetable  matter,  should  always  in- 
<«*rease  his  nitrogen. 

There  are  very  few  seasons  that  will  permit  of  the  assimila- 


tion  by  the  plant  of  over  900  i)ounds  of  this  mixture  to  the  acre^ 
-and  hence  quantities  above  this  should  never  be  used.  On  th& 
other  hand,  there  are  still  fewer  seasons  when  500  pounds  can 
not  be  easily  assimilated,  therefore  a less  quantity  per  acre  will 
rarely  ever  be  found  profitable. 

In  the  application  of  manure  greater  care  is  needed.  It 
would  by  some  means  be  thoroughly  incorporated  with  the' soil. 
The  time  of  apj)lication  is  also  important.  Many  planters  apply 
nitrogenous  manures  at  the  time  of  planting  and  mineral  man- 
ures when  the  cane  is  well  advanced.  There  is  no  objection  to 
an  apx)lication,  at  least  in  part,  of  the  nitrogenous  manures  at- 
the  time  of  planting,  but  there  is  a decided  loss  in  i)ostponing 
the  application  of  mineral  manures.  They  should  by  all  means 
be  apx)lied  at  planting,  or,  even  better,  before  planting.  These 
do  not  leach  from  the  soil,  and  the  sooner  applied  the  more  dif- 
fusible they  become  in  the  soil.  This  is  particularly  the  case 
with  potash.  Mtrogenous  manures  maj  be  applied  at  planting 
and  at  any  time  during  early  growth.  . 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 
630.7  L931B  no.  C002  v.2-2fl(1886-189 
Sugar  cane  ; field  experiments  / 


3 0112  088693491 


